The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Francisco International CID → SFO
1,431 nautical miles (1,646 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 1:43 pm PDT (20:43 UTC). 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: 3 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
- SIGMET W16W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 1073 to 1162 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120655 MKCW WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16W VALID UNTIL 0855Z UT NV FROM 50NW BVL-20NE BVL-40SE OAL-20N OAL-50NW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 first 517 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 487 to 914 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 536 to 1093 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 616 to 795 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 676 to 1182 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 725 to 775 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 755 to 1182 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 109 nm of the route.
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 CID.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 14 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF, DEN, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, BIH, RNO, SAC, SFO). 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 | 210° at 19 kt | +12 kt | 21 °C | 108 kt | 13 h 15 min | 1:43 pm PDT (20:43 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 14 °C | 108 kt | 13 h 15 min | 1:43 pm PDT (20:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +15 kt | 8 °C | 105 kt | 13 h 38 min | 2:06 pm PDT (21:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +16 kt | 4 °C | 104 kt | 13 h 46 min | 2:14 pm PDT (21:14 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +19 kt | 0 °C | 101 kt | 14 h 10 min | 2:38 pm PDT (21:38 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +21 kt | -4 °C | 99 kt | 14 h 27 min | 2:55 pm PDT (21:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -8 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 45 min | 3:13 pm PDT (22:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -11 °C | 96 kt | 14 h 54 min | 3:22 pm PDT (22:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 33 kt | +28 kt | -22 °C | 92 kt | 15 h 33 min | 4:01 pm PDT (23:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -31 °C | 83 kt | 17 h 14 min | 5:42 pm PDT (00:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | +47 kt | -36 °C | 73 kt | 19 h 36 min | 8:04 pm PDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -45 °C | 71 kt | 20 h 09 min | 8:37 pm PDT (03:37 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 149 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| GRI | used from 248 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 348 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 397 nm out; 113 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 596 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 695 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 844 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 993 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BAM | used from 1142 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| BIH | used from 1192 nm out; 84 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 1242 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1291 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| SFO | used from 1391 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | departure | no report just now | 869 ft | ||||
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 89 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| TQE Tekamah, NE | 199 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,026 ft | ||||
| ODX Ord, NE | 328 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 2,070 ft | ||||
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 477 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 586 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,159 ft | ||||
| VEL Vernal, UT | 805 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,274 ft | ||||
| PVU Provo, UT | 914 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,496 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 1063 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,259 ft | ||||
| HTH Hawthorne, NV | 1242 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,230 ft | ||||
| SCK Stockton, CA | 1371 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 32 ft | ||||
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | no report just now | 13 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:43 pm PDT (20:43 UTC)
SFO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at CID 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC), at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 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: The Eastern Iowa Airport, San Francisco International.