Des Moines International to San Diego International DSM → SAN
1,239 nautical miles (1,425 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 252°, about 251° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 11:39 am PDT (18:39 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: 17 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 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 529 to 659 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 449 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 449 to 989 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 469 to 589 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 539 to 649 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 629 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 829 to 1029 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). Over the route from 909 to 959 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1119 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 DSM.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). 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 | 230° at 33 kt | +31 kt | 21 °C | 89 kt | 13 h 55 min | 12:31 pm PDT (19:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +30 kt | 15 °C | 90 kt | 13 h 46 min | 12:22 pm PDT (19:22 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 9 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 03 min | 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +25 kt | 7 °C | 95 kt | 13 h 03 min | 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +26 kt | 3 °C | 94 kt | 13 h 11 min | 11:47 am PDT (18:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +31 kt | -2 °C | 89 kt | 13 h 55 min | 12:31 pm PDT (19:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | +36 kt | -6 °C | 84 kt | 14 h 45 min | 1:21 pm PDT (20:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 41 kt | +39 kt | -9 °C | 81 kt | 15 h 18 min | 1:54 pm PDT (20:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 48 kt | +46 kt | -21 °C | 74 kt | 16 h 45 min | 3:21 pm PDT (22:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 66 kt | +65 kt | -30 °C | 55 kt | 22 h 32 min | 9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | +72 kt | -36 °C | 48 kt | 25 h 49 min | 12:25 am PDT (07:25 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 63 kt | +64 kt | -46 °C | 56 kt | 22 h 08 min | 8:44 pm PDT (03:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 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 50 nm out; 31 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 150 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° | |
| GLD | used from 300 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| PUB | used from 449 nm out; 61 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 599 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 649 nm out; 62 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° | ||
| PRC | used from 849 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1049 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| SAN | used from 1149 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/11 | 200/23 7° | 210/27 4° | 210/31 -3° | 220/56 -10° | 220/56 -19° | 220/52 -30° | 220/64 -37° | 220/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM Des Moines, IA | departure | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| OMA Omaha, NE | 100 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 984 ft | ||||
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 150 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,218 ft | ||||
| NRN Norton, KS | 300 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | no report just now | 2,384 ft | ||||
| GLD Goodland, KS | 390 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,657 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 539 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| FMN Farmington, NM | 739 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,506 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 929 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| BLH Blythe, CA | 1109 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 399 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1219 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,394 ft | ||||
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | no report just now | 16 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC)
SAN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 14 nm from the route, 1169 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 1169 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 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: Des Moines International, San Diego International.