Burbank to Albany Turbulence Forecast

BUR → ALB · 2,452 miles · ~5h 24m

What to Expect

Okay, let's look at what your Burbank (BUR) to Albany (ALB) flight might feel like. This route, heading northeast for over 2400 miles, crosses a lot of different terrain, and that means different kinds of air. Right after Burbank, you'll be over the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, where the sun heats the ground unevenly, creating what's called thermal turbulence. As you continue, you'll cross the Central Rockies and Front Range, where mountain wave turbulence can occur as wind flows over the peaks. Further along, over the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, you might experience clear-air turbulence (CAT), which can happen even when the sky looks perfectly clear. As you pass over the Great Lakes, you may encounter lake-effect turbulence. When over the Mississippi Valley, convective turbulence may occur. Nearing Albany, you'll fly over the Northern Appalachians, which can create mechanical turbulence as the wind interacts with the mountains, then finally the Atlantic Seaboard where clear-air turbulence (CAT) may occur. Pilots are very familiar with all of these patterns, and they use weather forecasts to navigate them as smoothly as possible.

Between Burbank and Albany, the flight path crosses the Central Rockies of Colorado and Utah. This area is one of the most turbulence-prone zones in the U.S., with mountain wave activity reported on more than half of winter days. Waves can propagate far downstream, meaning turbulence may begin well before or after the visible peaks.

Turbulence Factors on This Route

• Thermal Turbulence: Extreme desert heating generates strong thermal updrafts that cause low-to-mid-level turbulence, especially in summer afternoons.
• Mountain Wave Turbulence: The Central Rockies produce frequent, sometimes severe, mountain waves that can extend 100+ miles downstream.
• Clear-Air Turbulence (CAT): The jet stream frequently meanders over the Great Plains, producing wind shear and clear-air turbulence at cruising altitudes.
• Lake-Effect Turbulence: The Great Lakes produce lake-effect convection and low-level wind shear from land-water temperature contrasts.

When Is This Route Bumpiest?

For the smoothest possible flight, aim for early fall. The weather patterns tend to be more settled then, with less thermal activity over the deserts, calmer winds over the mountains, and less convective activity in general. Winter can also be quite smooth, though lake-effect turbulence over the Great Lakes can be more pronounced. Summer tends to be bumpier, especially over the deserts and Mississippi Valley, because of increased thermal and convective activity. Spring and late fall can also be more turbulent due to the transition between weather systems and increased wind shear.

Tips for This Flight

If you're concerned about turbulence, booking your flight for the morning is usually a good idea; the air tends to be calmer before the day heats up, especially over the deserts. If you do encounter turbulence, think of it like driving on a slightly bumpy road; it's usually more of an annoyance than anything else. While planning for your flight, choose a seat over the wing to minimize feeling the effects of turbulence, and remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water before and during the flight. The pilots are constantly monitoring conditions, and they'll adjust the flight path or altitude as needed to keep things as smooth as possible.

Get Your Forecast

Related Routes

See all routes from Burbank or to Albany.

More from Burbank

More to Albany

Forecasts based on NOAA HRRR and GFS atmospheric model data.