Plan a flight · Mon 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC)

Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to San Francisco International MEM → SFO

1,567 nautical miles (1,803 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 286° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC). Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 3 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: 508 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 W18W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 5:55 am CDT (10:55 UTC). Over the route from 1098 to 1208 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120855
MKCW WST 120855
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18W
VALID UNTIL 1055Z
AZ UT NV
FROM 20WNW BVL-30N BCE-60SSW BCE-50NNE LAS-60NNW ELY-20WNW BVL
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL300.

SIGMET W18W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 5:55 am CDT (10:55 UTC). Near the route, 1238 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120903 CCA
MKCW WST 120903 COR
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18W
VALID UNTIL 1055Z
UT ID NV
FROM 30E TWF-10W MLD-10SE ILC-50WSW ILC-60NE OAL-30E TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
***COR PTS***

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 route from 210 to 739 nm out.
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 659 to 1108 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 719 to 898 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 818 to 968 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 908 to 1317 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 908 to 1208 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1068 to 1188 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 150 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 MEM.

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

urgent BE20 at 500 ft, 6 nm northeast, 4:34 am CDT (09:34 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl. 549 nm along the route, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBL UUA /OV LBL/TM 0934/FL005/TP BE20/RM LLWS 500FT +/-10KT ZKC FD DL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through LBL
Where
over LBL
Time
09:34 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Remarks
low-level wind shear 500FT a 10-knot loss of airspeed zkc fd dl
A35K at 32,000 ft, 30 nm north, 3:39 am CDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the destination end, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
```
Report
a routine report filed through OAK
Where
24 nm north (348°) of OAK
Time
08:39 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A35K
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
fdcs zoa
A333 at 38,000 ft, 8 nm southeast, 3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 759 nm along the route, 8 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALS UA /OV ALS085025/TM 0823/FL380/TP A333/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALS
Where
25 nm east (085°) of ALS
Time
08:23 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
A333
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 37 nm north, 2:47 am CDT (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 798 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
46 nm east (105°) of HBU
Time
07:47 UTC
Height
at 47,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Remarks
moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
BE20 at 9,000 ft, 26 nm south, 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 868 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0752/FL090/TP BE20/SK BASE110 TOP165/TA M05/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM DURD. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
07:52 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
BASE110 TOP165
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime
Remarks
during the descent zdvwc
PC12 at 11,000 ft, 26 nm south, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 868 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE117
Turbulence
continuous light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 15 forecast points nearest it (MEM, LIT, FSM, TUL, OKC, GAG, GCK, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, ELY, BIH, FAT, 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	240° at 20 kt	+15 kt	22 °C	105 kt	14 h 55 min	5:40 pm PDT (00:40 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 18 kt	+14 kt	15 °C	106 kt	14 h 47 min	5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 18 kt	+14 kt	10 °C	106 kt	14 h 47 min	5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	+14 kt	4 °C	106 kt	14 h 47 min	5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+15 kt	1 °C	105 kt	14 h 55 min	5:40 pm PDT (00:40 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+17 kt	-3 °C	103 kt	15 h 13 min	5:58 pm PDT (00:58 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+20 kt	-7 °C	100 kt	15 h 40 min	6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 32 kt	+22 kt	-10 °C	98 kt	15 h 59 min	6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 40 kt	+31 kt	-21 °C	89 kt	17 h 36 min	8:21 pm PDT (03:21 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 55 kt	+48 kt	-29 °C	72 kt	21 h 46 min	12:31 am PDT (07:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 56 kt	+51 kt	-37 °C	69 kt	22 h 43 min	1:28 am PDT (08:28 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 50 kt	+46 kt	-47 °C	74 kt	21 h 11 min	11:56 pm PDT (06:56 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
MEM	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/19	260/19 17°	270/20 12°	270/16 6°	270/21 -6°	290/27 -17°	300/37 -30°	300/49 -40°	310/40 -51°
LIT	used from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/22	250/25 18°	240/23 12°	240/20 7°	250/17 -6°	260/25 -17°	300/45 -29°	300/49 -40°	310/43 -51°
FSM	used from 150 nm out; 52 nm from the line	230/33	260/23 15°	240/23 11°	230/18 8°	230/20 -8°	250/31 -17°	280/51 -30°	280/52 -39°	300/47 -51°
TUL	used from 250 nm out; 22 nm from the line	230/42	250/23 17°	220/16 14°	240/10 8°	240/20 -6°	260/28 -17°	270/61 -29°	280/52 -38°	290/46 -50°
OKC	used from 349 nm out; 64 nm from the line	220/43	230/31 17°	260/13 16°	270/11 7°	240/20 -6°	250/32 -17°	260/60 -28°	280/50 -37°	290/45 -50°
GAG	used from 399 nm out; 65 nm from the line		240/35 22°	240/27 14°	230/25 6°	240/38 -7°	230/44 -19°	250/73 -28°	270/66 -37°	270/58 -49°
GCK	used from 549 nm out; 68 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
PUB	used from 649 nm out; 76 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
ALS	used from 749 nm out; 8 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
FMN	used from 848 nm out; 55 nm from the line			220/16 6°	220/39 1°	220/50 -10°	230/67 -23°	230/94 -29°	230/102 -35°	230/90 -46°
BCE	used from 998 nm out; 58 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
ELY	used from 1198 nm out; 90 nm from the line			210/34 1°	220/40 -4°	220/39 -17°	210/51 -24°	220/65 -30°	220/60 -37°	220/56 -44°
BIH	used from 1248 nm out; 107 nm from the line		L/V	020/6 0°	140/7 -7°	210/31 -16°	230/34 -26°	220/43 -30°	220/52 -36°	220/46 -43°
FAT	used from 1447 nm out; 65 nm from the line	140/11	180/15 3°	150/14 -3°	200/14 -6°	240/17 -16°	320/25 -23°	270/22 -31°	240/29 -37°	230/36 -44°
SFO	used from 1497 nm out; 45 nm from the line	090/9	050/12 4°	010/17 -2°	350/34 -3°	360/70 -11°	360/75 -22°	350/57 -38°	330/37 -42°	280/25 -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
MEM Memphis, TN	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC)
HBZ Heber Springs, AR	100 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				632 ft
TUL Tulsa, OK	299 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	677 ft	08:53 UTC
WDG Enid, OK	389 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,167 ft	09:35 UTC
EHA Elkhart, KS	589 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	3,621 ft	09:35 UTC
TAD Trinidad, CO	709 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	5,761 ft	08:54 UTC
MVI Monte Vista, CO	788 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				7,611 ft
BCE Bryce Canyon, UT	1078 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southeast (150°) at 9 knots	5 mi	300 ft	7,589 ft	09:30 UTC
CDC Cedar City, UT	1128 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	8,000 ft	5,622 ft	08:53 UTC
MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA	1397 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,900 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	7,134 ft	09:35 UTC
LVK Livermore, CA	1537 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	399 ft	08:53 UTC
SFO San Francisco, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	13 ft	1:56 am PDT (08:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,611 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, 5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for SFO

From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 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 MEM, the departure

From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 1427 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 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 lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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: Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport, San Francisco International.