Plan a flight · Sun 4:32 pm PDT (23:32 UTC)

Merced Yosemite Regional to Long Beach (Daugherty Field) MCE → LGB

238 nautical miles (274 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 150°, about 135° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 6:37 pm PDT (01:37 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCE is VFR, wind variable at 3 knots; LGB is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 8 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: 21 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 208 to 208 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 30 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 MCE.

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

B737 at 14,000 ft, 44 nm east, 2:54 pm PDT (21:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 218 nm along the route, 44 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV 20N ONT/TM 2154/FL140/TP B737/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
20N ont
Time
21:54 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
B738 descending, 44 nm northeast, 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 218 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT358021/TM 2137/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MODERATE CHOP STARTING AT 130
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
21 nm north (358°) of ONT
Time
21:37 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate chop starting at at 13,000 ft
C172 at 5,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 4:15 pm PDT (23:15 UTC): remarks: tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25. 188 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2315/FL050/TP C172/RM TOPS 050 ON DEP RWY25
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXR
Where
over KOXR
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Remarks
tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25
E50P at 3,200 ft, 35 nm southwest, 3:57 pm PDT (22:57 UTC): remarks: bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25. 188 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2257/FL032/TP E50P/RM BASES 036 ON ARR RWY25
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXR
Where
over KOXR
Time
22:57 UTC
Height
at 3,200 ft
Aircraft
E50P
Remarks
bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25
B38M at 36,000 ft, 50 nm northeast, 2:43 pm PDT (21:43 UTC): clear from 36,000 ft to 60,000 ft, -40 °C, wind 205° at 55 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 188 nm along the route, 50 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EDW UA /OV EDW154007 /TM 2143 /FL360 /TP B38M /SK SKC /WX FV99SM /TA M40 /WV 20555KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through EDW
Where
7 nm southeast (154°) of EDW
Time
21:43 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
clear
Weather
flight visibility 99 miles
Temperature
−40 °C
Wind
from 205° at 55 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
B739 at 33,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 4:01 pm PDT (23:01 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 10 knots zlawc. 198 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDB UA /OV PMD/TM 2301/FL330/TP B739/RM MTN WAVE /- 10 KT /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDB
Where
over PMD
Time
23:01 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Remarks
mountain wave 10 knots zlawc
B739 at 33,000 ft, 41 nm northeast, 4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 10 knots zlawc. 208 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRA UA /OV VCV242015/TM 2302/FL330/TP B739/RM MTN WAVE /- 10 KT /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRA
Where
15 nm southwest (242°) of VCV
Time
23:02 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Remarks
mountain wave 10 knots zlawc
GLF4 at 3,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 1:52 pm PDT (20:52 UTC): remarks: reported by A GLF4 on 6 mile final on ils to 16R. 208 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
VNY UA /OV VNY/TM 2052/FL035/TP GLF4/RM REPORTED BY A GLF4 ON 6 MILE FINAL ON ILS TO 16R
```
Report
a routine report filed through VNY
Where
over VNY
Time
20:52 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Remarks
reported by A GLF4 on 6 mile final on ils to 16R
E55P at 3,000 ft, 0 nm south, 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent RY21. 218 nm along the route, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SMO UA /OV SMO030008/TM 2200/FL030/TP E55P/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY21
```
Report
a routine report filed through SMO
Where
8 nm northeast (030°) of SMO
Time
22:00 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent RY21
C25M at 3,000 ft, 0 nm south, 1:50 pm PDT (20:50 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent RY21. 218 nm along the route, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SMO UA /OV SMO030008/TM 2050/FL030/TP C25M/SK BKN030-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY21
```
Report
a routine report filed through SMO
Where
8 nm northeast (030°) of SMO
Time
20:50 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C25M
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent RY21
B757 at 4,000 ft, 1 nm southeast, 3:38 pm PDT (22:38 UTC): remarks: reduced visibility below the ceiling ILS25L. 228 nm along the route, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAX UA /OV LAX070010/TM 2238/FL040/TP B757/SK TOPS050 BASES040/RM REDUCED VISIBILITY BELOW THE CEILING. ILS25L
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAX
Where
10 nm east (070°) of LAX
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
B757
Sky
TOPS050 BASES040
Remarks
reduced visibility below the ceiling ILS25L
B737 at 4,000 ft, 8 nm west, 3:37 pm PDT (22:37 UTC): a broken layer from 4,000 ft to 5,000 ft. 228 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 2237/FL040/TP B737/SK BKN040-TOP050
```
Report
a routine report filed through KLAX
Where
over KLAX
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
a broken layer from 4,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
A320 at 3,500 ft, 9 nm west, 3:13 pm PDT (22:13 UTC): a broken layer above 3,500 ft, remarks: during the descent RY25L. 228 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAX UA /OV LAX/TM 2213/FL035/TP A320/SK BKN-BASE035/RM DURD RY25L
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAX
Where
over LAX
Time
22:13 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
BKN-BASE035
Remarks
during the descent RY25L
E75L , 8 nm west, 2:20 pm PDT (21:20 UTC): a broken layer from 3,700 ft to 4,700 ft. 228 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 2120/FL2125/TP E75L/SK BKN037-TOP047
```
Report
a routine report filed through KLAX
Where
over KLAX
Time
21:20 UTC
Height
at 212,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
a broken layer from 3,700 ft, tops 4,700 ft

6 more routine reports are on the map.

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 3 forecast points nearest it (FAT, WJF, ONT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	200° at 8 kt	+6 kt		114 kt	2 h 05 min	6:37 pm PDT (01:37 UTC)
5,500 ft	210° at 18 kt	+9 kt	8 °C	111 kt	2 h 09 min	6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 20 kt	+8 kt	5 °C	112 kt	2 h 08 min	6:40 pm PDT (01:40 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 24 kt	+7 kt	3 °C	113 kt	2 h 06 min	6:38 pm PDT (01:38 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+9 kt	-1 °C	111 kt	2 h 09 min	6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	+9 kt	-5 °C	111 kt	2 h 09 min	6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	+9 kt	-8 °C	111 kt	2 h 09 min	6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	+9 kt	-12 °C	111 kt	2 h 09 min	6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 31 kt	+9 kt	-13 °C	111 kt	2 h 09 min	6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 44 kt	+13 kt	-22 °C	107 kt	2 h 13 min	6:45 pm PDT (01:45 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 51 kt	+18 kt	-28 °C	102 kt	2 h 20 min	6:52 pm PDT (01:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 45 kt	+18 kt	-34 °C	102 kt	2 h 20 min	6:52 pm PDT (01:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 47 kt	+15 kt	-44 °C	105 kt	2 h 16 min	6:48 pm PDT (01:48 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
FAT	used from 0 nm out; 27 nm from the line	180/7	170/9 7°	200/20 3°	210/27 -3°	240/27 -14°	230/38 -24°	220/57 -27°	230/42 -33°	230/41 -44°
WJF	used from 99 nm out; 68 nm from the line		220/30 8°	240/28 5°	230/34 -2°	220/34 -13°	220/48 -20°	220/47 -29°	210/48 -34°	220/52 -44°
ONT	used from 198 nm out; 37 nm from the line	230/11	200/17 6°	230/27 4°	230/32 -2°	210/39 -12°	220/51 -20°	220/48 -29°	210/51 -34°	210/52 -44°

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
MCE Merced, CA	departure	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	155 ft	3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC)
MAE Madera, CA	30 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	255 ft	22:55 UTC
FAT Fresno, CA	50 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 13,000 feet, a few clouds at 16,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	335 ft	22:53 UTC
BFL Bakersfield, CA	129 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	509 ft	22:54 UTC
WJF Lancaster, CA	188 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 22 knots, gusting to 32	10+ mi	none	2,350 ft	22:56 UTC
WHP Los Angeles, CA	208 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	3,400 ft	1,003 ft	21:55 UTC
LGB Long Beach, CA	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,700 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	4,700 ft	60 ft	3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,350 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LGB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:37 pm PDT (01:37 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): light rain showers

The whole forecast for LGB

From Sun 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
From Sun 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers

The forecast for MCE, the departure

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at MCE 6:29 pm PDT (01:29 UTC), at LGB 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm PDT (01:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LGB is after sunset there (6:23 pm PDT (01:23 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 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: Merced Yosemite Regional, Long Beach (Daugherty Field).