Burbank to New Orleans Turbulence Forecast

BUR → MSY · 1,665 miles · ~3h 50m

What to Expect

This Burbank to New Orleans flight, heading east for about 3 hours and 50 minutes, does cross some interesting, and occasionally bumpy, geographic areas. Right after takeoff, you'll be flying over the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, and these desert landscapes can generate what's called thermal turbulence, which is like the air currents you feel when you're at the beach. Then, you'll cross the Southern Rockies, where mountain wave turbulence can occur, which is similar to waves forming over rocks in a stream. Further along, you'll be flying over Tornado Alley, where severe convective turbulence is possible, especially if there are thunderstorms in the area. Finally, as you approach New Orleans, you'll fly over the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi Valley, where convective turbulence, which comes from rising warm air, is also common. Airline pilots are trained to handle these conditions, and modern aircraft are built to withstand much more turbulence than you're likely to experience.

The Burbank to New Orleans route passes over the Southern Rockies in New Mexico and southern Colorado. While somewhat lower than the peaks to the north, these mountains still produce notable mountain wave turbulence, particularly when strong southwesterly winds aloft align perpendicular to the ridgeline.

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 Southern Rockies produce lee waves when southwesterly upper-level winds flow across the terrain.
• Severe Convective Turbulence: Tornado Alley supercells produce some of the most intense convective turbulence in North American aviation.

When Is This Route Bumpiest?

For the smoothest flight, winter and fall are generally your best bets. Early spring can also be fairly calm. Summer, late winter, spring, and early summer tend to be the bumpiest times on this route, mainly because that's when you're most likely to encounter convective turbulence over Tornado Alley, the Gulf Coast, and the Mississippi Valley due to the warmer temperatures and increased thunderstorm activity. Mountain wave turbulence over the Rockies is also more common in winter, but it's less widespread than summer convection.

Tips for This Flight

If you're concerned about turbulence, booking a morning flight is often the best strategy, as the air tends to be calmer earlier in the day before the ground heats up. Any turbulence you do encounter on this route is most likely to feel like driving on a bumpy road or hitting a few potholes. To stay comfortable, choose a seat over the wing, where the motion is typically less noticeable, and focus on slow, steady breathing to help you relax. Remember that the pilots are constantly monitoring the weather and are skilled at navigating these conditions, and the plane is designed to handle it.

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Forecasts based on NOAA HRRR and GFS atmospheric model data.