Your Flight
We analysed more than 16,500 data points along your route from San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco to London Heathrow Airport, London.
Virgin Atlantic
SFO
LHR
VS20
Virgin Atlantic · Live forecast
SFO
→
LHR
89
Calm Score
"A smooth ride ahead — sit back and enjoy."
10h 20m
Duration
4,652 nm
Distance
39,000 ft
Cruise Altitude
HIGH
Confidence
Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity — higher means rougher
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Set an alert before your flight
Beta
You still have 16 hours before departure. We'll notify you if this forecast changes.
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 SFO → LHR
3 pilot reports along this route
3 / 3
Reporting smooth
0 / 3
Light turbulence
0
Moderate or worse
Latest pilot reports
Smooth
ARP SAS930 5737N 01445W 0718 F410 M54 265/63 ERAKA 0736 ETSOM KT LNRKU DDL BLY 160718 J93A
18m ago
Smooth
ARP DAL20 6141N03239W 0715 F390 6129N03000W 0724 6029N02001W MS47 200/24 KT N861NW DDL IG1 160715 J12A
21m ago
Smooth
ARP ICE10V 6207N03633W 0706 F350 6300N03000W 0730 6300N03000W MS36 118/15 KT TFICO QXS AGM 160707 F60A
30m ago
AI-powered flight briefing
16,500 data points analyzed
· HIGH confidence
Your Journey Beta
35 minutes, 1 hour, and 1 hour 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 Sierra Nevada, over the Rocky Mountains, and crossing the North Atlantic Ocean – these areas can sometimes cause turbulence.
Smooth Flight
We're expecting smooth conditions throughout your flight. You can sit back and relax.
Takeoff
Takeoff should feel smooth with possible light bumps, with calm conditions around the airport.
Winds Aloft
Winds at cruising altitude are about 57 knots. These winds are favorable and may get you there a few minutes early.
Landing
Landing should feel smooth with possible light bumps 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 10h 20min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:30-1:00
Moderate
1:00-1:30
Moderate
1:30-2:00
Light
2:00-2:30
Light
2:30-3:00
Light
3:00-3:30
Light
3:30-4:00
Smooth
4:00-4:30
Smooth
4:30-5:00
Smooth
5:00-5:29
Smooth
5:29-5:58
Smooth
5:58-6:27
Smooth
6:27-6:56
Smooth
6:56-7:25
Smooth
7:25-7:54
Smooth
7:54-8:23
Light
8:23-8:52
Light
8:52-9:21
Light
9:21-9:50
Light
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
SFO
San Francisco International Airport — Departure
Wind
11 kt (290°)
Sky
Clear
Temperature
16°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
LHR
London Heathrow Airport — Arrival
Wind
10 kt (270°)
Sky
Few
Temperature
6°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
Tomorrow — conditions may change
b77w
Category
Wide-Body Aircraft
Size
Large
Comfort
Large, twin-aisle aircraft like this generally provide the smoothest ride through turbulence due to their size, weight, and advanced stabilization systems.
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.