SWIPE > Mapped: Most Turbulent Flight Routes and Airports

Using turbulence forecast data from NOAA and the UK Met Office, website Turbli ranks the most turbulent flight routes by comparing units of “edr” or eddy dissipation rates. This measurable unit is the speed at which turbulent structures break down and dissipate their energy into heat.

To get the annual rankings, Turbli compiled data for 10,000 routes and 550 major airports across the world. This included at least one airport for each country (excluding small islands and city-states) and one airport for each state/province of the US and China. If a city included more than one large airport (JFK and LaGuardia in New York, for example), both were included. Note that the eddy dissipation rates shown are yearly averages.

The geographic region with the most turbulence for flying is South America, although the route with the highest average turbulence—Mendoza to Santiago—is still within the moderate range on the turbulence scale.

In North America, the top 10 most turbulent routes are all in the western US, with Denver (CO), Salt Lake City (UT), Las Vegas (NV), Jackson Hole (WY) and Bozeman (MT) appearing more than once in the rankings. 

What do these high-turbulence routes have in common? Many span tall mountain ranges which can cause a type of atmospheric turbulence known as “mountain waves.” Tall peaks act as a barrier to airflow, forcing it into upward currents. This air then flows over the mountain, creating oscillating waves that can extend far downwind.

The Rockies, the Andes, the Himalayas and the alpine areas of both Switzerland and New Zealand contribute to the higher averages for those airspaces. Turbulence rates can also be determined by the jet stream and seasonal changes. Winters tend to have stronger winds.

Modern aircraft are designed to withstand heavy turbulence far beyond what is normally experienced aboard a typical flight.