NAT to GRU Turbulence Forecast
Is the Natal to São Paulo flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.
Natal · São Paulo · 3h 35m
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Typical turbulence along the route
Historical average pattern for NAT–GRU
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h3h 35m
About the NAT–GRU route
The Natal to São Paulo 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 1,422 miles (1,236 nautical miles).
💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.
Natal to São Paulo Flight Time
How long is the flight from NAT to GRU?
35,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
The Natal (NAT) to São Paulo (GRU) flight takes approximately 3h 35m,
covering 1,422 miles (1,236 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet.
The route is operated by LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines.
Return flights (GRU 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–GRU
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
Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight
Best time to fly NAT–GRU
Turbulence by month
Best seat on NAT–GRU
Airbus A320
✓ Wing
Rows 10–20
Smoothest
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
Related guides
Learn more about flight turbulence
Passenger Reports
Totally smooth March flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly over South America but nothing actually happened. Great trip.
Leisure traveler · March
Fly this route pretty regularly for work. Most of the time it's smooth — December was completely fine, not a bump worth mentioning.
Business traveler · December
Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 3h 35m went by fast.
First-time passenger · January
Frequently asked questions
Is the Natal to São Paulo flight turbulent?
The NAT–GRU route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 23.8/100.
When is turbulence worst on NAT to GRU?
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 GRU?
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 GRU?
The NAT to GRU flight takes approximately 3h 35m, covering 1,422 miles (1,236 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly NAT to GRU?
The main airlines operating this route are LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.
Data Sources
- PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
- SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
- EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
- Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route
Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data