Des Moines International to Sacramento International DSM → SMF
1,288 nautical miles (1,482 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 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: 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 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). Near the route, 849 nm along the route.
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 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 290 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, 280 nm along the route.
- 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 409 to 659 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 459 to 809 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 499 to 629 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 559 to 1068 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 589 to 1088 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 589 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 659 to 938 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1228 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
- CRJ2 at 24,000 ft, 38 nm south, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 539 nm along the route, 38 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, 32 nm south, 6:49 am CDT (11:49 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 549 nm along the route, 32 nm south 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, ONL, BFF, DEN, RKS, 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 21 kt | +19 kt | 23 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 45 min | 5:58 pm PDT (00:58 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 19 °C | 102 kt | 12 h 38 min | 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 9 °C | 102 kt | 12 h 38 min | 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 3 °C | 100 kt | 12 h 53 min | 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 13 h 01 min | 6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +22 kt | -5 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 09 min | 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +22 kt | -10 °C | 98 kt | 13 h 09 min | 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 31 kt | +23 kt | -13 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 17 min | 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 37 kt | +30 kt | -23 °C | 90 kt | 14 h 19 min | 7:32 pm PDT (02:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 46 kt | +41 kt | -31 °C | 79 kt | 16 h 18 min | 9:31 pm PDT (04:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 51 kt | +46 kt | -36 °C | 74 kt | 17 h 24 min | 10:37 pm PDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 48 kt | +45 kt | -45 °C | 75 kt | 17 h 10 min | 10:23 pm PDT (05:23 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; 30 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 150 nm out; 49 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° | |
| ONL | used from 300 nm out; 115 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 349 nm out; 77 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 499 nm out; 85 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 599 nm out; 79 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 749 nm out; 57 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 899 nm out; 66 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 998 nm out; 59 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 1098 nm out; 74 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 1248 nm out; 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| SCB Scribner, NE | 130 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,324 ft | ||||
| BBW Broken Bow, NE | 270 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,546 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 499 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 619 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 6,548 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| VEL Vernal, UT | 719 nm out, 21 nm south 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 | 819 nm out, 17 nm south 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 |
| TMT Austin, NV | 1078 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,735 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 1208 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,548 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, 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 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 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
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 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, Sacramento International.
