Plan a flight · Sun 10:30 pm CDT (03:30 UTC)

Dallas-Fort Worth International to Sacramento International DFW → SMF

1,241 nautical miles (1,428 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 289° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 7:01 am PDT (14:01 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 3,168 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 3C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 387 to 437 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 120255
MKCC WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3C
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
TX NM
FROM 50SE CIM-70WNW MRF-30W ELP-10W FTI-50SE CIM
AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
SIGMET W11W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 506 to 576 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120255
MKCW WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11W
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
CO NM
FROM 20WNW PUB-10ENE CIM-50WNW ABQ-30NNE DVC-20WNW PUB
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
```
SIGMET W12W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 1013 to 1072 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120255
MKCW WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12W
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
NV
FROM 40SSE TWF-10W ELY-30SE OAL-30W OAL-70WSW TWF-40SSE TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL310.
```
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 377 to 963 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 387 to 764 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 685 to 973 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 695 to 963 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 774 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Near the route, 774 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 973 to 1122 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 79 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 DFW.

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

A320 at 35,000 ft, 15 nm north, 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW47. 208 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDS UA /OV CDS270030/TM 0043/FL350/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZFW47
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDS
Where
30 nm west (270°) of CDS
Time
00:43 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZFW47
B738 at 36,000 ft, 32 nm south, 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC): -40 °C, wind 245° at 69 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 407 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SXU UA /OV ACH146017 /TM 0311 /FL360 /TP B738 /TA M40 /WV 24569KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through SXU
Where
17 nm southeast (146°) of ACH
Time
03:11 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Temperature
−40 °C
Wind
from 245° at 69 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
B738 at 11,000 ft, 50 nm south, 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC): 7 °C, wind 220° at 30 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 486 nm along the route, 50 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABQ UA /OV ABQ094018 /TM 0325 /FL110 /TP B738 /TA 07 /WV 22030KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABQ
Where
18 nm east (094°) of ABQ
Time
03:25 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Temperature
7 °C
Wind
from 220° at 30 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
PC12 at 16,400 ft, 49 nm north, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, clear from 16,400 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 596 nm along the route, 49 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO230013/TM 0315/FL164/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 160/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
13 nm southwest (230°) of DRO
Time
03:15 UTC
Height
at 16,400 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
continuous light chop below 16,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-36
E75L at 14,000 ft, 29 nm northeast, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): light to moderate turbulence from 19,000 ft to 25,000 ft, no icing, remarks: ZDVWC-36. 596 nm along the route, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FMN UA /OV RSK/TM 0128/FL140/TP E75L/TB LGT-MOD 250-190/IC NEG/RM ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FMN
Where
over RSK
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
light to moderate from 25,000 ft to 19,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-36

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 12 forecast points nearest it (DAL, SPS, LBB, AMA, TCC, ABQ, FMN, 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	210° at 23 kt	+2 kt	18 °C	118 kt	10 h 31 min	7:01 am PDT (14:01 UTC)
6,500 ft	210° at 21 kt	+5 kt	14 °C	115 kt	10 h 47 min	7:17 am PDT (14:17 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	+9 kt	10 °C	111 kt	11 h 11 min	7:41 am PDT (14:41 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	+10 kt	4 °C	110 kt	11 h 17 min	7:47 am PDT (14:47 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+10 kt	1 °C	110 kt	11 h 17 min	7:47 am PDT (14:47 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+11 kt	-3 °C	109 kt	11 h 23 min	7:53 am PDT (14:53 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+12 kt	-7 °C	108 kt	11 h 29 min	7:59 am PDT (14:59 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 33 kt	+12 kt	-10 °C	108 kt	11 h 29 min	7:59 am PDT (14:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 43 kt	+22 kt	-21 °C	98 kt	12 h 40 min	9:10 am PDT (16:10 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 57 kt	+35 kt	-28 °C	85 kt	14 h 36 min	11:06 am PDT (18:06 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 57 kt	+37 kt	-35 °C	83 kt	14 h 57 min	11:27 am PDT (18:27 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 48 kt	+33 kt	-46 °C	87 kt	14 h 16 min	10:46 am PDT (17:46 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
DAL	used from 0 nm out; 35 nm from the line	190/29	220/23 17°	220/17 13°	250/18 8°	230/18 -5°	240/18 -15°	270/34 -29°	280/33 -39°	300/36 -51°
SPS	used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line	200/39	220/28 17°	230/27 12°	240/15 9°	250/15 -4°	250/24 -15°	260/45 -28°	270/43 -39°	280/45 -51°
LBB	used from 149 nm out; 81 nm from the line		200/36 18°	220/19 15°	240/20 8°	230/24 -4°	240/37 -16°	250/57 -28°	250/51 -38°	270/47 -50°
AMA	used from 248 nm out; 43 nm from the line		210/38	230/29 14°	240/29 7°	220/27 -5°	240/37 -18°	240/66 -28°	250/59 -37°	260/47 -49°
TCC	used from 298 nm out; 33 nm from the line		210/42	230/33 14°	230/32 6°	220/35 -6°	230/49 -19°	240/72 -27°	250/62 -36°	250/52 -48°
ABQ	used from 447 nm out; 51 nm from the line			220/27 11°	210/35 5°	220/46 -9°	230/62 -20°	240/78 -25°	240/80 -35°	240/56 -47°
FMN	used from 546 nm out; 37 nm from the line			220/28 9°	220/40 2°	220/53 -10°	220/62 -22°	230/79 -28°	240/91 -34°	230/71 -45°
BCE	used from 695 nm out; 80 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 894 nm out; 97 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°
BIH	used from 993 nm out; 79 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 1142 nm out; 61 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 1191 nm out; 21 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	Elevation
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	departure	no report just now	606 ft
AFW Fort Worth, TX	20 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	no report just now	723 ft
PVW Plainview, TX	248 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	no report just now	3,374 ft
TCC Tucumcari, NM	357 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line	no report just now	4,064 ft
SAF Santa Fe, NM	477 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	no report just now	6,348 ft
PGA Page, AZ	745 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	no report just now	4,316 ft
TPH Tonopah, NV	1023 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	no report just now	5,430 ft
MHR Sacramento, CA	1221 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	no report just now	98 ft
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	no report just now	26 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 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, 7:01 am PDT (14:01 UTC)

SMF has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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

9/2934 DALLAS, TX 11 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is before sunrise there (7:12 am PDT (14:12 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 Plains · loop National Weather Service

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: Dallas-Fort Worth International, Sacramento International.