KJFK KLAX

John F Kennedy International Airport Los Angeles International Airport
Route Information
Departure

KJFK (JFK)

Distance

3,974.2 km (2,145.9 nautical miles)

Arrival

KLAX (LAX)

Flight Time

377 minutes (6h 17m)

Flight Profile

Cruise Altitude: 40,000 ft (Flight Level 400)

Route calculated using great circle navigation

Turbulence Comfort Along Route Comfort View
Comfort Score: Combines turbulence probability (GTG forecast) with intensity (ZTI analysis). High scores indicate both high probability AND high intensity turbulence.
Smooth
Comfortable
Noticeable
Uncomfortable
Formula: (Probability × Intensity)
Flight Smoothness Score
8.5 /10
Smoothness
Smooth Flight
42%
Smooth
57%
Light
1%
Moderate
AI-Powered Flight Briefing
📊 8,000 data points analyzed
Advanced AI-Powered Flight Briefing
Your Flight

We analysed more than 8,000 data points along your route from John F Kennedy International Airport, New York to Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles.

Your Journey Beta

2 hours 50 minutes 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 Appalachian Mountains, over the Rocky Mountains, and over the Sierra Nevada – 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 55 knots. These winds may delay arrival by up to 37 minutes.

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
Live data from ECMWF global forecast models • 12 atmospheric pressure levels analyzed • Updated every 6 hours
Most Common
LIGHT
57% of your flight
Peak Intensity
MODERATE
Brief sections only
Route Breakdown (81 zones)
Moderate
1 zones (1%)
Light
46 zones (57%)
Smooth
34 zones (42%)
Forecast Valid: Apr 17, 06:00 UTC (Generated: Apr 17, 06:00 UTC)
Flight Timeline 6h 17min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:30-0:59
Light
0:59-1:28
Light
1:28-1:57
Light
1:57-2:26
Light
2:26-2:55
Moderate
2:55-3:24
Light
3:24-3:53
Light
3:53-4:22
Light
4:22-4:51
Light
4:51-5:19
Smooth
5:19-5:47
Light
Landing
Light
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Turbulence Metrics ZTI and EDR
Comparing Two Turbulence Metrics:
  • ZTI (ZeroTurb Index): Our proprietary composite metric (0.0-1.0 scale)
  • EDR (Eddy Dissipation Rate): ICAO/WMO official standard (m^(2/3)/s scale)
ZTI Scale (Custom)
Smooth
<0.2
Light
0.2-0.5
Moderate
0.5-0.75
Severe
>0.75
EDR Scale (ICAO)
Smooth
<0.1
Light
0.1-0.4
Moderate
0.4-0.7
Severe
>0.7

Detailed Analysis Below: While flights generally follow these patterns, our advanced turbulence prediction system analyzes real-time weather data, atmospheric conditions, and pilot reports to provide you with precise, route-specific forecasts. Review the detailed metrics and interactive maps below for a comprehensive understanding of expected conditions along your flight path.

Narrow-Body Aircraft (Medium)

Single-aisle mainline jets like this offer a comfortable ride. While you may feel turbulence more than on wide-body aircraft, they are engineered to handle it smoothly.

Safety First: All commercial aircraft, regardless of size, are engineered and certified to safely handle turbulence. The difference is primarily in passenger comfort - larger aircraft provide a smoother feeling ride, but all aircraft are equally safe.

Important: Aircraft information is based on historical flight data and may not reflect the current assignment. Airlines may change aircraft types based on operational needs. Always verify with your airline for the most current aircraft information.
Learn more about aircraft size and comfort
Technical Forecast Details Advanced Analysis

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Comprehensive Flight Profile Altitude • Wind • Turbulence

Flight Altitude Profile
  • X-axis: Distance along route (km)
  • Y-axis (left): Aircraft altitude (feet)
  • Blue = Climb phase
  • Green = Cruise phase
  • Orange = Descent phase
Pilot Reports (PIREPs)

Real turbulence reports from pilots who recently flew near your route:

  • Green = Smooth (no turbulence)
  • Yellow = Light turbulence
  • Orange = Moderate turbulence
  • Red = Severe turbulence
Wind Speed
  • Y-axis (right): Wind speed in knots
  • Sudden wind changes often indicate turbulence
  • Hover over points to see wind direction
AI Comfort Forecast
  • Y-axis (right): Comfort Score (0-70)
  • <1 = Smooth (cyan)
  • 1-25 = Light (green)
  • 25-50 = Moderate (orange)
  • >50 = Severe (red)
Tip: Look for areas where multiple indicators coincide (e.g., pilot reports + AI forecast + wind changes) to identify the most likely turbulence zones.
Global Winds Forecast ECMWF Open Data Worldwide Coverage
Route-Specific Forecast: Wind data calculated at 81 waypoints along your flight path using high-resolution ECMWF global weather model (0.25° grid, ~25km resolution).
Minimum Winds
24 kt
28 mph
Average Winds
55 kt
63 mph
Maximum Winds
76 kt
87 mph
Valid: Apr 17, 12:00 UTC
Source: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Flight Planning: Headwinds increase flight time and fuel consumption. Tailwinds decrease both. Strong crosswinds may affect takeoff/landing at airports.
Wind Impact Analysis FAIR
Wind Assessment: Moderate headwinds (52 kt avg) will moderately increase flight time. This is typical for this route.
Route Wind Breakdown
Headwinds
77 zones (95%)
Crosswinds
3 zones (4%)
Strong headwinds averaging 52 kt - longer flight time expected
Flight Time Impact
52 kt
Avg Headwind
+37 min
Time Impact
Slower than normal
Wind Range:
• Max Tailwind: 0 kt
• Max Headwind: 74 kt
• Max Crosswind: 37 kt
Wind Speed Along Route ECMWF Forecast
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) Analysis Custom Algorithm
What is ZTI? Our proprietary ZeroTurb Index combines three meteorological indicators to give you a comprehensive turbulence probability (0.0-1.0 scale). The chart below shows how each component contributes to the overall ZTI along your route:
  • Richardson Number (Ri): Atmospheric stability - lower values indicate CAT risk
  • Wind Shear Index (WSI): Rate of wind speed/direction changes
  • Temperature Gradient Index (TGI): Frontal boundary strength
  • ZTI (Composite): Proprietary composite of the three indices above
ZTI Thresholds: Smooth: 0.0-0.2 Light: 0.2-0.5 Moderate: 0.5-0.75 Severe: 0.75-1.0
Scientific GTG Analysis NOAA Standards
For Aviation Professionals: This section shows turbulence zones using conservative NOAA GTG thresholds. These scientific thresholds are more cautious than the user-friendly "Comfort View" above, which better represents typical passenger experience.

Note: Modern aircraft are designed to handle moderate turbulence effortlessly. What scientific models classify as "moderate" often goes unnoticed by passengers due to advanced flight control systems and aircraft structural design. Most commercial flights encounter some level of atmospheric turbulence that the aircraft manages automatically.
Zone Distribution (Scientific Thresholds)
9%
Smooth (<15%)
7 zones
22%
Light (15-30%)
18 zones
65%
Moderate (30-50%)
53 zones
4%
Severe (≥50% prob)
3 zones
Threshold Comparison
Category Comfort View Scientific (NOAA)
Smooth <20% probability <15% probability
Light 20-50% 15-30%
Moderate 50-75% 30-50%
Severe ≥75% ≥50%
Turbulence Probability Along Route GTG Forecast
Low (0-30%)
Light or no turbulence
Medium (30-50%)
Moderate turbulence likely
High (50-70%)
Moderate-severe expected
Extreme (70-100%)
Severe turbulence
Active Turbulence Warnings (AIRSIGMETs) Loading...
Pilot Reports (PIREPs) - 9 Reports
What are PIREPs? Pilot Reports (PIREPs) are real-time observations from pilots flying the route. They provide the most accurate turbulence information available.
Time (UTC) Intensity Altitude Aircraft Report
Airport Forecasts (TAF) - Next 24-30 Hours
Departure: KJFK
Valid: Apr 17 12:00 - Apr 18 18:00 UTC
12:00 - 16:00 UTC
Wind: 320° at 7 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 7000 ft, BKN 10000 ft
FM 16:00 - 22:00 UTC
Wind: 330° at 9 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 5000 ft, BKN 10000 ft
PROB PROB 30% 19:00 - 22:00 UTC
Weather: -SHRA
Clouds: BKN 5000 ft
FM 22:00 - 01:00 UTC
Wind: 20° at 8 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 5000 ft, BKN 10000 ft
FM 01:00 - 08:00 UTC
Wind: 60° at 7 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: BKN 4000 ft
FM 08:00 - 14:00 UTC
Wind: 70° at 7 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 1500 ft
TEMPO 10:00 - 13:00 UTC
Clouds: BKN 1500 ft
FM 14:00 - 18:00 UTC
Wind: 120° at 6 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 2000 ft, BKN 5000 ft
Raw TAF: 
TAF KJFK 171127Z 1712/1818 32007KT P6SM SCT070 BKN100 FM171600 33009KT P6SM SCT050 BKN100 PROB30 1719/1722 -SHRA BKN050 FM172200 02008KT P6SM SCT050 BKN100 FM180100 06007KT P6SM BKN040 FM180800 07007KT P6SM SCT015 TEMPO 1810/1813 BKN015 FM181400 12006KT P6SM SCT020 BKN050
Arrival: KLAX
Forecast Valid: Apr 17 09:00 - Apr 18 12:00 UTC
09:00 - 10:00 UTC
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: FEW at 1400 ft
FM 10:00 - 13:00 UTC
Wind: 90° at 4 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 1500 ft
FM 13:00 - 17:00 UTC
Wind: 90° at 7 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 1500 ft
FM 17:00 - 20:00 UTC
Wind: 250° at 6 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SKC
FM 20:00 - 04:00 UTC
Wind: 250° at 12 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SKC
FM 04:00 - 06:00 UTC
Wind: 250° at 6 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SKC
FM 06:00 - 12:00 UTC
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 1800 ft
Raw TAF: 
TAF KLAX 170859Z 1709/1812 VRB03KT P6SM FEW014 FM171000 09004KT P6SM SCT015 FM171300 09007KT P6SM SCT015 FM171700 25006KT P6SM SKC FM172000 25012KT P6SM SKC FM180400 25006KT P6SM SKC FM180600 VRB03KT P6SM SCT018
About TAF: Terminal Area Forecasts (TAF) provide detailed 24-30 hour weather forecasts for airports, including wind, visibility, cloud ceiling, and weather phenomena. Updated every 6 hours by NOAA Aviation Weather Center.
Current Airport Weather (METAR)
Departure: KJFK
Temperature: 20°C (68°F) | Dewpoint: 15°C
Wind: 330° at 9 kt
Sky: FEW6000 BKN11000 BKN25000 (Base: 6000 ft)
Flight Category: VFR
Altimeter: 1009.60 inHg (1009 mb)
Observed: Apr 17 10:51 UTC
Raw METAR: 
METAR KJFK 171051Z 33009KT 10SM FEW060 BKN110 BKN250 20/15 A2981 RMK AO2 RAE0954 SLP094 P0000 T02000150
Arrival: KLAX
Temperature: 14°C (57°F) | Dewpoint: 12°C
Wind: 90° at 6 kt
Sky: FEW1200 SCT1800 (Base: 1200 ft)
Flight Category: VFR
Altimeter: 1013.30 inHg (1013 mb)
Observed: Apr 17 10:53 UTC
Raw METAR: 
METAR KLAX 171053Z 09006KT 10SM FEW012 SCT018 14/12 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP130 T01440122
About METAR: Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METAR) provide current weather observations from airports, including temperature, wind, visibility, clouds, and atmospheric pressure. Updated hourly by NOAA Aviation Weather Center. Flight Categories: VFR (Good), MVFR (Marginal), IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), LIFR (Low Instrument Flight Rules).
Route Segment Analysis

The route has been divided into segments of approximately 500km each for detailed analysis.

Route Map With GTG Forecast Overlay
Data Sources & Our Approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Unlike generic turbulence forecasts, we've developed a proprietary ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) algorithm that combines three meteorological indices weighted by their predictive accuracy. This gives you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability (0.0-1.0 scale) instead of vague categories. Our approach processes raw ECMWF atmospheric data through custom calculations to detect Clear-Air Turbulence (CAT), wind shear zones, and frontal boundaries that cause bumpy rides.

This forecast integrates data from:

Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.

How accurate are turbulence alerts? Alerts are based on updated forecast models and pilot reports, and can change as departure approaches.

Flight Insights & Recommendations

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