Gerald R Ford International to Reno/Tahoe International GRR → RNO
1,550 nautical miles (1,783 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 274°, about 280° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 8:42 am PDT (15:42 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: 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
- SIGMET 8W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 840 to 930 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO MT WY FROM 40N SHR-60WNW RAP-20ENE CYS-30SW CYS-10NW BOY-40N SHR AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- SIGMET W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1300 to 1400 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W VALID UNTIL 0355Z NV FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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). Over the route from 290 to 430 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 750 to 1480 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 820 to 1190 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 880 to 1110 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 970 to 1400 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 980 to 1500 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 980 to 1050 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). Near the route, 1190 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 GRR.
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 20:00–03:00 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 14 forecast points nearest it (MKG, JOT, DBQ, LSE, MCW, FSD, ONL, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO). 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 | 210° at 11 kt | +6 kt | 17 °C | 114 kt | 13 h 36 min | 8:42 am PDT (15:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 12 kt | +9 kt | 16 °C | 111 kt | 13 h 58 min | 9:04 am PDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +15 kt | 11 °C | 105 kt | 14 h 46 min | 9:52 am PDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | +19 kt | 6 °C | 101 kt | 15 h 21 min | 10:27 am PDT (17:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +22 kt | 2 °C | 98 kt | 15 h 49 min | 10:55 am PDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +23 kt | -2 °C | 97 kt | 15 h 59 min | 11:05 am PDT (18:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +25 kt | -7 °C | 95 kt | 16 h 19 min | 11:25 am PDT (18:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | +26 kt | -10 °C | 94 kt | 16 h 29 min | 11:35 am PDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 33 kt | +31 kt | -21 °C | 89 kt | 17 h 25 min | 12:31 pm PDT (19:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -33 °C | 80 kt | 19 h 22 min | 2:28 pm PDT (21:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | +50 kt | -40 °C | 70 kt | 22 h 09 min | 5:15 pm PDT (00:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 58 kt | +61 kt | -48 °C | 59 kt | 26 h 16 min | 9:22 pm PDT (04:22 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 17 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -49° |
| JOT | used from 100 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| DBQ | used from 150 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -52° |
| LSE | used from 250 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/33 | 250/29 17° | 250/15 9° | 260/12 6° | 280/21 -9° | 280/33 -20° | 300/43 -36° | 310/56 -45° | 300/79 -53° |
| MCW | used from 300 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| FSD | used from 400 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| ONL | used from 550 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| BFF | used from 700 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 120/24 | 180/31 13° | 210/26 7° | 230/25 -7° | 240/41 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 250/56 -41° | 260/57 -45° | |
| LND | used from 900 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 180/33 10° | 190/50 3° | 210/59 -9° | 200/50 -21° | 190/41 -34° | 230/55 -39° | 240/65 -47° | ||
| RKS | used from 950 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 190/43 | 210/65 3° | 210/57 -9° | 210/56 -21° | 210/47 -33° | 230/63 -37° | 240/77 -46° | ||
| SLC | used from 1100 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 280/8 | 210/39 5° | 210/52 -1° | 200/50 -11° | 200/56 -23° | 220/61 -28° | 230/73 -37° | 230/73 -45° | |
| ELY | used from 1300 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 210/20 4° | 240/21 -1° | 230/37 -13° | 200/58 -25° | 220/73 -27° | 220/73 -36° | 220/69 -44° | ||
| BAM | used from 1350 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 270/8 4° | 230/27 -4° | 220/49 -18° | 210/52 -26° | 220/77 -29° | 220/71 -33° | 220/63 -43° | ||
| RNO | used from 1450 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 320/7 | 260/13 1° | 230/21 -7° | 210/38 -17° | 220/43 -26° | 230/54 -29° | 230/59 -32° | 230/54 -41° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | departure | no report just now | 793 ft | ||||
| UES Waukesha, WI | 120 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 911 ft | ||||
| MSN Madison, WI | 170 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 886 ft | ||||
| CCY Charles City, IA | 310 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,125 ft | ||||
| YKN Yankton, SD | 520 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,305 ft | ||||
| VTN Valentine, NE | 660 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,595 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 850 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 1050 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 6,764 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 1180 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,472 ft | ||||
| ENV Wendover, UT | 1280 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,236 ft | ||||
| SPZ Silver Springs, NV | 1530 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,265 ft | ||||
| RNO Reno, NV | destination | no report just now | 4,414 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 RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:42 am PDT (15:42 UTC)
RNO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 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: Gerald R Ford International, Reno/Tahoe International.