Joe Foss Field to Sacramento Mather Airport FSD → MHR
1,147 nautical miles (1,320 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 12:44 pm PDT (19:44 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: 5 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 W17W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 798 to 828 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120755 MKCW WST 120755 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17W VALID UNTIL 0955Z AZ UT NV FROM 20WNW BVL-30N BCE-60SSW BCE-50NNE LAS-60NNW ELY-20WNW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 319 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 309 to 499 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 319 to 598 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 329 to 778 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 429 to 489 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 479 to 918 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 489 to 968 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 120 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 FSD.
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 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 (FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, BFF, LND, 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 | 250° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 19 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 02 min | 12:44 pm PDT (19:44 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 16 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 08 min | 12:50 pm PDT (19:50 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 08 min | 12:50 pm PDT (19:50 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +20 kt | 2 °C | 100 kt | 11 h 28 min | 1:10 pm PDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +23 kt | -2 °C | 97 kt | 11 h 49 min | 1:31 pm PDT (20:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 11 h 49 min | 1:31 pm PDT (20:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +23 kt | -11 °C | 97 kt | 11 h 49 min | 1:31 pm PDT (20:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 31 kt | +23 kt | -14 °C | 97 kt | 11 h 49 min | 1:31 pm PDT (20:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 38 kt | +31 kt | -24 °C | 89 kt | 12 h 53 min | 2:35 pm PDT (21:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 45 kt | +41 kt | -32 °C | 79 kt | 14 h 31 min | 4:13 pm PDT (23:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 48 kt | +43 kt | -36 °C | 77 kt | 14 h 54 min | 4:36 pm PDT (23:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 46 kt | +43 kt | -44 °C | 77 kt | 14 h 54 min | 4:36 pm PDT (23:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| ONL | used from 50 nm out; 58 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° | |
| PIR | used from 150 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 199 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 249 nm out; 67 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° | |
| LND | used from 399 nm out; 113 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| RKS | used from 499 nm out; 36 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 648 nm out; 33 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 798 nm out; 72 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 848 nm out; 55 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 997 nm out; 45 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 1097 nm out; 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | departure | no report just now | 1,430 ft | ||||
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 50 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,304 ft | ||||
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 180 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,724 ft | ||||
| CDR Chadron, NE | 279 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,297 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 359 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 559 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 6,764 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 688 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,472 ft | ||||
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | 698 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,230 ft | ||||
| FLX Fallon, NV | 1017 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,966 ft | ||||
| TRK Truckee, CA | 1077 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,904 ft | ||||
| MHR Sacramento, CA | destination | no report just now | 98 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,764 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MHR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:44 pm PDT (19:44 UTC)
MHR has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 25 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at MHR 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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: Joe Foss Field, Sacramento Mather Airport.