Indianapolis International to Charles M Schulz/Sonoma County IND → STS
1,691 nautical miles (1,946 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 279°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 8:14 am PDT (15:14 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: 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
- SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 995 to 1015 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- SIGMET W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1124 to 1233 nm out.
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.
- SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1412 to 1432 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W VALID UNTIL 0155Z NV FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 736 to 1383 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 826 to 1233 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 915 to 1363 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 925 to 1194 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 995 to 1034 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1064 to 1462 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). Over the route from 1114 to 1243 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1552 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 IND.
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 16 forecast points nearest it (IND, SPI, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, BFF, DEN, GJT, 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 | 220° at 13 kt | +8 kt | 19 °C | 112 kt | 15 h 06 min | 8:14 am PDT (15:14 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 15 °C | 109 kt | 15 h 31 min | 8:39 am PDT (15:39 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | +14 kt | 10 °C | 106 kt | 15 h 57 min | 9:05 am PDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 16 h 25 min | 9:33 am PDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 1 °C | 100 kt | 16 h 55 min | 10:03 am PDT (17:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +22 kt | -3 °C | 98 kt | 17 h 15 min | 10:23 am PDT (17:23 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 17 h 37 min | 10:45 am PDT (17:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | +26 kt | -10 °C | 94 kt | 17 h 59 min | 11:07 am PDT (18:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 33 kt | +28 kt | -21 °C | 92 kt | 18 h 23 min | 11:31 am PDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 41 kt | +40 kt | -31 °C | 80 kt | 21 h 08 min | 2:16 pm PDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | +49 kt | -38 °C | 71 kt | 23 h 49 min | 4:57 pm PDT (23:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | +53 kt | -47 °C | 67 kt | 25 h 14 min | 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| SPI | used from 99 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| BRL | used from 199 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| DSM | used from 298 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| OMA | used from 398 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| GRI | used from 497 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| GLD | used from 647 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| BFF | used from 746 nm out; 79 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° | |
| DEN | used from 796 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| GJT | used from 945 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| RKS | used from 1044 nm out; 81 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 1094 nm out; 69 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 1243 nm out; 56 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 1393 nm out; 68 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 1442 nm out; 76 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 1591 nm out; 20 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND Indianapolis, IN | departure | no report just now | 796 ft | ||||
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 90 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 754 ft | ||||
| EOK Keokuk, IA | 239 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 671 ft | ||||
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 487 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,218 ft | ||||
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 557 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,847 ft | ||||
| STK Sterling, CO | 776 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | no report just now | 4,037 ft | ||||
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 855 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,020 ft | ||||
| PVU Provo, UT | 1164 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,496 ft | ||||
| TMT Austin, NV | 1422 nm out, 0 nm west of the line | no report just now | 5,735 ft | ||||
| SMF Sacramento, CA | 1631 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| STS Santa Rosa, CA | destination | no report just now | 128 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,735 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At STS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:14 am PDT (15:14 UTC)
STS 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 11 nm from the route, 1621 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 1621 nm along the route · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at IND 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 UTC), at STS 6:37 pm PDT (01:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm PDT (02:04 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: Indianapolis International, Charles M Schulz/Sonoma County.
