Narrative:

We had been alerted by center (either ZSE or ZLC) of continuous to occasionally moderate turbulence from FL250-FL350. He also stated that it was smooth at FL370. We requested FL370. Before we climbed above FL250 I instructed the flight attendants to remain seated along with an announcement to the passenger to stay in their seats and observe the fasten seatbelt sign, which was on. Prior to departing seattle, en route to memphis, I had checked the WX along our route of flight and had plotted on a map 2 areas of convective activity that our company had issued to us. Coverage was 2/10 - 3/10 in coverage with tops FL330-FL360. As we were climbing to FL370, we remained well clear of the WX areas 50-70 mi east of the WX. Our radar was on and painting the WX west of our position, approximately 70 mi west, tops FL330-FL360. Convective activity shown on our radar, light to moderate rainshowers. WX located in west to west central washington. On climb out to FL370, we experienced light to occasional moderate turbulence. As stated by the controling center, FL370 was smooth. I waited several mins and then instructed the flight attendants to start their cabin service. However, the seatbelt sign remained on just as a precaution. We were 1500-2000 ft above all the clouds, unlimited visibility in the clear. This remained smooth for 10 mins when we experienced moderate to severe turbulence for 30 seconds. My first officer told the flight attendants to situation down. The ride smoothed completely out after 30-45 seconds and remained so at FL370. I found out later one of our flight attendants had been injured. She fell on a beverage cart (injuries were not serious, she continued working for the whole flight 4 hours). No passenger were hurt. We notified our company dispatcher and reported the turbulence and flight attendant injury. Also, an aircraft inspection was made at memphis.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 FLT EXPERIENCES SEVERE TURB AT FL370 70 MI E OF THE TSTM ACTIVITY ON THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES NEAR LKT, ID.

Narrative: WE HAD BEEN ALERTED BY CTR (EITHER ZSE OR ZLC) OF CONTINUOUS TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE TURB FROM FL250-FL350. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS SMOOTH AT FL370. WE REQUESTED FL370. BEFORE WE CLBED ABOVE FL250 I INSTRUCTED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO REMAIN SEATED ALONG WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PAX TO STAY IN THEIR SEATS AND OBSERVE THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN, WHICH WAS ON. PRIOR TO DEPARTING SEATTLE, ENRTE TO MEMPHIS, I HAD CHKED THE WX ALONG OUR RTE OF FLT AND HAD PLOTTED ON A MAP 2 AREAS OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THAT OUR COMPANY HAD ISSUED TO US. COVERAGE WAS 2/10 - 3/10 IN COVERAGE WITH TOPS FL330-FL360. AS WE WERE CLBING TO FL370, WE REMAINED WELL CLR OF THE WX AREAS 50-70 MI E OF THE WX. OUR RADAR WAS ON AND PAINTING THE WX W OF OUR POS, APPROX 70 MI W, TOPS FL330-FL360. CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY SHOWN ON OUR RADAR, LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINSHOWERS. WX LOCATED IN W TO W CENTRAL WASHINGTON. ON CLBOUT TO FL370, WE EXPERIENCED LIGHT TO OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURB. AS STATED BY THE CTLING CTR, FL370 WAS SMOOTH. I WAITED SEVERAL MINS AND THEN INSTRUCTED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO START THEIR CABIN SVC. HOWEVER, THE SEATBELT SIGN REMAINED ON JUST AS A PRECAUTION. WE WERE 1500-2000 FT ABOVE ALL THE CLOUDS, UNLIMITED VISIBILITY IN THE CLR. THIS REMAINED SMOOTH FOR 10 MINS WHEN WE EXPERIENCED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB FOR 30 SECONDS. MY FO TOLD THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO SIT DOWN. THE RIDE SMOOTHED COMPLETELY OUT AFTER 30-45 SECONDS AND REMAINED SO AT FL370. I FOUND OUT LATER ONE OF OUR FLT ATTENDANTS HAD BEEN INJURED. SHE FELL ON A BEVERAGE CART (INJURIES WERE NOT SERIOUS, SHE CONTINUED WORKING FOR THE WHOLE FLT 4 HRS). NO PAX WERE HURT. WE NOTIFIED OUR COMPANY DISPATCHER AND RPTED THE TURB AND FLT ATTENDANT INJURY. ALSO, AN ACFT INSPECTION WAS MADE AT MEMPHIS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.