Plan a flight · Mon 1:26 am MDT (07:26 UTC)

City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Sacramento International COS → SMF

790 nautical miles (909 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC). Right now COS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 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: 5 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 2:55 am MDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 510 to 570 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 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 first 180 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 330 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 510 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 180 to 590 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 220 to 590 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 80 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 COS.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 18 nm north, 10:30 pm MDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 100 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
A321 at 31,000 ft, 9 nm north, 12:41 am MDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. At the departure end, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:41 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
A21N at 33,000 ft, 9 nm north, 12:59 am MDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the departure end, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
A320 at 31,000 ft, 35 nm south, 12:58 am MDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 17 nm north, 12:35 am MDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 40 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
E170 at 22,500 ft, 16 nm north, 11:06 pm MDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 40 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
B738 at 23,000 ft, 24 nm north, 12:23 am MDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 50 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
A20N at 25,000 ft, 47 nm north, 12:19 am MDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 50 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06
PC12 at 26,000 ft, 36 nm south, 12:27 am MDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 70 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
40 nm east (090°) of HBU
Time
06:27 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-12
E170 at 4,800 ft, 8 nm north, 12:31 am MDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. 180 nm along the route, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
06:31 UTC
Height
at 4,800 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc
PC12 at 12,000 ft, 3 nm south, 1:08 am MDT (07:08 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, 4 °C, remarks: instrument conditions ZDVWC-11. 210 nm along the route, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV JNC237019/TM 0708/FL120/TP PC12/TA 04/TB OCNL LGT/IC NEG/RM IMC. ZDVWC-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
19 nm southwest (237°) of JNC
Time
07:08 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
4 °C
Turbulence
occasional light
Icing
none
Remarks
instrument conditions ZDVWC-11
A321 at 31,000 ft, 23 nm south, 12:15 am MDT (06:15 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: mountain wave zlc. 280 nm along the route, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CNY UA /OV HVE340015/TM 0615/FL310/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP /RM MTN WAVE /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CNY
Where
15 nm north (340°) of HVE
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate chop
Remarks
mountain wave zlc

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 8 forecast points nearest it (PUB, ALS, GJT, BCE, ELY, BAM, 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
8,500 ft	210° at 23 kt	+12 kt	5 °C	108 kt	7 h 19 min	7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+17 kt	0 °C	103 kt	7 h 40 min	8:06 am PDT (15:06 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+20 kt	-3 °C	100 kt	7 h 54 min	8:20 am PDT (15:20 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 33 kt	+21 kt	-7 °C	99 kt	7 h 59 min	8:25 am PDT (15:25 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 37 kt	+22 kt	-11 °C	98 kt	8 h 04 min	8:30 am PDT (15:30 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 40 kt	+23 kt	-14 °C	97 kt	8 h 09 min	8:35 am PDT (15:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 48 kt	+31 kt	-23 °C	89 kt	8 h 53 min	9:19 am PDT (16:19 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 53 kt	+36 kt	-28 °C	84 kt	9 h 24 min	9:50 am PDT (16:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 56 kt	+40 kt	-33 °C	80 kt	9 h 52 min	10:18 am PDT (17:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 51 kt	+35 kt	-44 °C	85 kt	9 h 18 min	9:44 am PDT (16:44 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
PUB	used from 0 nm out; 48 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
ALS	used from 50 nm out; 90 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
GJT	used from 100 nm out; 55 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°
BCE	used from 300 nm out; 84 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
ELY	used from 400 nm out; 51 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 550 nm out; 98 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°
RNO	used from 600 nm out; 86 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 750 nm out; 20 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°

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
COS Colorado Springs, CO	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	12:54 am MDT (06:54 UTC)
AEJ Buena Vista, CO	70 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,500 ft	7,950 ft	07:15 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	100 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	7,837 ft	06:53 UTC
GJT Grand Junction, CO	180 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	4,861 ft	06:53 UTC
CNY Moab, UT	240 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	11,000 ft	4,579 ft	06:53 UTC
FOM Fillmore, UT	360 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,984 ft	07:15 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	470 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	4,800 ft	6,259 ft	06:53 UTC
GAB Gabbs, NV	620 nm out, 1 nm east of the line	no report just now				4,699 ft
TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA	710 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	6,268 ft	06:53 UTC
PVF Placerville, CA	750 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	2,585 ft	07:15 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	26 ft	11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,950 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, 7:45 am PDT (14:45 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet 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 COS, the departure

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
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 COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: City Of Colorado Springs Municipal, Sacramento International.