Your Flight
We analysed more than 6,000 data points along your route from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Jose.
United Airlines
ORD
SJC
UA502
United Airlines · Live forecast
ORD
→
SJC
Also sold as:
74
Calm Score
"Mostly smooth — one short bumpy section you'll handle."
4h 55m
Duration
1,586 nm
Distance
36,000 ft
Cruise Altitude
VERY HIGH
Confidence
Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity, higher means rougher
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
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This flight has already departed.
We know turbulence can feel scary — especially on long flights.
This report is built for you: what bumps feel like, when they happen, and why you'll be completely safe. 1 in 3 passengers feel exactly like you.
Right now on your route
Live pilot reports from aircraft flying ORD → SJC
7 pilot reports along this route
3 / 7
Reporting smooth
1 / 7
Light turbulence
3
Moderate or worse
Latest pilot reports
Smooth
ORD UA /OV ORD050045/TM 2345/FL122/TP CRJ7/TB SMOOTH
10m ago
Light
EGE UA /OV RLG083029/TM 2340/FL430/TP GLF4/TB LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-06
15m ago
Moderate
SBN UA /OV SBN/TM 2339/FL100/TP CRJ9/TB MOD CHOP DURD
16m ago
Smooth
BAM UA /OV BAM220035/TM 2335/FL350/TP B738/TB LGT-MOD /ZLC
20m ago
Moderate
MSN UA /OV BAE070050/TM 2326/FL260/TP E545/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
29m ago
AI-powered flight briefing
6,000 data points analyzed
· VERY HIGH confidence
Your Journey Beta
1 hour 25 minutes and 3 hours into the flight: Some moderate bumps expected.
The crew may adjust altitude or ask you to stay seated during these sections.
The rest of the flight should be smooth.
Your route takes you over the Rocky Mountains and over the Sierra Nevada – these areas can sometimes cause light turbulence.
Mostly Smooth
Overall conditions look mostly smooth with occasional light bumps. Nothing to worry about.
Takeoff
Takeoff should feel a bit bumpy initially, with calm conditions around the airport.
Winds Aloft
Winds at cruising altitude are about 56 knots. These winds may delay arrival by a few minutes.
Landing
Landing should feel a bit bumpy on descent with typical approach conditions.
You're in Safe Hands
If you feel nervous at any point, remember that turbulence is expected, safe, and part of normal flying. The crew is monitoring everything, and the aircraft is built to handle far more than anything you will feel. Have a safe and calm flight.
Relaxation Exercises
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI): Powered by our turbulence prediction algorithm combining atmospheric Richardson Number, wind shear analysis, temperature gradients, and geomagnetic activity. Learn more
Flight Timeline 4h 55min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Moderate
0:30-1:00
Light
1:00-1:30
Moderate
1:30-2:00
Light
2:00-2:29
Light
2:29-2:58
Light
2:58-3:27
Moderate
3:27-3:56
Light
3:56-4:25
Moderate
Landing
Light
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Airport conditions
Live weather at departure and arrival
ORD
Chicago O'Hare International Airport — Departure
Wind
20 kt G30 (250°)
Sky
Broken
Temperature
21°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
SJC
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport — Arrival
Wind
10 kt (330°)
Sky
Clear
Temperature
24°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
Your flight details
Departure timing and aircraft information
Evening Flight Departure
Time of day
Evening Flight
Tip
Evening and night flights typically offer smoother conditions as thermal activity subsides and the atmosphere stabilizes after sunset.
When
Today
Data sources & our approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Our proprietary
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) combines three meteorological indices weighted by their
predictive accuracy — giving you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability instead
of vague categories.
This forecast integrates data from:
- ECMWF Open Data — Global atmospheric model (wind/temperature at 13 flight levels)
- NOAA Aviation Weather Center — Pilot Reports (PIREPs), SIGMETs/AIRMETs, TAFs
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center — Aurora forecasts for polar routes
- AviationStack API — Flight schedules and airline operational data
Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.