Plan a flight · Mon 12:36 am MDT (06:36 UTC)

EL Paso International to Sacramento International ELP → SMF

851 nautical miles (980 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 303°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:35 am PDT (13:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ELP is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 4 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 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: 3 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 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 198 to 554 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 208 to 455 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 238 to 436 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 307 to 317 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 455 to 525 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 564 to 624 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 584 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 69 nm of 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 ELP.

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

B737 at 14,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 11:15 pm MDT (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. 307 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHX
Where
30 nm north (339°) of PXR
Time
05:15 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional moderate
Remarks
during the descent through clouds
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 673 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through TPH
Where
over OAL
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−15 °C
Turbulence
moderate
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs
B737 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 10:58 pm MDT (04:58 UTC): scattered clouds, -30 °C, wind 225° at 77 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 79 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DMN UA /OV CUS286023 /TM 0458 /FL320 /TP B737 /SK FEW-SCT /TA M30 /WV 22577KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DMN
Where
23 nm west (286°) of CUS
Time
04:58 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
few-sct
Temperature
−30 °C
Wind
from 225° at 77 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
B737 at 37,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 9:40 pm MDT (03:40 UTC): scattered clouds, -43 °C, wind 230° at 82 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 129 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LSB UA /OV SSO049015 /TM 0340 /FL370 /TP B737 /SK FEW-SCT /TA M43 /WV 23082KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through LSB
Where
15 nm northeast (049°) of SSO
Time
03:40 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
few-sct
Temperature
−43 °C
Wind
from 230° at 82 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
B38M at 14,000 ft, 24 nm north, 11:47 pm MDT (05:47 UTC): light rime icing, 6 °C. 475 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS059040/TM 0547/FL140/TP B38M/TA 06/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
40 nm northeast (059°) of LAS
Time
05:47 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
6 °C
Icing
light rime
A319 at 18,000 ft, 29 nm north, 9:45 pm MDT (03:45 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -16 °C, remarks: zlawc. 485 nm along the route, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV BLD017030/TM 0345/FL180/TP A319/TA M16/IC LGT RIME 200-180/RM ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
30 nm north (017°) of BLD
Time
03:45 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Temperature
−16 °C
Icing
light rime from 20,000 ft to 18,000 ft
Remarks
zlawc
B737 at 19,000 ft, 7 nm north, 11:45 pm MDT (05:45 UTC): light turbulence. 495 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS050012/TM 0545/FL190/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
12 nm northeast (050°) of LAS
Time
05:45 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B737 at 14,500 ft, 14 nm southwest, 11:30 pm MDT (05:30 UTC): light turbulence. 495 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS155012/TM 0530/FL145/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
12 nm southeast (155°) of LAS
Time
05:30 UTC
Height
at 14,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B737 at 16,000 ft, 46 nm southwest, 9:45 pm MDT (03:45 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C. 525 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS215045/TM 0345/FL160/TP B737/TA M09/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
45 nm southwest (215°) of LAS
Time
03:45 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Temperature
−9 °C
Icing
light rime

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 7 forecast points nearest it (ELP, TUS, PHX, PRC, LAS, BIH, 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	230° at 8 kt	+3 kt	11 °C	117 kt	7 h 16 min	6:52 am PDT (13:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 10 kt	+2 kt	8 °C	118 kt	7 h 13 min	6:49 am PDT (13:49 UTC)
8,500 ft	210° at 14 kt	0	5 °C	120 kt	7 h 06 min	6:42 am PDT (13:42 UTC)
10,500 ft	200° at 17 kt	−2 kt	3 °C	122 kt	6 h 59 min	6:35 am PDT (13:35 UTC)
12,500 ft	200° at 21 kt	−2 kt	-1 °C	122 kt	6 h 59 min	6:35 am PDT (13:35 UTC)
14,500 ft	210° at 27 kt	+1 kt	-5 °C	119 kt	7 h 09 min	6:45 am PDT (13:45 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 34 kt	+4 kt	-9 °C	116 kt	7 h 20 min	6:56 am PDT (13:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 38 kt	+6 kt	-11 °C	114 kt	7 h 28 min	7:04 am PDT (14:04 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 47 kt	+10 kt	-20 °C	110 kt	7 h 44 min	7:20 am PDT (14:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 59 kt	+15 kt	-28 °C	105 kt	8 h 06 min	7:42 am PDT (14:42 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 62 kt	+21 kt	-35 °C	99 kt	8 h 36 min	8:12 am PDT (15:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 55 kt	+16 kt	-45 °C	104 kt	8 h 11 min	7:47 am PDT (14:47 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
ELP	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line		290/17	210/11 13°	200/18 5°	220/46 -6°	230/64 -14°	230/63 -27°	240/55 -37°	240/44 -48°
TUS	used from 148 nm out; 113 nm from the line		210/13 13°	200/35 9°	210/40 5°	220/50 -7°	220/59 -18°	230/79 -26°	230/84 -35°	230/84 -48°
PHX	used from 198 nm out; 97 nm from the line	150/5	200/21 12°	200/27 6°	200/35 3°	220/58 -8°	220/69 -19°	220/87 -26°	230/93 -35°	230/79 -47°
PRC	used from 297 nm out; 29 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°
LAS	used from 445 nm out; 36 nm from the line		210/21 10°	200/18 5°	200/23 -2°	210/49 -14°	210/63 -21°	220/58 -30°	220/61 -35°	210/56 -44°
BIH	used from 594 nm out; 61 nm from the line		L/V	240/7 1°	190/13 -3°	200/26 -16°	210/43 -26°	220/54 -28°	220/51 -35°	220/47 -43°
SAC	used from 742 nm out; 76 nm from the line	110/6	L/V 4°	010/11 -2°	350/11 -7°	340/24 -16°	360/44 -23°	330/24 -30°	270/21 -35°	230/23 -43°

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
ELP El Paso, TX	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 feet, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet	from the north (350°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	3,961 ft	11:51 pm MDT (05:51 UTC)
DNA Santa Teresa, NM	20 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	4,112 ft	06:15 UTC
SVC Silver City, NM	99 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	5,445 ft	06:15 UTC
PAN Payson, AZ	287 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet, a few clouds at 3,200 feet, a few clouds at 6,500 feet	variable at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,160 ft	06:15 UTC
PRC Prescott, AZ	346 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,200 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	6 mi	4,200 ft	5,045 ft	06:31 UTC
LAS Las Vegas, NV	505 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	10,000 ft	2,183 ft	05:56 UTC
VGT Las Vegas, NV	515 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the southeast (140°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	2,205 ft	05:53 UTC
MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA	703 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	7,134 ft	06:15 UTC
MHR Sacramento, CA	832 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	98 ft	05:55 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,134 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, 6:35 am PDT (13:35 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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

The forecast for ELP, the departure

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 455 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 485 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, 505 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, 733 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at ELP 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is before sunrise there (7:12 am PDT (14:12 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · 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: EL Paso International, Sacramento International.