Joe Foss Field to San Francisco International FSD → SFO
1,217 nautical miles (1,400 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 9:33 am PDT (16:33 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the south (190°) 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 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 140 to 289 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 179 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 279 to 648 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 329 to 828 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 379 to 538 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 429 to 967 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 449 to 947 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 459 to 548 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 13 forecast points nearest it (FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, 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 | 190° at 14 kt | +5 kt | 18 °C | 115 kt | 10 h 35 min | 9:33 am PDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 200° at 14 kt | +7 kt | 13 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 46 min | 9:44 am PDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 19 kt | +14 kt | 6 °C | 106 kt | 11 h 29 min | 10:27 am PDT (17:27 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 3 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 49 min | 10:47 am PDT (17:47 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | +20 kt | -1 °C | 100 kt | 12 h 10 min | 11:08 am PDT (18:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +21 kt | -5 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 18 min | 11:16 am PDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -9 °C | 97 kt | 12 h 33 min | 11:31 am PDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -12 °C | 96 kt | 12 h 41 min | 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 33 kt | +27 kt | -23 °C | 93 kt | 13 h 05 min | 12:03 pm PDT (19:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -31 °C | 83 kt | 14 h 40 min | 1:38 pm PDT (20:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 49 kt | +47 kt | -36 °C | 73 kt | 16 h 40 min | 3:38 pm PDT (22:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -44 °C | 71 kt | 17 h 08 min | 4:06 pm PDT (23:06 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| ONL | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 150 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 199 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 249 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| LND | used from 449 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 499 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 648 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 798 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BAM | used from 897 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 997 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1097 nm out; 46 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° |
| SFO | used from 1197 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -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 | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 11:56 pm CDT (04:56 UTC) |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 70 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet | from the north (350°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,477 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 239 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east (090°) at 9 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 3,562 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 359 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 469 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 558 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,700 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 6,764 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | 698 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 feet, a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| ENV Wendover, UT | 788 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (040°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 4,236 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| TMT Austin, NV | 947 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,735 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 997 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| LVK Livermore, CA | 1187 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 399 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 9:56 pm PDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,816 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, 9:33 am PDT (16:33 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- 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 FSD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 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, San Francisco International.