Idaho Falls Regional to San Francisco International IDA → SFO
588 nautical miles (676 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 236°, about 224° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IDA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 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: 4 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 W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 71W VALID UNTIL 0155Z WY UT ID FROM 40S DBS-40WNW BPI-30WSW MTU-30SSW DTA-30SE TWF-40S DBS AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 20040KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- 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 70 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 359 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 259 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 199 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 448 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 IDA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 15,000 ft, 47 nm east, 5:47 pm MDT (23:47 UTC): light rime icing above 15,000 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV JAC200025/TM 2347/FL150/TP PC12/IC LGT RIME 150 /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- 25 nm south (200°) of JAC
- Time
- 23:47 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Icing
- light rime at 15,000 ft zlc
- C68A at 31,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 3:49 pm MDT (21:49 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 50 nm along the route, 32 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV HLE060040/TM 2149/FL310/TP C68A/SK BASE074-TOP300 /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (060°) of HLE
- Time
- 21:49 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C68A
- Sky
- BASE074-TOP300; zlc
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 5 forecast points nearest it (PIH, 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 | 280° at 6 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 5 h 04 min | 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 6 kt | +4 kt | 4 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 04 min | 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 8 kt | +7 kt | 3 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 12 min | 10:59 pm PDT (05:59 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | +13 kt | -1 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 30 min | 11:17 pm PDT (06:17 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +21 kt | -5 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 56 min | 11:43 pm PDT (06:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +27 kt | -9 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 19 min | 12:06 am PDT (07:06 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -12 °C | 87 kt | 6 h 46 min | 12:33 am PDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | +38 kt | -15 °C | 82 kt | 7 h 10 min | 12:57 am PDT (07:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 40 kt | +37 kt | -25 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 05 min | 12:52 am PDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 56 kt | +54 kt | -30 °C | 66 kt | 8 h 55 min | 2:42 am PDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 62 kt | +61 kt | -34 °C | 59 kt | 9 h 58 min | 3:45 am PDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | +57 kt | -43 °C | 63 kt | 9 h 20 min | 3:07 am PDT (10:07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH | used from 0 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 270/10 | 270/13 1° | 210/16 -2° | 200/56 -11° | 200/51 -23° | 200/68 -33° | 220/77 -37° | 230/73 -44° | |
| BAM | used from 149 nm out; 103 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 349 nm out; 49 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° | |
| SAC | used from 448 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| SFO | used from 548 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 3,300 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots | 5 mi | 3,300 ft | 4,743 ft | 6:27 pm MDT (00:27 UTC) |
| PIH Pocatello, ID | 40 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain | from the southwest (230°) at 15 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 4,451 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| BYI Burley, ID | 90 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,153 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 120 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 4,153 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| BAM Battle Mountain, NV | 279 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 4,536 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| WMC Winnemucca, NV | 299 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 18 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,307 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| LOL Lovelock, NV | 359 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,907 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | 418 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| MHR Sacramento, CA | 508 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 98 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| CCR Concord, CA | 558 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 4:56 pm PDT (23:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,743 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, 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 16 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the east-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 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for IDA, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 508 nm along the route · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at IDA 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO is after sunset there (6:38 pm PDT (01:38 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: Idaho Falls Regional, San Francisco International.