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New Severe Turbulence Alert Issued for Northeast

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - April 4, 2024

The airspace in brown is covered by a new alert for severe turbulence conditions.  Image: NWS AWC
The airspace in brown is covered by a new alert for severe turbulence conditions. Image: NWS AWC



The National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center (AWC) has issued a  new Severe Turbulence Alert for portions of the northeast which includes the airspace above and around Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS.)  Many other airports throughout the region and aircraft flying in the airspace above are impacted by this alert. Major U.S. carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines all have a significant presence in this region.

Specifically, PAPA 1  has been issued through at least 1702 UTC today. The AWC says that there is occasional severe turbulence between the surface and 6,000 feet due to strong low level winds and wind sheer associated with the jet stream.

The National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center issues SIGMETs for significant meteorological events unfolding in airspace around the U.S. Image: NWS AWC
The National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center issues SIGMETs for significant meteorological events unfolding in airspace around the U.S. Image: NWS AWC

 

A United 767-300, like this one photographed on an inaugral Newark-Nice, France flight, encountered severe turbulence near Cancun, Mexico on Monday. Image: United
A United 767-300, like this one photographed on an inaugural Newark-Nice, France flight, encountered severe turbulence near Cancun, Mexico earlier this winter. Image: United Airlines

Wind shear is a difference in wind speed and/or direction over a very short distance in the atmosphere. Airline pilots generally regard significant wind shear to be a horizontal change in airspeed of 30 knots (15 m/s or 34 mph) for light aircraft and 45 knots (23 m/s or 51 mph) for traditional airliners flying at flight altitude.

The area of the latest Severe Turbulence SIGMET is shaded in brown. Image: NWS AWC
The area of the latest Severe Turbulence SIGMET is shaded in brown. Image: NWS AWC

Flying through turbulence can be dangerous, with injuries encountered on U.S. airline flights over the last several months.

Last week, a United Airlines flight attempting to land at Newark Liberty Airport aborted its landing at 750 feet above the ground after encountering wind sheer; it ended up diverting to an airport in New York where the Boeing 787 was met with ambulance to take people impacted by the turbulence to get medical help.

In February 2023, a Newark-Tampa flight operated by United Airlines encountered severe turbulence. When flight 600 finally landed in Tampa, it was met by paramedics that treated passengers and crew at the scene. Ultimately, 1 flight attendant and 2 passengers needed hospitalization after being examined at the airport for injuries sustained during the rough flight.

Last winter,  a United Airlines 767 jet encountered severe turbulence on its flight to Houston, Texas. Due to that encounter with rough air, 3 crew members and 2 passengers had to be rushed to the hospital for care upon landing.




A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus 330 aircraft, such as this one pictured, encountered extreme turbulence in the last half hour of its flight from Phoenix to Honolulu today. Image: Hawaiian Airlines
A Hawaiian Airlines Airbus 330 aircraft, such as this one pictured, encountered extreme turbulence in the last half hour of its flight from Phoenix to Honolulu today. Image: Hawaiian Airlines

The day before the Houston incident,  Hawaiian Airlines Flight 35 flew through severe turbulence before landing at Honolulu International Airport after originating in Phoenix, Arizona. A Mass Casualty Emergency Event was declared, with dozens of passengers needing care for injuries sustained in the violent ride. Officials with Honolulu Emergency Medical Services and American Medical Response say the flight encountered the extreme turbulence about 30 minutes prior to landing; they treated 36 patients at the airport. 20 patients, ranging from a 14-month old toddler to older adults, were transported to hospitals near the airport, some with serious injuries.

Known as a SIGMET, short for Significant Meteorological Information, the severe weather advisory issued by the AWC contains weather-related information concerning the safety of all aircraft passing through a specific zone. Sometimes AIRMETs are issued too; an AIRMET consists of turbulence, visibility, and icing-related warnings that are less severe than those in a SIGMET.

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