Plan a flight · Mon 9:03 am CDT (14:03 UTC)

St. Louis Downtown Airport to Sacramento International CPS → SMF

1,467 nautical miles (1,688 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 280°, about 280° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 14 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CPS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots; SMF is VFR, wind calm. 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 70 to 409 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 579 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 679 to 828 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 768 to 1297 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 818 to 1317 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 200 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1387 nm along 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 CPS.

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

urgent B763 at 2,000 ft, 16 nm south, 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 259 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOE UUA /OV 130003/TM 1157/FL020/TP B763/WV LLWS
```
Report
an urgent report filed through FOE
Where
wind from 130° at 3 knots
Time
11:57 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Wind
low-level wind shear
urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 8 nm south, 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. 689 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
over KAPA
Time
12:54 UTC
Height
at 6,700 ft
Aircraft
C172
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 8 nm south, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. 689 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
over KAPA
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 6,800 ft
Aircraft
FA7X
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
urgent TBM7 at 100 ft, 9 nm south, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. 689 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV APA140001/TM 1230/FL001/TP TBM7/TB LGT CHOP/RM LLWS +-10KTS
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
1 nm southeast (140°) of APA
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
TBM7
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed
C172 at 9,500 ft, 40 nm south, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 679 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK348/005/TM 1243/FL095/TP C172/TB TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
BRK348/005
Time
12:43 UTC
Height
at 9,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
turbulence moderate chop
C172 at 200 ft, 7 nm south, 7:35 am CDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. 689 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UA /OV APA350001/TM 1235/FL002/TP C172/TB MOD TURB/RM LLWS +-15KTS
```
Report
a routine report filed through APA
Where
1 nm north (350°) of APA
Time
12:35 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed
B738 descending, 39 nm north, 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 699 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40NW den
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
B737 at 16,000 ft, 41 nm north, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 699 nm along the route, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320040/TM 1223/FL160/TP B737/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
B738 descending, 17 nm south, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 709 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40SW den
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 19 nm north, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): moderate rime icing, -13 °C. 998 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV FFU134026/TM 1240/FL170/TP PC12/TA M13 /IC MOD RIME/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
26 nm southeast (134°) of FFU
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
moderate rime/zlc
A319 at 19,000 ft, 43 nm north, 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -12 °C, wind 234° at 38 knots, remarks: during the descent. 1008 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV FFU/TM 1353/FL190/TP A319/TA M12/WV 234038/TB MOD TURB/IC MOD RIME/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
over FFU
Time
13:53 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Temperature
−12 °C
Wind
from 234° at 38 knots
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
during the descent
CRJ7 at 16,000 ft, 17 nm north, 8:13 am CDT (13:13 UTC): moderate rime icing from 15,000 ft to 19,000 ft, -13 °C. 1018 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV FFU165026/TM 1313/FL160/TP CRJ7/SK TOPS 196/TA M13/IC MOD RIME 150-190/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
26 nm south (165°) of FFU
Time
13:13 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
tops 19,600 ft
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
moderate rime 150-190/ZLC
BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 8:32 am CDT (13:32 UTC): moderate rime icing, -15 °C. 1038 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTA UA /OV DTA038010/TM 1332/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M15/IC MOD RIME 140-190 TOP 200/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTA
Where
10 nm northeast (038°) of DTA
Time
13:32 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Temperature
−15 °C
Icing
moderate rime from 14,000 ft to 19,000 ft top 200/ZLC
PC12 at 22,000 ft, 10 nm south, 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj. 309 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MHK UA /OV MHK/TM 1200/FL220/TP PC12/TA M09/IC LGT RIME/RM NEG ICING AT FL200 /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through MHK
Where
over MHK
Time
12:00 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−9 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 12 forecast points nearest it (STL, COU, MKC, SLN, GLD, DEN, GJT, SLC, 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
4,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+21 kt		99 kt	14 h 49 min	9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	+17 kt	16 °C	103 kt	14 h 15 min	9:18 pm PDT (04:18 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	+16 kt	8 °C	104 kt	14 h 06 min	9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+17 kt	4 °C	103 kt	14 h 15 min	9:18 pm PDT (04:18 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	14 h 40 min	9:43 pm PDT (04:43 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+22 kt	-4 °C	98 kt	14 h 58 min	10:01 pm PDT (05:01 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+24 kt	-9 °C	96 kt	15 h 17 min	10:20 pm PDT (05:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 32 kt	+25 kt	-12 °C	95 kt	15 h 27 min	10:30 pm PDT (05:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 38 kt	+31 kt	-22 °C	89 kt	16 h 29 min	11:32 pm PDT (06:32 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 55 kt	+51 kt	-31 °C	69 kt	21 h 16 min	4:19 am PDT (11:19 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 59 kt	+55 kt	-37 °C	65 kt	22 h 34 min	5:37 am PDT (12:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 54 kt	+51 kt	-46 °C	69 kt	21 h 16 min	4:19 am PDT (11:19 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
STL	used from 0 nm out; 16 nm from the line	250/26	240/21 15°	240/22 11°	250/23 6°	270/28 -7°	260/30 -19°	280/52 -31°	280/57 -40°	300/57 -49°
COU	used from 50 nm out; 23 nm from the line	250/36	260/14 16°	250/5 12°	260/12 6°	260/24 -7°	260/35 -19°	280/58 -31°	280/62 -40°	290/60 -49°
MKC	used from 150 nm out; 35 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
SLN	used from 299 nm out; 43 nm from the line	230/49	240/41 22°	230/26 15°	220/21 7°	240/38 -8°	240/44 -21°	260/77 -29°	270/70 -36°	270/63 -48°
GLD	used from 449 nm out; 68 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
DEN	used from 599 nm out; 56 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
GJT	used from 749 nm out; 91 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°
SLC	used from 948 nm out; 83 nm from the line		200/16	210/23 4°	220/34 -3°	210/40 -16°	220/66 -23°	220/64 -31°	220/57 -36°	220/50 -43°
ELY	used from 1048 nm out; 78 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°
BAM	used from 1248 nm out; 90 nm from the line			280/9 -2°	260/18 -8°	190/47 -19°	200/50 -29°	210/56 -29°	220/54 -34°	220/45 -42°
RNO	used from 1297 nm out; 63 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 1397 nm out; 44 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
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL	departure	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	412 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
COU Columbia, MO	100 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	13:54 UTC
MKC Kansas City, MO	210 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	756 ft	13:54 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS	309 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	1,066 ft	13:52 UTC
CBK Colby, KS	509 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	none	3,188 ft	13:55 UTC
CFO Denver, CO	669 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	12:47 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	778 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	6,547 ft	13:56 UTC
PUC Price, UT	958 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,500 feet	from the east (100°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	5,957 ft	13:53 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	1148 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	6,259 ft	13:53 UTC
GAB Gabbs, NV	1297 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	no report just now				4,699 ft
TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA	1387 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	4,400 ft	6,268 ft	13:53 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	26 ft	6:53 am PDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,547 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, 9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

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
From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for CPS, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 100 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Sacramento International.