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

294 minutes (4h 54m)

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
7.9 /10
Smoothness
Mostly Smooth
25%
Smooth
66%
Light
10%
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

24 minutes, 2 hours, and 3 hours 15 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.

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 59 knots. These winds may delay arrival by up to 24 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
66% of your flight
Peak Intensity
MODERATE
Brief sections only
Route Breakdown (61 zones)
Moderate
6 zones (10%)
Light
40 zones (66%)
Smooth
15 zones (25%)
Forecast Valid: Apr 17, 18:00 UTC (Generated: Apr 17, 18:00 UTC)
Flight Timeline 4h 54min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Moderate
0:30-1:00
Light
1:00-1:30
Light
1:30-1:59
Moderate
1:59-2:28
Light
2:28-2:57
Light
2:57-3:26
Moderate
3:26-3:55
Light
3:55-4:24
Light
Landing
Smooth
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 61 waypoints along your flight path using high-resolution ECMWF global weather model (0.25° grid, ~25km resolution).
Minimum Winds
38 kt
44 mph
Average Winds
59 kt
68 mph
Maximum Winds
82 kt
94 mph
Valid: Apr 18, 00:00 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 (45 kt avg) will moderately increase flight time. This is typical for this route.
Route Wind Breakdown
Headwinds
42 zones (69%)
Crosswinds
18 zones (30%)
Moderate headwinds averaging 45 kt - slightly longer than normal
Flight Time Impact
45 kt
Avg Headwind
+24 min
Time Impact
Slower than normal
Wind Range:
• Max Tailwind: 0 kt
• Max Headwind: 76 kt
• Max Crosswind: 59 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
5%
Light (15-30%)
3 zones
84%
Moderate (30-50%)
51 zones
3%
Severe (≥50% prob)
2 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) 5 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: Apr 17, 22:55 UTC - 00:55 UTC
Movement: SW (210°) at 45 kt (~52 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 172255 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 54C VALID UNTIL 0055Z MI WI MN IA LS LM FROM 40ESE YQT-GRR-30WNW DBQ-80WSW YQT-30S YQT-40ESE YQT AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 21045KT. TOPS ABV FL450. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 3.5 IN...WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS. OUTLOOK VALID 180055-180455 FROM 40E YQT-70SE SSM-IIU-DLF-FST-40SSW DSM-80NNE DLH-30SSE YQT-40E YQT REF WW 128 129 130 131. 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: Apr 17, 22:55 UTC - 00:55 UTC
Movement: SW (230°) at 45 kt (~52 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 172255 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 55C VALID UNTIL 0055Z IL MO IA OK KS NE FROM 30NW DSM-UIN-70W FAM-40SW END-30SSE MMB-30NW DSM AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23045KT. TOPS ABV FL450. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 4 IN...WIND GUSTS TO 75KT POSS. OUTLOOK VALID 180055-180455 FROM 40E YQT-70SE SSM-IIU-DLF-FST-40SSW DSM-80NNE DLH-30SSE YQT-40E YQT REF WW 128 129 130 131. 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: Apr 17, 22:55 UTC - 00:55 UTC
Movement: SW (230°) at 50 kt (~57 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 172255 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 57C VALID UNTIL 0055Z WI IL MO IA LM FROM 50WNW PMM-AXC-UIN-40SE DSM-30WNW DBQ-50WNW PMM INTSF AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23050KT. TOPS ABV FL450. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 4 IN...WIND GUSTS TO 75KT POSS. OUTLOOK VALID 180055-180455 FROM 40E YQT-70SE SSM-IIU-DLF-FST-40SSW DSM-80NNE DLH-30SSE YQT-40E YQT REF WW 128 129 130 131. 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: Apr 17, 23:55 UTC - 01:55 UTC
Movement: SW (230°) at 50 kt (~57 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 172355 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 59C VALID UNTIL 0155Z MI IN WI IL MO MN IA LM FROM 60NW TVC-GRR-40NNE STL-30WNW DSM-ODI-60NW TVC AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23050KT. TOPS ABV FL450 TORNADOES...HAIL TO 4 IN...WIND GUSTS TO 75KT POSS. OUTLOOK VALID 180155-180555 FROM 40E YQT-70SE SSM-IIU-DLF-FST-40SSW DSM-80NNE DLH-30SSE YQT-40E YQT REF WW 128 129 130 131. 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: Apr 17, 23:55 UTC - 01:55 UTC
Movement: SW (230°) at 45 kt (~52 mph)
Raw SIGMET: WSUS32 KKCI 172355 SIGC CONVECTIVE SIGMET 61C VALID UNTIL 0155Z IL MO IA OK KS NE FROM DSM-40NNE STL-20W FAM-60S MMB-MMB-DSM AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23045KT. TOPS ABV FL450. TORNADOES...HAIL TO 4 IN...WIND GUSTS TO 75KT POSS. OUTLOOK VALID 180155-180555 FROM 40E YQT-70SE SSM-IIU-DLF-FST-40SSW DSM-80NNE DLH-30SSE YQT-40E YQT REF WW 128 129 130 131. WST ISSUANCES EXPD. REFER TO MOST RECENT ACUS01 KWNS FROM STORM PREDICTION CENTER FOR SYNOPSIS AND METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
Active Turbulence Warnings (AIRSIGMETs) Loading...
Lightning Activity (Last Hour) Severe Activity

1000

Total Strikes

3 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) - 16 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: KORD
Valid: Apr 18 00:00 - Apr 19 06:00 UTC
00:00 - 01:30 UTC
Wind: 180° at 18 kt gusting to 28 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Weather: VCSH
Clouds: SCT 4000 ft, BKN 25000 ft
FM 01:30 - 04:00 UTC
Wind: 190° at 14 kt gusting to 24 kt
Visibility: 3 SM
Weather: -TSRA BR
Clouds: SCT 2000 ft, BKN 4000 ft (CB)
TEMPO 02:00 - 04:00 UTC
Wind: 270° at 20 kt gusting to 35 kt
Visibility: 1 SM
Weather: +TSRA BR
Clouds: BKN 1500 ft, OVC 3500 ft (CB)
FM 04:00 - 06:00 UTC
Wind: 210° at 12 kt gusting to 20 kt
Visibility: 5 SM
Weather: -SHRA BR VCTS
Clouds: SCT 2000 ft, BKN 3500 ft (CB)
FM 06:00 - 08:00 UTC
Wind: 220° at 12 kt gusting to 20 kt
Visibility: 6 SM
Weather: -SHRA
Clouds: BKN 2000 ft, OVC 10000 ft
FM 08:00 - 13:00 UTC
Wind: 290° at 15 kt gusting to 25 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 1000 ft, OVC 2000 ft
FM 13:00 - 01:00 UTC
Wind: 290° at 17 kt gusting to 27 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 2000 ft, BKN 3500 ft
FM 01:00 - 06:00 UTC
Wind: 270° at 11 kt gusting to 17 kt
Visibility: 6+ SM
Clouds: SCT 3500 ft
Raw TAF: 
TAF KORD 172320Z 1800/1906 18018G28KT P6SM VCSH SCT040 BKN250 FM180130 19014G24KT 3SM -TSRA BR SCT020 BKN040CB TEMPO 1802/1804 27020G35KT 1SM +TSRA BR BKN015 OVC035CB FM180400 21012G20KT 5SM -SHRA BR VCTS SCT020 BKN035CB FM180600 22012G20KT 6SM -SHRA BKN020 OVC100 FM180800 29015G25KT P6SM SCT010 OVC020 FM181300 29017G27KT P6SM SCT020 BKN035 FM190100 27011G17KT P6SM SCT035
Arrival: KSFO
Forecast Valid: Apr 18 00:00 - Apr 19 06:00 UTC
00:00 - 05:00 UTC
Wind: 280° at 18 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: FEW at 25000 ft
FM 05:00 - 12:00 UTC
Wind: 270° at 10 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 25000 ft
FM 12:00 - 21:00 UTC
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: BKN at 25000 ft
FM 21:00 - 06:00 UTC
Wind: 270° at 15 kt
Visibility: 6+
Clouds: SCT at 25000 ft
Raw TAF: 
TAF KSFO 172321Z 1800/1906 28018KT P6SM FEW250 FM180500 27010KT P6SM SCT250 FM181200 VRB04KT P6SM BKN250 FM182100 27015KT P6SM SCT250
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: 26°C (78°F) | Dewpoint: 17°C
Wind: 170° at 18 kt gusting to 28 kt
Sky: FEW5500 SCT15000 OVC25000 (Base: 5500 ft)
Flight Category: VFR
Altimeter: 1002.80 inHg (1002 mb)
Observed: Apr 17 23:51 UTC
Raw METAR: 
METAR KORD 172351Z 17018G28KT 10SM FEW055 SCT150 OVC250 26/17 A2961 RMK AO2 PK WND 18033/2306 SLP025 T02560167 10272 20250 56033 $
Arrival: KSFO
Temperature: 18°C (64°F) | Dewpoint: 1°C
Wind: 280° at 15 kt
Sky: BKN20000 (Base: 20000 ft)
Flight Category: VFR
Altimeter: 1017.00 inHg (1017 mb)
Observed: Apr 17 23:56 UTC
Raw METAR: 
METAR KSFO 172356Z 28015KT 10SM BKN200 18/01 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP169 T01830011 10211 20172 58009 $
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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