The jet stream is typically located at altitudes ranging from 9 to 16 kilometers (30,000 to 52,000 feet) above the Earth’s surface.
Jet stream winds have average speeds of 160 to 240 km/h (150 mph), although higher speeds exceeding 400 km/h (250 mph) can be observed.
The jet stream bands are relatively narrow, usually a few hundred kilometers wide.
It’s typically divided into two main bands:
- The subtropical jet stream, which is located at approximately 30 degrees latitude north and/or south,
- The polar jet stream, which is found at higher latitudes, is around 60 degrees latitude.
The location of the jet stream varies with the seasons. It moves southward in winter and northward in summer in the Northern Hemisphere.