Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International to Sacramento International BHM → SMF
1,707 nautical miles (1,964 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 294° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 8:23 pm PDT (03:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BHM is VFR, wind calm; SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 379 to 729 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 858 to 1278 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 888 to 958 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 908 to 1098 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1058 to 1497 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1108 to 1437 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1208 to 1407 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 160 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1627 to 1657 nm out.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from BHM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent BE20 at 500 ft, 4 nm northeast, 4:34 am CDT (09:34 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl. 729 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LBL UUA /OV LBL/TM 0934/FL005/TP BE20/RM LLWS 500FT +/-10KT ZKC FD DL
- Report
- an urgent report filed through LBL
- Where
- over LBL
- Time
- 09:34 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl
- A35K at 32,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 3:39 am CDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the destination end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
- Report
- a routine report filed through OAK
- Where
- 24 nm north (348°) of OAK
- Time
- 08:39 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A35K
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- fdcs zoa
- A333 at 38,000 ft, 22 nm south, 3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 928 nm along the route, 22 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS085025/TM 0823/FL380/TP A333/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 25 nm east (085°) of ALS
- Time
- 08:23 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 19 nm north, 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 1028 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 16 forecast points nearest it (BHM, MEM, LIT, FSM, TUL, OKC, GAG, GCK, PUB, ALS, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, RNO, SAC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 22 °C | 104 kt | 16 h 25 min | 8:23 pm PDT (03:23 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +16 kt | 16 °C | 104 kt | 16 h 25 min | 8:23 pm PDT (03:23 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 10 °C | 103 kt | 16 h 34 min | 8:32 pm PDT (03:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +16 kt | 4 °C | 104 kt | 16 h 25 min | 8:23 pm PDT (03:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 16 h 34 min | 8:32 pm PDT (03:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +18 kt | -3 °C | 102 kt | 16 h 44 min | 8:42 pm PDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +20 kt | -7 °C | 100 kt | 17 h 04 min | 9:02 pm PDT (04:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | +21 kt | -10 °C | 99 kt | 17 h 15 min | 9:13 pm PDT (04:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 35 kt | +28 kt | -20 °C | 92 kt | 18 h 33 min | 10:31 pm PDT (05:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 50 kt | +44 kt | -30 °C | 76 kt | 22 h 28 min | 2:26 am PDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 50 kt | +47 kt | -37 °C | 73 kt | 23 h 23 min | 3:21 am PDT (10:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 44 kt | +42 kt | -47 °C | 78 kt | 21 h 53 min | 1:51 am PDT (08:51 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| MEM | used from 100 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 250/19 | 260/19 17° | 270/20 12° | 270/16 6° | 270/21 -6° | 290/27 -17° | 300/37 -30° | 300/49 -40° | 310/40 -51° |
| LIT | used from 250 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| FSM | used from 349 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
| TUL | used from 449 nm out; 12 nm from the line | 230/42 | 250/23 17° | 220/16 14° | 240/10 8° | 240/20 -6° | 260/28 -17° | 270/61 -29° | 280/52 -38° | 290/46 -50° |
| OKC | used from 549 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 220/43 | 230/31 17° | 260/13 16° | 270/11 7° | 240/20 -6° | 250/32 -17° | 260/60 -28° | 280/50 -37° | 290/45 -50° |
| GAG | used from 599 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 699 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| PUB | used from 798 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 898 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| GJT | used from 1048 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| BCE | used from 1148 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| ELY | used from 1347 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 210/34 1° | 220/40 -4° | 220/39 -17° | 210/51 -24° | 220/65 -30° | 220/60 -37° | 220/56 -44° | ||
| BIH | used from 1497 nm out; 84 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 0° | 140/7 -7° | 210/31 -16° | 230/34 -26° | 220/43 -30° | 220/52 -36° | 220/46 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 1547 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 010/6 | 270/12 -3° | 220/26 -10° | 280/13 -19° | 350/44 -24° | 320/30 -32° | 260/22 -36° | 240/24 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1647 nm out; 32 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM Birmingham, AL | departure | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 650 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 110 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 346 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 279 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 266 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RVS Tulsa, OK | 479 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 638 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| WDG Enid, OK | 569 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,167 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| LBL Liberal, KS | 729 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,885 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| RCV Del Norte, CO | 988 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 7,955 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 1058 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the east (100°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 9,069 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| MLF Milford, UT | 1308 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet Weather: light rain | from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots, gusting to 24 | 9 mi | 2,900 ft | 5,042 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 1667 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:23 pm PDT (03:23 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SMF
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BHM, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is after sunset there (6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International, Sacramento International.