A recent turbulence event at Delta Air Lines Flight DL56 out of Salt Lake City International Airport left 25 passengers and crew injured. The incident highlights the common issue of turbulence in the skies, particularly for larger aircraft like the Airbus A330-900neo.
Salt Lake City is ranked No. 4 among North America’s most turbulent airports, with routes to and from the airport frequently experiencing turbulence. However, according to Turbli.com, a website that provides detailed turbulence forecasts, most flights out of SLC have light turbulence.
Climate change may impact turbulence in various ways, including increased turbulence over the southern US and reduced turbulence in northern areas like Utah. Research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres found that air currents would change under different conditions of global warming, leading to more turbulence along the jet stream.
Turbulence forecasting has improved significantly, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration providing a Graphical Turbulence Guidance model that estimates turbulent conditions up to 48 hours in advance. However, forecasts are not always accurate and can only predict general conditions rather than specific locations or times of turbulence.
To stay informed about turbulence on your next flight, Turbli.com offers detailed forecasts for individual routes, taking into account the type of aircraft being flown. The website has been praised for its accuracy and helpfulness in understanding turbulence, making it a valuable resource for flyers.
Source: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/08/01/delta-slc-amsterdam-salt-lake-city