Plan a flight · Sun 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)

Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport to Sacramento International MEM → SMF

1,527 nautical miles (1,757 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 288°, about 289° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 5:58 am PDT (12:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MEM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 7 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: 522 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 W63W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC). Over the route from 728 to 978 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112255
MKCW WST 112255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 63W
VALID UNTIL 0055Z
CO NM AZ UT
FROM 30SSW MTU-30NW PUB-20NW TCC-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SSW MTU
AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
WIND GUSTS TO 50KT POSS.

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 688 to 1197 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 758 to 1277 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 818 to 1267 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 838 to 1058 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 948 to 968 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 978 to 1327 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 1048 to 1177 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1227 to 1447 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 MEM.

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

E170 at 10,000 ft, 44 nm north, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 918 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT144009/TM 2341/FL100/TP E170/TB MOD SFC-100/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
9 nm southeast (144°) of GJT
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate from the surface to 10,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
A319 at 39,000 ft, 2 nm south, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through MEM
Where
over MEM
Time
23:11 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
smooth
B38M at 35,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 4:34 pm CDT (21:34 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zme. At the departure end, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL225020/TM 2134/FL350/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
20 nm southwest (225°) of MKL
Time
21:34 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zme
C750 at 47,000 ft, 35 nm north, 4:22 pm CDT (21:22 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 649 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAA UA /OV LAA260010/TM 2122/FL470/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAA
Where
10 nm west (260°) of LAA
Time
21:22 UTC
Height
at 47,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
continuous lgt-ocnl moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
B737 at 41,000 ft, 43 nm north, 4:23 pm CDT (21:23 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 728 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB350015/TM 2123/FL410/TP B737/TB CONS LGT-OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
15 nm north (350°) of PUB
Time
21:23 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous lgt-ocnl moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
GLF4 at 41,000 ft, 17 nm north, 3:59 pm CDT (20:59 UTC): no turbulence. 748 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
1V6 UA /OV DEN180100 /TM 2059 /FL410 /TP GLF4 /TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through 1V6
Where
100 nm south (180°) of DEN
Time
20:59 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Turbulence
none
B737 at 41,000 ft, 19 nm north, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-46. 768 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260050/TM 2115/FL410/TP B737/TB NEG/RM MTW -10KT ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
50 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-46
A321 at 34,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 4:36 pm CDT (21:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-29. 778 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALS UA /OV ALS360035/TM 2136/FL340/TP A321/TB CONS LGT-OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-29
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALS
Where
35 nm north (360°) of ALS
Time
21:36 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous lgt-ocnl moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-29
B738 at 35,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-30. 798 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALS UA /OV ALS319040/TM 2218/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT-OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-30
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALS
Where
40 nm northwest (319°) of ALS
Time
22:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous lgt-ocnl moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-30
E75L at 22,000 ft, 44 nm north, 4:40 pm CDT (21:40 UTC): remarks: ZDVWC-11. 908 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV JNC090020/TM 2140/FL220/TP E75L/SK TOP220/RM ZDVWC-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
20 nm east (090°) of JNC
Time
21:40 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
TOP220
Remarks
ZDVWC-11
B738 at 38,000 ft, 18 nm north, 4:47 pm CDT (21:47 UTC): remarks: mtw 10-15KT ZDVWC-03. 928 nm along the route, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL229104/TM 2147/FL380/TP B738/RM MTW -10-15KT ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
104 nm southwest (229°) of DBL
Time
21:47 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
mtw 10-15KT ZDVWC-03
UAL1263 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm south, 4:42 pm CDT (21:42 UTC): no turbulence, wind 227° at 59 knots. 978 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1263 3738N 11003W 2142 F330 227/059KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C17 at 27,000 ft, 36 nm north, 5:58 pm CDT (22:58 UTC): light rime icing, -25 °C. 1108 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTA UA /OV DTA180010/TM 2258/FL270/TP C17/TA M25/IC LGT RIME /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTA
Where
10 nm south (180°) of DTA
Time
22:58 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
C17
Temperature
−25 °C
Icing
light rime zlc
B737 at 27,000 ft, 14 nm south, 5:14 pm CDT (22:14 UTC): remarks: mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed +/-300FT entered by zoa fdcs. 1417 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV 3830N11910W/TM 2214/FL270/TP B737/RM MTN WAVE +/-10KTS +/-300FT ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
3830N11910W
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed +/-300FT entered by zoa fdcs

1 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 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, ICT, GAG, GCK, PUB, ALS, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, 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	210° at 18 kt	+4 kt	20 °C	116 kt	13 h 10 min	5:58 am PDT (12:58 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 18 kt	+7 kt	16 °C	113 kt	13 h 31 min	6:19 am PDT (13:19 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	+12 kt	11 °C	108 kt	14 h 08 min	6:56 am PDT (13:56 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+15 kt	6 °C	105 kt	14 h 33 min	7:21 am PDT (14:21 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+17 kt	2 °C	103 kt	14 h 50 min	7:38 am PDT (14:38 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	+19 kt	-2 °C	101 kt	15 h 07 min	7:55 am PDT (14:55 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+20 kt	-6 °C	100 kt	15 h 16 min	8:04 am PDT (15:04 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 31 kt	+21 kt	-9 °C	99 kt	15 h 25 min	8:13 am PDT (15:13 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 33 kt	+24 kt	-20 °C	96 kt	15 h 54 min	8:42 am PDT (15:42 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 48 kt	+39 kt	-29 °C	81 kt	18 h 51 min	11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 49 kt	+42 kt	-37 °C	78 kt	19 h 35 min	12:23 pm PDT (19:23 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 47 kt	+43 kt	-47 °C	77 kt	19 h 50 min	12:38 pm PDT (19:38 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
MEM	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
LIT	used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
FSM	used from 150 nm out; 57 nm from the line	200/18	210/19 15°	230/22 13°	250/18 7°	270/20 -5°	280/24 -16°	280/35 -30°	290/37 -40°	300/40 -52°
TUL	used from 249 nm out; 25 nm from the line	200/27	210/28 15°	240/24 13°	250/19 8°	250/28 -6°	260/25 -16°	270/34 -30°	280/41 -39°	280/41 -52°
ICT	used from 349 nm out; 57 nm from the line	190/34	210/34 18°	240/28 13°	260/23 7°	250/23 -6°	240/29 -17°	260/40 -30°	260/47 -40°	270/42 -51°
GAG	used from 449 nm out; 50 nm from the line		190/34 19°	240/27 14°	240/26 8°	240/24 -6°	240/29 -16°	250/50 -28°	250/50 -39°	260/46 -50°
GCK	used from 499 nm out; 43 nm from the line		200/35 21°	220/34 14°	240/30 8°	240/27 -6°	240/31 -17°	240/53 -30°	250/55 -39°	250/60 -50°
PUB	used from 649 nm out; 58 nm from the line			210/24 16°	210/28 8°	230/43 -8°	240/42 -21°	240/77 -30°	240/72 -36°	250/51 -47°
ALS	used from 748 nm out; 34 nm from the line				210/32 5°	230/48 -8°	230/49 -20°	230/78 -30°	240/74 -36°	240/61 -47°
GJT	used from 848 nm out; 69 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°
BCE	used from 998 nm out; 75 nm from the line				210/47 0°	200/50 -12°	220/31 -23°	220/56 -26°	220/58 -35°	230/58 -45°
ELY	used from 1147 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°
BIH	used from 1297 nm out; 97 nm from the line		L/V	210/14 6°	210/20 -2°	230/26 -14°	220/32 -24°	220/63 -27°	220/56 -35°	230/50 -44°
RNO	used from 1397 nm out; 50 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 1447 nm out; 52 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
MEM Memphis, TN	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC)
HBZ Heber Springs, AR	100 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	no report just now				632 ft
FYV Fayetteville, AR	210 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,252 ft	22:53 UTC
WDG Enid, OK	389 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 19 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	none	1,167 ft	22:59 UTC
MEJ Meade, KS	519 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,527 ft
LHX La Junta, CO	678 nm out, 21 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,228 ft	15:53 UTC
TEX Telluride, CO	878 nm out, 15 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,300 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (170°) at 7 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	3,900 ft	9,069 ft	23:35 UTC
HVE Hanksville, UT	1018 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	4,453 ft	23:30 UTC
MLF Milford, UT	1127 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,600 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	4,300 ft	5,042 ft	23:12 UTC
GAB Gabbs, NV	1357 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	no report just now				4,699 ft
PVF Placerville, CA	1487 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	2,585 ft	23:35 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:58 am PDT (12:58 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for MEM, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 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 9 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, a few clouds at 10,000 feet

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 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · until 11 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at MEM 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is before sunrise there (7:12 am PDT (14:12 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, Sacramento International.