Des Moines International to San Francisco International DSM → SFO
1,343 nautical miles (1,545 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 269°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 6:10 pm PDT (01:10 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 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: 2 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 first 288 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 279 nm along the route.
- 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 448 to 836 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 487 to 686 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 497 to 637 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 557 to 1084 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 577 to 1104 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 647 to 995 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1204 to 1253 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 DSM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ2 at 24,000 ft, 17 nm south, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 537 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN314057/TM 1145/FL240/TP CRJ2/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm northwest (314°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-13
- CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 6:49 am CDT (11:49 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 557 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN304074/TM 1149/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 74 nm northwest (304°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:49 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-13
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 (DSM, OMA, GRI, BFF, DEN, RKS, SLC, ELY, BIH, 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 20 kt | +18 kt | 23 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 10 min | 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 17 °C | 103 kt | 13 h 02 min | 6:10 pm PDT (01:10 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 8 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 10 min | 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +19 kt | 3 °C | 101 kt | 13 h 18 min | 6:26 pm PDT (01:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +20 kt | -1 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 26 min | 6:34 pm PDT (01:34 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +21 kt | -5 °C | 99 kt | 13 h 34 min | 6:42 pm PDT (01:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +22 kt | -10 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 42 min | 6:50 pm PDT (01:50 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | +23 kt | -13 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 51 min | 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 36 kt | +31 kt | -22 °C | 89 kt | 15 h 05 min | 8:13 pm PDT (03:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 46 kt | +42 kt | -32 °C | 78 kt | 17 h 13 min | 10:21 pm PDT (05:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | +47 kt | -36 °C | 73 kt | 18 h 24 min | 11:32 pm PDT (06:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 49 kt | +46 kt | -45 °C | 74 kt | 18 h 09 min | 11:17 pm PDT (06:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| OMA | used from 50 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| GRI | used from 149 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 348 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| DEN | used from 497 nm out; 65 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 597 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 746 nm out; 75 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 895 nm out; 55 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° | ||
| BIH | used from 1094 nm out; 86 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 0° | 140/7 -7° | 210/31 -16° | 230/34 -26° | 220/43 -30° | 220/52 -36° | 220/46 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 1144 nm out; 72 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 1243 nm out; 41 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 1293 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM Des Moines, IA | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC) |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 99 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| OLU Columbus, NE | 169 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,447 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| CNP Chappell, NE | 398 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,681 ft | ||||
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 507 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CAG Craig, CO | 627 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 6,197 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| VEL Vernal, UT | 716 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 5,274 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| PVU Provo, UT | 826 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,496 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| ELY Ely, NV | 975 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 6,259 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HTH Hawthorne, NV | 1154 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| SCK Stockton, CA | 1283 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 4:56 am PDT (11:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 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, 6:10 pm PDT (01:10 UTC)
Wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for DSM, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
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 DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 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: Des Moines International, San Francisco International.