Plan a flight · Mon 9:05 am MDT (15:05 UTC)

Great Falls International to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport GTF → OAK

756 nautical miles (870 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 223°, about 210° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:14 pm PDT (21:14 UTC). Right now GTF is low IFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots; OAK is VFR, wind from the east-northeast (070°) 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: 1 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 first 139 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 259 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 209 to 308 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 408 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 GTF.

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

B738 at 31,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 8:20 am MDT (14:20 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 617 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
STS UA /OV SWR320025/TM 1420/FL310/TP B738/TB CONS MOD/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through STS
Where
25 nm northwest (320°) of SWR
Time
14:20 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs
DC3T at 8,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 8:03 am MDT (14:03 UTC): light to moderate rime icing above 8,000 ft, -8 °C. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 300025/TM 1403/FL085/TP DC3T/TA M8/IC LGT-MOD RIME 080
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 300° at 25 knots
Time
14:03 UTC
Height
at 8,500 ft
Aircraft
DC3T
Temperature
−8 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime at 8,000 ft
A319 at 7,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC): overcast from 30,000 ft to 7,500 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 180010/TM 1341/FL075/TP A319/SK OVC003-TOPS075
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 180° at 10 knots
Time
13:41 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 300 ft, tops 7,500 ft
BE9L at 7,500 ft, 29 nm southeast, 6:45 am MDT (12:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing, overcast from 7,500 ft to 9,000 ft, -6 °C, remarks: during the climb. 50 nm along the route, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN120010/TM 1245/FL075/TP BE9L/SK OVC075-TOPS090/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of HLN
Time
12:45 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
overcast from 7,500 ft, tops 9,000 ft
Temperature
−6 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb
B752 at 41,000 ft, 15 nm southeast, 6:31 am MDT (12:31 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 41,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 15 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN009010/TM 1231/FL410/TP B752/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 410/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm north (009°) of HLN
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate 410/ZLC
B737 at 39,000 ft, 33 nm northwest, 8:16 am MDT (14:16 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. 358 nm along the route, 33 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BOI UA /OV BOI240060/TM 1416/FL390/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT-MOD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BOI
Where
60 nm southwest (240°) of BOI
Time
14:16 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate zlc
E75L at 33,000 ft, 19 nm southeast, 8:27 am MDT (14:27 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 517 nm along the route, 19 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
STS UA /OV FMG012082/TM 1427/FL330/TP E75L/TB LGT/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through STS
Where
82 nm north (012°) of FMG
Time
14:27 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
light
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs
B738 at 14,000 ft, 48 nm southeast, 6:38 am MDT (12:38 UTC): light icing, -2 °C. 607 nm along the route, 48 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV RNO130020/TM 1238/FL140/TP B738/TA M02/IC LGT RM
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
20 nm southeast (130°) of RNO
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Temperature
−2 °C
Icing
light remarks
B38M at 11,000 ft, 44 nm southeast, 6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC): light rime icing, -1 °C, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft rno dept southeast bound entered by zoa fdcs. 607 nm along the route, 44 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV 3917N11935W/TM 1230/FL110/TP B38M/SK UNKN/TA M01/IC LGT RIME/RM 110-140 RNO DEPT SE BOUND ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
3917N11935W
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
unknown
Temperature
−1 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft rno dept southeast bound entered by zoa fdcs
B739 at 36,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 8:39 am MDT (14:39 UTC): no turbulence. 716 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV SCK/TM 1439/FL360/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over SCK
Time
14:39 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none
B789 at 39,000 ft, 44 nm west, 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. At the destination end, 44 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
STS UA /OV PYE218013/TM 1337/FL390/TP B789/TB LGT-MOD/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through STS
Where
13 nm southwest (218°) of PYE
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (GTF, DLN, BOI, BAM, LKV, 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	350° at 4 kt	−3 kt	1 °C	123 kt	6 h 09 min	2:14 pm PDT (21:14 UTC)
6,500 ft	340° at 4 kt	−2 kt	1 °C	122 kt	6 h 12 min	2:17 pm PDT (21:17 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 5 kt	−1 kt	-4 °C	121 kt	6 h 15 min	2:20 pm PDT (21:20 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 5 kt	+2 kt	-6 °C	118 kt	6 h 24 min	2:29 pm PDT (21:29 UTC)
12,500 ft	260° at 6 kt	+5 kt	-10 °C	115 kt	6 h 34 min	2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 8 kt	+5 kt	-13 °C	115 kt	6 h 34 min	2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 10 kt	+5 kt	-16 °C	115 kt	6 h 34 min	2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 11 kt	+6 kt	-18 °C	114 kt	6 h 38 min	2:43 pm PDT (21:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 11 kt	+3 kt	-28 °C	117 kt	6 h 28 min	2:33 pm PDT (21:33 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 20 kt	+15 kt	-35 °C	105 kt	7 h 12 min	3:17 pm PDT (22:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-38 °C	95 kt	7 h 57 min	4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 31 kt	+31 kt	-42 °C	89 kt	8 h 30 min	4:35 pm PDT (23:35 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
GTF	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line		L/V	L/V -4°	230/12 -3°	210/12 -17°	190/23 -29°	200/48 -39°	210/69 -39°	220/66 -42°
DLN	used from 99 nm out; 55 nm from the line			L/V -3°	170/16 -6°	180/21 -18°	190/27 -30°	210/63 -33°	210/62 -36°	210/51 -42°
BOI	used from 199 nm out; 88 nm from the line		360/9 1°	L/V -5°	180/10 -12°	200/58 -21°	180/62 -31°	200/41 -31°	210/34 -32°	200/29 -41°
BAM	used from 398 nm out; 103 nm from the line			270/8 -4°	260/21 -11°	190/44 -21°	200/54 -28°	210/38 -31°	220/38 -35°	210/35 -41°
LKV	used from 447 nm out; 92 nm from the line			010/24 -9°	360/21 -13°	360/69 -18°	360/94 -25°	350/71 -37°	350/31 -38°	250/17 -41°
RNO	used from 497 nm out; 85 nm from the line		L/V	280/12 -4°	260/15 -10°	340/47 -17°	340/75 -25°	330/47 -37°	280/20 -40°	240/24 -42°
SAC	used from 646 nm out; 26 nm from the line	L/V	320/8 4°	330/12 -3°	350/25 -6°	350/63 -12°	340/65 -24°	340/60 -40°	340/45 -45°	290/24 -45°
SFO	used from 746 nm out; 14 nm from the line	010/6	360/13 5°	360/17 -3°	350/39 -2°	350/56 -11°	350/57 -24°	350/59 -40°	340/50 -46°	320/30 -47°

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
GTF Great Falls, MT	departure	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: freezing fog	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	300 ft	3,680 ft	8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC)
HLN Helena, MT	60 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,800 ft	3,877 ft	14:53 UTC
SMN Salmon, ID	179 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: light rain	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,300 ft	4,044 ft	14:56 UTC
BOI Boise, ID	308 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,500 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	2,871 ft	14:53 UTC
REO Rome, OR	408 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	4,053 ft	14:52 UTC
RTS Reno, NV	597 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,050 ft	14:55 UTC
TRK Truckee, CA	617 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	5,904 ft	14:47 UTC
SAC Sacramento, CA	696 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	23 ft	14:53 UTC
OAK Oakland, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	9 ft	7:53 am PDT (14:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,904 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At OAK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:14 pm PDT (21:14 UTC)

Wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for OAK

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 5 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 west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for GTF, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ¾ mile, mist, sky obscured at 300 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, overcast at 400 feet
From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 500 feet

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 10 nm from the route, 666 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at GTF 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC), at OAK 6:34 pm PDT (01:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · 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: Great Falls International, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.