Seattle to New York LaGuardia Turbulence Forecast

SEA → LGA · 2,406 miles · ~5h 19m

What to Expect

Seattle to LaGuardia is a pretty standard cross-country flight, and pilots are very familiar with the kinds of turbulence we might encounter. Leaving Seattle, we'll cross the Cascades and then later the Northern Rockies, so we might feel some mountain wave turbulence there. This happens when wind flows over the mountains, creating waves in the air. Further east, over the Pacific Coast, the Great Plains, and the Upper Midwest, we might experience clear-air turbulence or CAT, which is often caused by jet stream activity and can appear without warning. Crossing the Great Lakes, especially closer to winter, lake-effect turbulence can occur due to colder air passing over warmer lake waters. As we approach New York over the Northern Appalachians, we could encounter mechanical turbulence, caused by wind interacting with the terrain. Finally, the Atlantic seaboard might give us some more clear-air turbulence as we descend.

The flight between Seattle and New York LaGuardia passes over the Cascades, the volcanic mountain chain stretching from northern California through Washington. When moist Pacific air is forced up and over the Cascades, it creates both orographic turbulence and downstream wave activity. The terrain is especially steep near major volcanoes like Mount Rainier, amplifying the effect.

Turbulence Factors on This Route

• Mountain Wave Turbulence: The Cascades create lee waves and orographic turbulence, especially when Pacific weather systems push moist air over the range.
• Clear-Air Turbulence (CAT): Pacific jet streaks arriving onshore drive upper-level clear-air turbulence along the West Coast.
• Lake-Effect Turbulence: The Great Lakes produce lake-effect convection and low-level wind shear from land-water temperature contrasts.
• Mechanical Turbulence: The Northern Appalachians generate low-level mechanical turbulence during strong post-frontal northwest winds.

When Is This Route Bumpiest?

The summer and early fall months generally offer the smoothest flights on this route, as the jet stream tends to be more stable and the temperature differences between the lakes and air are less pronounced. Fall, winter, early spring, late fall, spring, and early winter can be a bit bumpier. This is due to stronger jet stream activity causing more clear-air turbulence, and greater temperature contrasts leading to more mountain wave and lake-effect turbulence. Essentially, the greater the temperature differences between land and water or the strength of the winds blowing over mountains, the higher the likelihood of turbulence.

Tips for This Flight

Opt for a morning flight if possible, as the atmosphere tends to be more stable earlier in the day. Any turbulence we experience on this route is most likely to feel like driving on a slightly bumpy road or the sensation of gentle rocking. While it might be annoying, remember the pilots are aware of these conditions and are trained to handle them. For added comfort, choose a seat over the wing, where movement is typically less noticeable, and focus on deep, slow breaths to help stay relaxed. You've got this.

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Forecasts based on NOAA HRRR and GFS atmospheric model data.