A map created by Newsweek reveals which United States airports were the most turbulent in 2025.

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Anna Skinner

By Anna Skinner

Associate News Editor

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Millions of airline passengers could experience fewer jarring flights thanks to a new federal forecasting tool that gives pilots a more detailed picture of turbulence in near real time.

The system, launched by the National Weather Service's (NWS) Aviation Weather Center, is designed to help flight crews identify pockets of rough air more quickly, potentially allowing them to adjust routes or altitudes before passengers feel the bumps.

The newly launched Graphical Turbulence Guidance Nowcast (GTGN), which updates every 15 minutes, combines aircraft observations with weather and atmospheric data to provide a more detailed picture of turbulent conditions. Officials say the system is intended to help pilots identify areas of rough air that may not be fully captured by traditional forecast models.

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"National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center (AWC) debuted a new turbulence tool to help make flights smoother," NWS posted on X this week. "The Graphical Turbulence Guidance Nowcast gives pilots more frequent, higher-resolution turbulence information to support safer, more informed decisions in flight."

The tool, which launched July 30, provides data at altitudes ranging from 100 feet to 50,000 feet and is intended to complement existing turbulence forecasts by offering near real-time updates while flights are already underway. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-supported project was developed in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Colorado State University's Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA).

"GTGN is available across the lower 48 states and is not limited to certain airports. All pilots can access it through the National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center website," an FAA spokesperson told Newsweek. "It is still too early to say how widely the tool is being used, and we are not currently tracking usage data."

What Is Turbulence?

Turbulence refers to irregular air movement that causes aircraft to shake or change altitude unexpectedly. While it can be uncomfortable for passengers, modern commercial aircraft are designed to withstand turbulence far more severe than what is typically encountered during routine flights. The FAA describes turbulence as a leading cause of in-flight injuries, primarily when passengers or crew members are not wearing seat belts.

Several types of turbulence can affect flights. Thunderstorms can generate strong convective turbulence, while jet streams can produce clear-air turbulence that is invisible to radar. Mountain ranges can also create turbulence as strong winds pass over peaks and ridges. These atmospheric disturbances can occur individually or combine to create particularly bumpy flights, especially in regions with complex terrain.

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Where Are America's Most Turbulent Flights?

According to turbulence-tracking platform Turbli's analysis of nearly 10,000 routes worldwide, many of North America's bumpiest flights occur in the western United States, where mountain ranges play a major role in generating turbulent air. Routes crossing or skirting the Rocky Mountains consistently rank among the most turbulence prone.

Turbli rates turbulence using the Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), which is the aviation industry's standard measure of turbulence intensity. Turbli categorizes forecasts into levels ranging from Light (EDR 0-20) to Moderate (20-40), Moderate to Severe (40-60), Severe (60-80) and Extreme (80-100).

According to the site, light turbulence generally corresponds to relatively smooth flying conditions, while moderate turbulence can make walking through the cabin difficult and severe turbulence can cause sudden changes in altitude and strong strains against seat belts. At the highest end of the scale is extreme turbulence, a rare category involving violent aircraft motions that can pose a risk of structural damage and temporary loss of control, though such encounters are exceedingly uncommon in commercial aviation.

America's most turbulent airports in 2025:

The route between Denver International Airport in Colorado and Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming ranked as North America's most turbulent flight path in 2025. Other highly ranked routes included Albuquerque to Denver, Jackson Hole to Salt Lake City, Denver to Salt Lake City and Bozeman to Denver. Denver also ranked as the continent's most turbulence-prone airport for approaches and departures.

Turbli's 10 most turbulent North American routes for 2025:

  1. Denver (DEN) to Jackson Hole (JAC)
  2. Albuquerque (ABQ) to Denver (DEN)
  3. Jackson Hole (JAC) to Salt Lake City (SLC)
  4. Denver (DEN) to Salt Lake City (SLC)
  5. Bozeman (BZN) to Denver (DEN)
  6. Las Vegas (LAS) to Reno (RNO)
  7. Boise (BOI) to Salt Lake City (SLC)
  8. Bozeman (BZN) to Salt Lake City (SLC)
  9. Denver (DEN) to Reno (RNO)
  10. Denver (DEN) to Albuquerque (ABQ)

Despite earning a reputation for rough rides, even these routes generally fall within the aviation industry's "light" turbulence category on average. Experts note that turbulence predictions have improved considerably over the past decade, and tools such as GTGN could further help pilots avoid rougher patches of air, reducing discomfort for millions of travelers each year.

What Happens Next

Air travel demand remains near record highs in the United States, with TSA checkpoint data showing millions of passengers passing through airport security on many days this year. As more Americans continue flying, airlines and regulators are investing in new forecasting and safety tools aimed at reducing delays, avoiding rough air and improving the passenger experience.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Skinner and Dave Siminoff.

A new tool created by the National Weather Service will give airplane pilots a more detailed look at turbulence in near real time.

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