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
How to sleep better in warmer weather. Tropical nights ahead. . . Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Person sitting on the floor indoors beside a running electric fan, cooling down in a sunlit room during hot weather, with sunlight streaming through a window.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Tropical nights ahead

How to sleep better in warmer weather
New record June temperature in the UK. Likely to be broken again. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Heat map of southern England on 24.06 showing extreme temperatures across Hampshire, with Gosport highlighted at 36.1°C and nearby Portsmouth around 35°C amid deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Likely to be broken again

New record June temperature in the UK
Frost instead of a heatwave. Winter in South America. . . Friday, 26 June 2026
Temperature map of South America showing a widespread cold air outbreak across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil, with a large blue thermometer icon highlighting below-average temperatures and near-freezing conditions in parts of Argentina.
Friday, 26 June 2026

Winter in South America

Frost instead of a heatwave
All weather news
This might also interest you
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday, 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Mixed conditions on an unsettled week. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 2 November 2025
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday, 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
Storm Benjamin impacts the UK. Warnings active. . . Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
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