Plan a flight · Mon 7:24 am EDT (11:24 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to San Diego International DTW → SAN

1,697 nautical miles (1,952 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 269° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 17 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 knots; SAN is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 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: 2,549 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
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 route from 339 to 818 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 958 to 1417 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 998 to 1068 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1008 to 1228 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 1347 to 1407 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1357 to 1677 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1357 to 1487 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 1377 to 1477 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1657 to 1687 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 DTW.

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

CL35 at 6,000 ft, 28 nm north, 6:47 am EDT (10:47 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 2,600 ft; clear from 2,600 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear above 2,600 ft. At the departure end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270006/TM 1047/FL060/TP CL35/SK OVC014-TOP026/RM CLEAR ABOVE 026
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
10:47 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Sky
overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 2,600 ft
Remarks
clear above 2,600 ft
B739 at 9,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
clear
Wind
from 295° at 13 knots
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
MD83 at 2,500 ft, 34 nm south, 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. At the departure end, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
10:43 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
MD83
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
CRJ9 at 38,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC): no turbulence. 160 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXI UA /OV OXI/TM 1106/FL380/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXI
Where
over OXI
Time
11:06 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none

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 15 forecast points nearest it (FWA, JOT, BRL, DSM, MKC, OMA, SLN, GCK, 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	250° at 28 kt	+28 kt	22 °C	92 kt	18 h 27 min	10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+24 kt	15 °C	96 kt	17 h 41 min	10:05 pm PDT (05:05 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	+23 kt	10 °C	97 kt	17 h 30 min	9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+25 kt	6 °C	95 kt	17 h 52 min	10:16 pm PDT (05:16 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	+27 kt	2 °C	93 kt	18 h 15 min	10:39 pm PDT (05:39 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	+31 kt	-2 °C	89 kt	19 h 04 min	11:28 pm PDT (06:28 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 35 kt	+35 kt	-6 °C	85 kt	19 h 58 min	12:22 am PDT (07:22 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 38 kt	+38 kt	-9 °C	82 kt	20 h 42 min	1:06 am PDT (08:06 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 49 kt	+49 kt	-20 °C	71 kt	23 h 54 min	4:18 am PDT (11:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 64 kt	+65 kt	-31 °C	55 kt	30 h 51 min	11:15 am PDT (18:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 69 kt	+72 kt	-37 °C	48 kt	35 h 21 min	3:45 pm PDT (22:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 65 kt	+68 kt	-48 °C	52 kt	32 h 38 min	1:02 pm PDT (20:02 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
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 91 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
JOT	used from 150 nm out; 45 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
BRL	used from 299 nm out; 39 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DSM	used from 399 nm out; 65 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°
MKC	used from 499 nm out; 75 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
OMA	used from 549 nm out; 70 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°
SLN	used from 599 nm out; 77 nm from the line	230/49	240/41 22°	230/26 15°	220/21 7°	240/38 -8°	240/44 -21°	260/77 -29°	270/70 -36°	270/63 -48°
GCK	used from 749 nm out; 82 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
GLD	used from 798 nm out; 50 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
PUB	used from 898 nm out; 77 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
ALS	used from 1048 nm out; 7 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
FMN	used from 1148 nm out; 26 nm from the line			220/16 6°	220/39 1°	220/50 -10°	230/67 -23°	230/94 -29°	230/102 -35°	230/90 -46°
PRC	used from 1297 nm out; 110 nm from the line			200/37 6°	200/35 0°	220/60 -11°	220/71 -20°	220/88 -29°	220/98 -35°	220/94 -45°
BLH	used from 1497 nm out; 42 nm from the line	240/19	210/20 10°	200/27 4°	210/34 -2°	220/59 -10°	220/67 -20°	220/75 -29°	230/78 -38°	220/90 -47°
SAN	used from 1647 nm out; 25 nm from the line	240/10	220/19 6°	230/26 2°	230/29 -3°	230/43 -11°	220/61 -20°	220/72 -29°	220/75 -38°	220/71 -48°

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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	8 mi	none	645 ft	6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC)
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	20 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	10:53 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	220 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	10:45 UTC
TVK Centerville, IA	439 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	12,000 ft	1,023 ft	11:15 UTC
EVU Maryville, MO	529 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	1,145 ft	11:15 UTC
RCP Stockton, KS	749 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				1,999 ft
LHX La Junta, CO	958 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,228 ft	15:53 UTC
ALS Alamosa, CO	1078 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	7,539 ft	10:52 UTC
FMN Farmington, NM	1198 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,506 ft	10:53 UTC
FLG Flagstaff, AZ	1387 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 26	4 mi	2,300 ft	7,014 ft	10:57 UTC
RNM Ramona, CA	1677 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	3 mi	700 ft	1,394 ft	11:19 UTC
SAN San Diego, CA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots	4 mi	2,500 ft	16 ft	4:11 am PDT (11:11 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,539 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, 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SAN

From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

The forecast for DTW, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Tue 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

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 11 nm from the route, 1627 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is after sunset there (6:19 pm PDT (01:19 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, San Diego International.