Plan a flight · Mon 9:12 am CDT (14:12 UTC)

Lincoln Airport to San Francisco International LNK → SFO

1,203 nautical miles (1,384 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 269°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC). Right now LNK is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19; SFO is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 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 W28W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC). Near the route, 855 nm along the route.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 121355
MKCW WST 121355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 28W
VALID UNTIL 1555Z
UT NV
FROM 30SSW ELY-20E ILC-70NNE LAS-60ENE BTY-30SSW ELY
AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 first 20 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 268 to 626 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 368 to 487 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 427 to 984 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 487 to 984 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 248 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1034 to 1103 nm out.

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 LNK.

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

B737 at 21,000 ft, 20 nm south, 9:05 am CDT (14:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. 378 nm along the route, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN310025/TM 1405/FL210/TP B737/TB MOD TURB/RM MTN WAVE +30KTS 250-150 DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm northwest (310°) of DEN
Time
14:05 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Remarks
mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
B737 at 16,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 378 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320040/TM 1223/FL160/TP B737/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
B738 descending, 6 nm southeast, 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 388 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40NW den
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 12 nm north, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): moderate rime icing, -13 °C. 686 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV FFU134026/TM 1240/FL170/TP PC12/TA M13 /IC MOD RIME/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
26 nm southeast (134°) of FFU
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
moderate rime/zlc
A319 at 19,000 ft, 37 nm north, 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -12 °C, wind 234° at 38 knots, remarks: during the descent. 696 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV FFU/TM 1353/FL190/TP A319/TA M12/WV 234038/TB MOD TURB/IC MOD RIME/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
over FFU
Time
13:53 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Temperature
−12 °C
Wind
from 234° at 38 knots
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
during the descent
CRJ7 at 16,000 ft, 11 nm north, 8:13 am CDT (13:13 UTC): moderate rime icing from 15,000 ft to 19,000 ft, -13 °C. 696 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV FFU165026/TM 1313/FL160/TP CRJ7/SK TOPS 196/TA M13/IC MOD RIME 150-190/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
26 nm south (165°) of FFU
Time
13:13 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
tops 19,600 ft
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
moderate rime 150-190/ZLC
BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 12 nm south, 8:32 am CDT (13:32 UTC): moderate rime icing, -15 °C. 716 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTA UA /OV DTA038010/TM 1332/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M15/IC MOD RIME 140-190 TOP 200/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTA
Where
10 nm northeast (038°) of DTA
Time
13:32 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Temperature
−15 °C
Icing
moderate rime from 14,000 ft to 19,000 ft top 200/ZLC
B38M at 17,000 ft, 4 nm north, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNK UA /OV LNK/TM 1241/FL170/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNK
Where
over LNK
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B38M at 39,000 ft, 9 nm southeast, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): light chop turbulence. 109 nm along the route, 9 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HSI UA /OV HSI270030/TM 1243/FL390/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through HSI
Where
30 nm west (270°) of HSI
Time
12:43 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B738 at 38,000 ft, 19 nm north, 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-35. 179 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1309/FL380/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC-35
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBF
Where
over LBF
Time
13:09 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-35
CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 19 nm north, 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 179 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1209/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBF
Where
over LBF
Time
12:09 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
B737 at 18,000 ft, 21 nm south, 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: from the surface to 18,000 ft. 368 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN350020/TM 1350/FL180/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM SFC-180
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
20 nm north (350°) of DEN
Time
13:50 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
from the surface to 18,000 ft
CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 40 nm south, 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC): no turbulence. 368 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 5N/TM 1330/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
5N
Time
13:30 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
none
B738 at 5,500 ft, 37 nm south, 7:28 am CDT (12:28 UTC): no turbulence. 368 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV KDEN/TM 1228/FLSFC/TP B738/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over KDEN
Time
12:28 UTC
Height
at the surface
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none

10 more routine reports are on the map.

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 11 forecast points nearest it (GRI, GLD, BFF, DEN, GJT, SLC, ELY, BIH, 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	260° at 10 kt	+10 kt	19 °C	110 kt	10 h 56 min	6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 11 kt	+10 kt	12 °C	110 kt	10 h 56 min	6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	+11 kt	6 °C	109 kt	11 h 02 min	6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	+15 kt	2 °C	105 kt	11 h 27 min	6:39 pm PDT (01:39 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+18 kt	-2 °C	102 kt	11 h 48 min	7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+21 kt	-6 °C	99 kt	12 h 09 min	7:21 pm PDT (02:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+23 kt	-10 °C	97 kt	12 h 24 min	7:36 pm PDT (02:36 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 31 kt	+25 kt	-13 °C	95 kt	12 h 40 min	7:52 pm PDT (02:52 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 40 kt	+34 kt	-23 °C	86 kt	13 h 59 min	9:11 pm PDT (04:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 57 kt	+50 kt	-32 °C	70 kt	17 h 11 min	12:23 am PDT (07:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 62 kt	+57 kt	-38 °C	63 kt	19 h 06 min	2:18 am PDT (09:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 63 kt	+56 kt	-45 °C	64 kt	18 h 48 min	2:00 am PDT (09:00 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
GRI	used from 0 nm out; 46 nm from the line		270/26 19°	230/33 13°	230/39 8°	230/43 -9°	240/55 -21°	250/76 -28°	260/84 -36°	260/68 -47°
GLD	used from 149 nm out; 97 nm from the line		240/22	250/24 13°	250/39 6°	230/42 -8°	230/55 -21°	240/87 -30°	240/96 -36°	250/93 -48°
BFF	used from 248 nm out; 84 nm from the line		310/15	280/27 8°	250/27 2°	230/30 -12°	240/52 -22°	250/66 -32°	240/78 -37°	240/76 -43°
DEN	used from 298 nm out; 56 nm from the line			230/7 11°	230/13 4°	230/40 -9°	230/48 -20°	240/66 -32°	240/88 -38°	230/100 -47°
GJT	used from 447 nm out; 95 nm from the line			190/30 6°	200/35 0°	220/50 -13°	220/69 -22°	220/81 -30°	230/84 -39°	230/88 -47°
SLC	used from 646 nm out; 69 nm from the line		180/7	200/22 2°	200/30 -4°	210/47 -16°	200/73 -27°	210/81 -32°	210/71 -37°	210/55 -43°
ELY	used from 745 nm out; 65 nm from the line			210/17 0°	220/30 -6°	190/50 -19°	200/56 -28°	210/76 -32°	210/63 -37°	210/59 -43°
BIH	used from 944 nm out; 86 nm from the line		L/V	340/7 -3°	L/V -8°	250/15 -17°	330/30 -24°	270/23 -34°	230/35 -39°	230/39 -44°
RNO	used from 1044 nm out; 75 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 1093 nm out; 49 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 1143 nm out; 35 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
LNK Lincoln, NE	departure	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC)
GRI Grand Island, NE	70 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	13:53 UTC
LXN Lexington, NE	139 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	2,412 ft	13:55 UTC
STK Sterling, CO	298 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	4,037 ft	13:55 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	378 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots	8 mi	none	5,020 ft	13:56 UTC
EEO Meeker, CO	507 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	6,415 ft	13:53 UTC
PUC Price, UT	646 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,500 feet	from the east (100°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	5,957 ft	13:53 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	835 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	6,259 ft	13:53 UTC
HTH Hawthorne, NV	1014 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	4,230 ft	13:55 UTC
SCK Stockton, CA	1143 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	32 ft	13:55 UTC
SFO San Francisco, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet	from the west (280°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	13 ft	6:56 am PDT (13:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,415 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, 6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC)

Wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SFO

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
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 LNK, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 LNK 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC), at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 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 southern Rockies · 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: Lincoln Airport, San Francisco International.