Duluth International to San Francisco International DLH → SFO
1,440 nautical miles (1,658 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 258°, about 259° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 5:48 pm PDT (00:48 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: 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
- SIGMET C18C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 328 to 358 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 121155 MKCC WST 121155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18C VALID UNTIL 1355Z SD ND FROM 50NE BIS-70W FAR-40N PIR-40N DPR-50NE BIS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- SIGMET W23W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 914 to 983 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121155 MKCW WST 121155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 23W VALID UNTIL 1355Z UT ID FROM 20WSW PIH-20NE MLD-30SW SLC-20NW BVL-20WSW PIH AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 666 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 626 to 1132 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 685 to 1172 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 228 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1311 to 1341 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 DLH.
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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (DLH, AXN, ABR, PIR, RAP, LND, PIH, SLC, ELY, BAM, 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 | 240° at 5 kt | +5 kt | 16 °C | 115 kt | 12 h 31 min | 5:48 pm PDT (00:48 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 9 kt | +9 kt | 13 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 58 min | 6:15 pm PDT (01:15 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 7 °C | 107 kt | 13 h 27 min | 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 2 °C | 102 kt | 14 h 07 min | 7:24 pm PDT (02:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -2 °C | 98 kt | 14 h 42 min | 7:59 pm PDT (02:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 51 min | 8:08 pm PDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +23 kt | -10 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 51 min | 8:08 pm PDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 26 kt | +24 kt | -13 °C | 96 kt | 15 h | 8:17 pm PDT (03:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -24 °C | 93 kt | 15 h 29 min | 8:46 pm PDT (03:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 37 kt | +36 kt | -33 °C | 84 kt | 17 h 09 min | 10:26 pm PDT (05:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 42 kt | +42 kt | -37 °C | 78 kt | 18 h 28 min | 11:45 pm PDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 46 kt | +47 kt | -45 °C | 73 kt | 19 h 44 min | 1:01 am PDT (08:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLH | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 090/31 | 250/7 14° | 250/26 11° | 250/36 4° | 280/36 -11° | 290/35 -22° | 300/39 -38° | 280/41 -44° | 280/66 -49° |
| AXN | used from 50 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| ABR | used from 199 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| PIR | used from 348 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 397 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| LND | used from 596 nm out; 123 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 844 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| SLC | used from 944 nm out; 80 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 993 nm out; 110 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 1043 nm out; 66 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 1192 nm out; 68 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 1341 nm out; 26 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° |
| SFO | used from 1391 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 090/9 | 050/12 4° | 010/17 -2° | 350/34 -3° | 360/70 -11° | 360/75 -22° | 350/57 -38° | 330/37 -42° | 280/25 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLH Duluth, MN | departure | no report just now | 1,427 ft | ||||
| SAZ Staples, MN | 109 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,287 ft | ||||
| FFM Fergus Falls, MN | 169 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,182 ft | ||||
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 348 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,716 ft | ||||
| SPF Spearfish, SD | 507 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,933 ft | ||||
| PNA Pinedale, WY | 785 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | 7,096 ft | ||||
| MLD Malad City, ID | 904 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,503 ft | ||||
| LWL Wells, NV | 1033 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 5,769 ft | ||||
| MEV Minden, NV | 1291 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,723 ft | ||||
| LVK Livermore, CA | 1420 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 399 ft | ||||
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | no report just now | 13 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,096 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, 5:48 pm PDT (00:48 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 DLH 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 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: Duluth International, San Francisco International.
