NAT to GIG Turbulence Forecast

Is the Natal to Rio de Janeiro flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
NAT
GIG
Natal · Rio de Janeiro · 3h 20m
24.4
Turb Score
3h 20m
Duration
1,116 nm
Distance
35,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Smooth
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for NAT–GIG

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h3h 20m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the NAT–GIG route

The Natal to Rio de Janeiro route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 35,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 1,284 miles (1,116 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Natal to Rio de Janeiro Flight Time

How long is the flight from NAT to GIG?

3h 20m
Flight Time
1,284 mi
Distance
35,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
Airbus A320
Aircraft

The Natal (NAT) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) flight takes approximately 3h 20m, covering 1,284 miles (1,116 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines. Return flights (GIG to NAT) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on NAT–GIG

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm
LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady
ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause
HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly NAT–GIG

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on NAT–GIG

Airbus A320

Front
Rows 1–9
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 10–20
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 21+
Rougher
Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

NAT to GIG turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

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Passenger Reports

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.
Nervous flyer · March
Did Natal to Rio de Janeiro last September and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.
Frequent flyer · September
Totally smooth January flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly crossing the Andes but nothing actually happened. Great trip.
Leisure traveler · January
All NAT routes All GIG routes

Frequently asked questions

Is the Natal to Rio de Janeiro flight turbulent?
The NAT–GIG route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 24.4/100.
When is turbulence worst on NAT to GIG?
Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on NAT to GIG?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from NAT to GIG?
The NAT to GIG flight takes approximately 3h 20m, covering 1,284 miles (1,116 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly NAT to GIG?
The main airlines operating this route are LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data