KORD KSFO

Chicago O'Hare International Airport San Francisco International Airport
Route Information
Departure

KORD (ORD)

Distance

2,963.9 km (1,600.4 nautical miles)

Arrival

KSFO (SFO)

Flight Time

282 minutes (4h 42m)

Flight Profile

Cruise Altitude: 36,000 ft (Flight Level 360)

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
8.2 /10
Smoothness
Smooth Flight
34%
Smooth
57%
Light
8%
Moderate
AI-Powered Flight Briefing
📊 6,000 data points analyzed
Advanced AI-Powered Flight Briefing
Your Flight

We analysed more than 6,000 data points along your route from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago to San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco.

Your Journey Beta

1 hour, 1 hour 20 minutes, and 3 hours 35 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 Rocky Mountains and over the Sierra Nevada – these areas can sometimes cause light 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 51 knots. These winds may delay arrival by up to 22 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
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 (61 zones)
Moderate
5 zones (8%)
Light
35 zones (57%)
Smooth
21 zones (34%)
Forecast Valid: Aug 31, 12:00 UTC (Generated: Aug 31, 12:00 UTC)
Flight Timeline 4h 42min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Light
0:30-0:58
Light
0:58-1:26
Moderate
1:26-1:54
Light
1:54-2:22
Light
2:22-2:50
Smooth
2:50-3:18
Light
3:18-3:45
Moderate
3:45-4:12
Moderate
Landing
Moderate
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 forecast combines ECMWF and NOAA weather data, atmospheric conditions, and pilot reports to build a route-specific picture, updated every 6 hours. 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 61 waypoints along your flight path using high-resolution ECMWF global weather model (0.25° grid, ~25km resolution).
Minimum Winds
10 kt
12 mph
Average Winds
51 kt
59 mph
Maximum Winds
75 kt
86 mph
Valid: Aug 31, 15:00 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 (41 kt avg) will moderately increase flight time. This is typical for this route.
Route Wind Breakdown
Tailwinds
6 zones (10%)
Headwinds
49 zones (80%)
Crosswinds
5 zones (8%)
Moderate headwinds averaging 41 kt - slightly longer than normal
Flight Time Impact
41 kt
Avg Headwind
+22 min
Time Impact
Slower than normal
Wind Range:
• Max Tailwind: 24 kt
• Max Headwind: 67 kt
• Max Crosswind: 43 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)
8%
Smooth (<15%)
5 zones
15%
Light (15-30%)
9 zones
69%
Moderate (30-50%)
42 zones
8%
Severe (≥50% prob)
5 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 SIGMETs (Turbulence Warnings) 4 Warnings
SIGMETs are official warnings about significant turbulence that may affect flight safety. Always consult official aviation weather briefings before flight.
SIGMET KKCI Severe Convective
Altitude Range: 0 - 45,000 ft (FL000 - FL450)
Valid: Aug 31, 12:55 UTC - 14:55 UTC
Movement: W (280°) at 35 kt (~40 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS31 KKCI 311255 SIGE CONVECTIVE SIGMET 60E VALID UNTIL 1455Z MI IN WI IL LH LS LM FROM 30NE SAW-50NE ASP-30ESE FNT-30SSW BVT-20NNE BDF-30NE SAW INTSF AREA TS MOV FROM 28035KT. TOPS ABV FL450. OUTLOOK VALID 311455-311855 AREA 1...FROM 150SE SIE-180ESE ECG-140SSE ILM-180ENE PBI-60E PBI-150SE MIA-70WSW EYW-90WSW PIE-190ESE LEV-CEW-TLH-150SE SIE WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS. AREA 2...FROM 90N SAW-60NE ASP-30E ECK-DXO-40W CLE-BUF-YYZ-30N SYR-BDL-HAR-30SW GIJ-90N SAW WST ISSUANCES POSS. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
SIGMET KKCI Severe Convective
Altitude Range: 0 - 40,000 ft (FL000 - FL400)
Valid: Aug 31, 12:55 UTC - 14:55 UTC
Movement: SW (230°) at 30 kt (~34 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 311255 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 46C VALID UNTIL 1455Z MO IA KS NE FROM 30S FOD-30ENE DSM-30ESE PWE-20NNE PWE-30S FOD AREA TS MOV FROM 23030KT. TOPS TO FL400. OUTLOOK VALID 311455-311855 AREA 1...FROM 60SE FSD-40E DSM-60ESE GCK-30ENE GCK-60SE FSD WST ISSUANCES POSS. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS. AREA 2...FROM 40E YQT-90NNE SAW-BVT-40SW DLL-50ESE INL-40E YQT WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS. AREA 3...FROM CEW-160S CEW-120SSW LCH-80E BRO-BRO-CRP-30SSE LFK-CEW WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
SIGMET KKCI Severe Convective
Altitude Range: 0 - 41,000 ft (FL000 - FL410)
Valid: Aug 31, 13:55 UTC - 15:55 UTC
Movement: SW (220°) at 30 kt (~34 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 311355 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 50C VALID UNTIL 1555Z MO IA FROM 30WNW DSM-30SSE DSM-40ENE PWE-20S OVR-30WNW DSM AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL410. OUTLOOK VALID 311555-311955 FROM CEW-160S CEW-120SSW LCH-80E BRO-BRO-CRP-30SSE LFK-CEW WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
SIGMET KKCI Severe Convective
Altitude Range: 0 - 45,000 ft (FL000 - FL450)
Valid: Aug 31, 13:55 UTC - 15:55 UTC
Movement: W (280°) at 35 kt (~40 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS31 KKCI 311355 SIGE CONVECTIVE SIGMET 65E VALID UNTIL 1555Z OH MI IN WI IL LH LM FROM 50E SAW-50NE ASP-20SSE ECK-30SSE BVT-30W JOT-50E SAW INTSF AREA TS MOV FROM 28035KT. TOPS TO FL450. OUTLOOK VALID 311555-311955 AREA 1...FROM 150SE SIE-180ESE ECG-140SSE ILM-180ENE PBI-60E PBI-150SE MIA-70WSW EYW-90WSW PIE-190ESE LEV-CEW-TLH-150SE SIE WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS. AREA 2...FROM 90N SAW-60NE ASP-30E ECK-DXO-40W CLE-BUF-YYZ-30N SYR-BDL-HAR-30SW GIJ-90N SAW WST ISSUANCES POSS. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
Active Turbulence Warnings (AIRSIGMETs) Loading...
Lightning Activity (Last Hour) Moderate Activity

34

Total Strikes

5 min ago

Latest Strike

Active

Ongoing Activity

1 hour

Time Window
Lightning strikes near your route indicate convective activity (thunderstorms). Active storms detected within the last 15 minutes. Areas with lightning typically have severe turbulence, icing, hail, and strong winds. Avoid these areas by at least 20 nautical miles.
Pilot Reports (PIREPs) - 6 Reports
What are PIREPs? Pilot Reports (PIREPs) are real-time observations from pilots flying the route. They are direct, first-hand reports of actual conditions aloft.
Time (UTC) Intensity Altitude Aircraft Report
Airport Forecasts (TAF) - Next 24-30 Hours
Departure: KORD
Valid: Aug 31 09:00 - Sep 01 12:00 UTC
09:00 - 16:00 UTC
Wind: 170° at 5 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Weather: VCSH
Clouds: SCT 7000 ft, BKN 12000 ft
09:00 - 16:00 UTC
Wind: 170° at 5 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Weather: VCSH
Clouds: SCT 7000 ft, BKN 12000 ft
PROB PROB 30% 12:00 - 15:00 UTC
Visibility: 5 SM
Weather: -TSRA
Clouds: BKN 8000 ft (CB)
PROB PROB 30% 12:00 - 15:00 UTC
Visibility: 5 SM
Weather: -TSRA
Clouds: BKN 8000 ft (CB)
FM 16:00 - 01:00 UTC
Wind: 210° at 12 kt gusting to 21 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 10000 ft, FEW 5000 ft
FM 16:00 - 01:00 UTC
Wind: 210° at 12 kt gusting to 21 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 10000 ft, FEW 5000 ft
PROB PROB 30% 21:00 - 00:00 UTC
Visibility: 5 SM
Weather: -TSRA
Clouds: SCT 5000 ft, BKN 8000 ft (CB)
PROB PROB 30% 21:00 - 00:00 UTC
Visibility: 5 SM
Weather: -TSRA
Clouds: SCT 5000 ft, BKN 8000 ft (CB)
FM 01:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 210° at 5 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: BKN 15000 ft, SCT 10000 ft
FM 01:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 210° at 5 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: BKN 15000 ft, SCT 10000 ft
Raw TAF: 
TAF KORD 310851Z 3109/0112 17005KT P6SM VCSH SCT070 BKN120 PROB30 3112/3115 5SM -TSRA BKN080CB FM311600 21012G21KT P6SM FEW050 SCT100 PROB30 3121/3124 5SM -TSRA SCT050 BKN080CB FM010100 21005KT P6SM SCT100 BKN150
Arrival: KSFO
Forecast Valid: Aug 31 09:00 - Sep 01 12:00 UTC
09:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 240° at 8 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: FEW at 800 ft
09:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 240° at 8 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: FEW at 800 ft
TEMPO 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Clouds: BKN at 1200 ft
TEMPO 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Clouds: BKN at 1200 ft
FM 12:00 - 18:00 UTC
Wind: 240° at 8 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: BKN at 1200 ft
FM 12:00 - 18:00 UTC
Wind: 240° at 8 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: BKN at 1200 ft
FM 18:00 - 04:00 UTC
Wind: 290° at 15 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 1500 ft
FM 18:00 - 04:00 UTC
Wind: 290° at 15 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 1500 ft
FM 04:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 290° at 10 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: BKN at 1500 ft
FM 04:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 290° at 10 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: BKN at 1500 ft
Raw TAF: 
TAF KSFO 310859Z 3109/0112 24008KT P6SM FEW008 TEMPO 3110/3112 BKN012 FM311200 24008KT P6SM BKN012 FM311800 29015KT P6SM SCT015 FM010400 29010KT P6SM BKN015
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: KORD
Temperature: 22°C (71°F) | Dewpoint: 19°C
Wind: 130° at 7 kt
Sky: FEW5500 BKN10000 BKN15000 (Base: 5500 ft)
Flight Category: VFR
Altimeter: 1015.30 inHg (1015 mb)
Observed: Aug 31 13:51 UTC
Raw METAR: 
METAR KORD 311351Z 13007KT 10SM -RA FEW055 BKN100 BKN150 22/19 A2998 RMK AO2 RAE23B29 TSE12B24E41 SLP149 P0009 T02220194
Arrival: KSFO
Temperature: 15°C (59°F) | Dewpoint: 12°C
Wind: 260° at 9 kt
Sky: FEW500 OVC1400 (Base: 500 ft)
Flight Category: MVFR
Altimeter: 1013.60 inHg (1013 mb)
Observed: Aug 31 13:56 UTC
Raw METAR: 
METAR KSFO 311356Z 26009KT 10SM FEW005 OVC014 15/12 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP134 T01500117
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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