Extreme turbulence in Southern California, high and low

If you are flying near southern California Friday or Saturday, be prepared for a ride. Wind gusts of up to 55mph will ensure that even the largest of airplanes will bounce all around during takeoff and landing. Once off the ground, you’ll find no relief as the jet stream shears at altitude, tossing around aircraft of all sizes, at all altitudes. Many reports of severe, and a two reports of extreme turbulence [the highest on the scale] in the area around ONT. A 737 reported extreme turbulence just east of ONT. Another hot spot, the Pacific Northwest with many reports of severe turbulence. The east side of the US is not spared, with many reports of severe turbulence between Detroit and Orlando.

Written by tb_neg on January 6th, 2007 with 4 comments.
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Chris
#1. January 9th, 2007, at 6:51 PM.

So, given this rough spell… I guess my worries are renewed a bit as I will be traveling over this area. When I hear things like “extreme” and “severe” my heart hits my stomach. What are the chances that severe events like this injure or hinder a plane’s activity??

tb_neg
#2. January 9th, 2007, at 6:59 PM.

You will not get injured if you are belted in, and a plane will not fly if it is unsafe. Sure, it may get turbulent sometimes, but safety is paramount in the airline industry. So just keep that seat belt on and bring a good book, and if you start to get sick, look out the window. Also, try to sit around the wing or forward of the wing, if possible. By the tail, it’s worse.

Don’t forget to check Turbulence Forecast before your flight, or check the mobile version at m.turbulenceforecast.com at the airport!

jason
#3. January 13th, 2007, at 12:35 AM.

I work are fedex, which is located next to the airport, and ONT airport got shut down that day. The airport was empty. No planes took off or landed except for a couple of UPS airplanes. Those UPS pilots are a bunch of tough guys. Fedex did have several planes come in around 12 am. The wind was extremely strong and the airport did the right thing by shutting down. i can’t believe why someone would want to fly when the winds are that strong. Has someone ever flown during the santa anna winds? when of my coworkers flew to las vegas during the santa anna’s and he said that the winds really buffeting the aircraft. after that flight he said no more flying when it is extremely windy. i have live in s. cal all of my life and the ontario airport is 5 minutes from my house and during jan, feb and mar. is when it gets extremly windy. Ont airport is next to mountains and that want what makes the wind so strong. it gets compressed and shoots out the mountains with a lot of thrust. anyone that has driven up the 15 freeway near devore knows all to well. it is almost impossible to drive up the freeway. i cant imagine what it is like in an airplane. do pilots like to fly when it is really windy? i know that the fedex guys don’t like. they come to work with a bad look on their face when the winds are blowing.

tb_neg
#4. January 13th, 2007, at 1:25 PM.

People may not want to fly during those conditions, but they have to, because packages have to get there, airline tickets are usually not refundable. I’d guess that the FedEx pilots know that ONT can be windy due to the winds, and don’t like to fly during those conditions, but have to. It’s not particularly dangerous, but unpleasant to fly during those conditions.

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