EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Weather
While in flight to ZZZ we experienced an updraft at FL290 that caused the airplane to climb at 4-6000 feet per minute. We both had our weather radar operating at the time and neither of us were picking up precipitation echoes on it; although we were IMC. The Captain took control; disconnecting the autopilot and auto-throttles; and leveled the plane as the updraft has cause up to roll slightly to the right. Once leveled we noticed that the pitch limit was coming down. He applied max thrust and lowered the pitch slightly. At no time did the speed exceed operational limits; nor did we receive a wind shear warning. We were unable to maintain our altitude however; and were forced to climb which I promptly alerted ATC as soon as I was able that we were in a climb and would try and stop at FL310. ATC then cleared us to FL330.
EMB 175 Captain reported an updraft causing the aircraft to climb.