AS1493 turbulence forecast
Alaska Airlines · San Diego (SAN) to Chicago (ORD)
The forecast for its last flight, Mon 12 Oct
We have no upcoming AS1493 departure on record, so this is the forecast its most recent flight carried.
Smooth most of the way, with some light bumps after takeoff. Barely moves your drink.
- Bumpiest stretch
- Light
- Flight time
- 4h 13m
- Distance
- 2,771 km
- Cruise altitude
- 37,000 ft
- Weather models
- 4 blended
- Model agreement
- High
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 NG
Bumpiness along the flight
Takeoff on the left, landing on the right. The higher the line, the bumpier the air the forecast expects at that moment.
Where, and why
The flight split into stretches: how bumpy each is forecast to be, and what causes it.
Cruise0m – 1h 12mLight
Mountain waves
Wind blowing over a mountain range makes waves in the air downstream, the way water ripples over rocks in a stream, and those waves can reach cruising height. They are forecast from the same wind and terrain data used here, so the crew knows where they are before departure.
At cruise the air is thin and cold, and most of it is calm. The bumps up here come from the jet stream, a band of fast wind whose edges stir the air, or from waves set off by mountains far below. This forecast shows where those edges are.
Cruise1h 11m – 4h 13mSmooth
Nothing significant forecast here.
At cruise the air is thin and cold, and most of it is calm. The bumps up here come from the jet stream, a band of fast wind whose edges stir the air, or from waves set off by mountains far below. This forecast shows where those edges are.
This forecast changes. FlyBud tells you when.
A new weather model run lands every few hours. Add AS1493 in FlyBud and you get the full turbulence map along your route, a push when the forecast for your flight changes, live tracking and your flight on the lock screen.
Flight status
The latest AS1493 flight on our records, as the airline last reported it.
Last update 24 days ago
Gate changes, delays and the baggage belt, pushed to your phone as they happen.
The aircraft
What AS1493 is flown with, and how it handles bumpy air.
Boeing 737-800
- Type code
- B738
- First flew
- 1997
- In service since
- 1998
- Economy seating
- 3-3
- Engines
- 2
- Cabin pressure equal to
- 8,000 ft
Bigger and heavier aircraft are moved less by the same patch of air, and every airliner is designed for much stronger turbulence than it will meet.
The airline
Alaska Airlines
- Flying since
- 1932
- Alliance
- oneworld
- Hubs
- Seattle–Tacoma, Honolulu, Portland
- Country
- United States
The route
San Diego (SAN) → Chicago (ORD)
- Distance
- 2,771 km
- Flight time
- 4h 13m
- Usual departure
- 17:46 local
- Usual arrival
- 23:59 local
Recent AS1493 flights
The forecast each flight carried, and how it ran.
| Date | Aircraft | Forecast | How it ran |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 12 Oct | 737-800 | Light | On time |
What each level feels like
- Smooth
- Calm air. Nothing to notice beyond the hum of the engines.
- Light
- Gentle ripples and the odd dip. Drinks stay put, and walking to the toilet is fine.
- Moderate
- Clear bumps. Drinks may slosh and the belt sign comes on. Uncomfortable, but the pilots stay in full control.
- Severe
- Strong jolts, and loose items can move. This is rare, and it's why the belt sign exists. Crews slow down and change altitude to get out of it.
How this forecast is made
The planned route is sampled from gate to gate at the altitude the aircraft flies, through 4 independent global weather models, and corrected with turbulence reports radioed in by pilots in the last few hours. Each new model run replaces the forecast; nothing here is a guess from the airline's history.
The independent weather models behind this forecast agree on this ride.
Planned route · timing and conditions may change.
Why turbulence isn't dangerous
Aircraft are designed for much worse.
Airliners are tested to loads well beyond anything turbulence produces. The wings are meant to flex, so seeing them move is normal.
Crews know where it is.
Your crew has forecasts like this one, live reports from other pilots and their own weather radar, and they change altitude to stay out of bumpy air.
Keep your belt on.
Almost all turbulence injuries happen to people who are standing or not buckled in. Seated with your belt on, turbulence is uncomfortable but not dangerous.
Questions about AS1493
Will AS1493 be bumpy?
Forecasts for AS1493 open about three days before departure. Until then no weather model reaches far enough ahead to say anything honest about the ride.
What plane flies AS1493?
Recently AS1493 has been flown with: Boeing 737 NG. Airlines can swap the aircraft until shortly before departure.
How long is AS1493?
About 4h 13m gate to gate from San Diego to Chicago, a distance of about 2,771 km.
What time does AS1493 leave?
AS1493 usually departs San Diego at 17:46 local time and arrives in Chicago at 23:59 local time. Times change; the app tracks the live schedule.
Is turbulence dangerous on AS1493?
Turbulence is uncomfortable, not dangerous to the aircraft. Airliners are certified for loads far beyond anything turbulence produces, and crews plan around the bumpy patches with the same kind of forecast as this one. Injuries are almost always to people who were standing or unbuckled, so keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you're seated.
How accurate is this turbulence forecast?
It is a forecast, so it is best within a day or so of departure and improves with every model run. The bumpy patches it finds are usually in the right place, but their timing can shift by a few minutes and the crew may change altitude to avoid them, so the ride you get is often smoother than the forecast.
Fly AS1493 knowing what's ahead
The turbulence forecast for your exact flight, live tracking, delay alerts and arrival weather. Built for people who'd rather know.