Severe Turbulence Reports
Understanding the severe turbulence page and what these reports mean for your flight.
Overview
The Severe Turbulence page shows pilot reports (PIREPs) of moderate-severe to extreme turbulence from the last 30 days. These are real reports from pilots who actually encountered significant turbulence during their flights.
While seeing these reports might seem alarming, remember that they represent a tiny fraction of all flights. Thousands of flights operate smoothly every day without encountering any significant turbulence. This page helps you understand what severe turbulence reports look like and where they have been occurring.
How It Works
Data Collection
PIREPs are collected from aviationweather.gov, the official source for aviation weather in the United States. Pilots file these reports via radio to air traffic control, and they are then distributed to other pilots and the public.
Filtering by Severity
This page only shows PIREPs with turbulence intensity of moderate-severe (MOD-SEV) or higher. Light and moderate turbulence reports are not included since they represent normal flying conditions.
30-Day Window
Reports are shown from the last 30 days to give you a broader picture of where severe turbulence tends to occur. This is longer than typical weather products which focus on the last few hours.
Auto-Refresh
The page automatically refreshes every 5 minutes to show new reports as they come in. You can also manually refresh using the refresh button in the header.
Severity Filters
Use the filter badges at the top to show or hide specific severity levels. Click a badge to toggle it on or off:
Moderate to Severe
(MOD-SEV)Turbulence that causes occupants to feel definite strains against seat belts. Unsecured objects move about. Walking is difficult.
What this means for you: This is noticeable turbulence but the aircraft remains in positive control at all times. Keep your seatbelt fastened.
Severe
(SEV)Turbulence that causes occupants to be forced violently against seat belts. Unsecured objects are tossed about. Walking is impossible.
What this means for you: Rare and taken very seriously by pilots. They will avoid these areas when possible and alert passengers well in advance.
Severe to Extreme
(SEV-EXTRM)Turbulence between severe and extreme intensity. Very strong forces on the aircraft and occupants.
What this means for you: Extremely rare. Pilots actively avoid these conditions and air traffic control helps reroute flights around them.
Extreme
(EXTRM)Turbulence in which the aircraft is violently tossed about and is practically impossible to control. May cause structural damage.
What this means for you: Exceptionally rare - most pilots never encounter this in their careers. Associated with severe thunderstorms that all flights avoid.
Understanding the Cards
Each turbulence report is displayed as a card with several sections of information:
Static Map
Shows the exact location where the turbulence was reported. The map is color-coded to match the severity level and shows the nearby airports for reference.
Severity Badge
A colored badge in the top-right corner indicates the turbulence intensity. Red and orange badges indicate more significant turbulence.
Metadata Grid
Shows key details: the aircraft type that filed the report, the altitude where turbulence was encountered, how long ago it was reported, and the nearest airport identifier.
Explanation
A human-readable explanation of the turbulence conditions including type (CAT, CHOP, etc.), frequency, and altitude range. Expandable to show the raw PIREP text.
Reading the Raw PIREP
Each card has an expandable section showing the original PIREP text. This raw format includes coded information like:
- /TB: Turbulence section with intensity and type
- /FL: Flight level where it was encountered
- /TP: Type of aircraft filing the report
Sorting Options
Use the sort dropdown to change how reports are ordered:
Newest First
Shows the most recently reported turbulence at the top. Best for seeing current conditions.
Oldest First
Shows older reports first. Useful for tracking how conditions have evolved over time.
Most Severe
Sorts by turbulence intensity with the most severe reports at the top. Good for identifying the worst conditions quickly.
Highest Altitude
Shows reports from higher altitudes first. Useful if you know your cruise altitude.
Tips for Anxious Flyers
- Context matters: These reports represent a tiny fraction of all flights. Most flights encounter no significant turbulence at all.
- Pilots report to help others: When pilots report turbulence, other pilots can avoid the area or prepare passengers.
- Location and time matter: Turbulence in one area does not affect flights elsewhere. Check your specific route.
- Weather changes quickly: A report from hours ago may no longer reflect current conditions.
Remember that aircraft are built to handle turbulence - even severe turbulence - safely. Pilots train extensively for these conditions. The fasten seatbelt sign and crew instructions are there to keep you comfortable and secure, not because there is any danger to the aircraft.