Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Strong jet stream means faster transatlantic flights

09:00
8 August 2024

Travelling eastbound?
Strong jet stream means faster flights

The current strong jet stream at 300 hPa (roughly a height of 30,000 feet).

As the jet stream powers across the Atlantic, it's a great time for a transatlantic flight, depending on your direction of course.

The jet stream has been ramping up in recent days, driving in unsettled spells and low pressure systems to the UK and Ireland from across the Atlantic.

However it's not all bad news. With the jet stream strengthening west to east across the Atlantic, it's a good time to be on an eastbound flight over from the US over to Europe.

A strong jet stream is good for a tailwind, as planes usually fly at a height range of 30,000 feet to 42,000 feet, with the jet stream also located at around 30,000 feet.

Pilots often use the jet stream to their advantage where they can, being pushed with the strength of the flow and sometimes being able to cut the time of a flight down.

A westbound flight on the other hand, travelling from Europe to the US, would produce a headwind and likely some bumpy turbulence along the way within that strong jet stream flow.

Likely more turbulence as world warmsread more
More on the topic
Equinox marks the start of autumn. Days start to get shorter. . . Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Split image showing Stonehenge in warm sunlight beside a tree-lined park glowing with vivid orange, red, and golden autumn leaves.
Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Days start to get shorter

Equinox marks the start of autumn
Europe split in two distinct patterns. Autumn meets summer. . . Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Weather maps show a storm over the North Atlantic and temperatures of up to 37 degrees in Spain and Portugal.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Autumn meets summer

Europe split in two distinct patterns
Hurricane POLO remains dangerous. Many storms in the Pacific. . . Thursday, 24 September 2026
Thursday, 24 September 2026

Many storms in the Pacific

Hurricane POLO remains dangerous
All weather news
This might also interest you
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList