Rogue Valley Intl/Medford Airport to John Wayne/Orange County MFR → SNA
573 nautical miles (660 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 154°, about 138° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:58 am PDT (11:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MFR is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; SNA is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 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: 186 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 above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 336 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 MFR.
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 02:00–09:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (SIY, RBL, SAC, 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 | 110° at 7 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 4 h 59 min | 6:06 am PDT (13:06 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 160° at 7 kt | +7 kt | 4 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 04 min | 6:11 am PDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 180° at 8 kt | +7 kt | 2 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 04 min | 6:11 am PDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 8 kt | +5 kt | -2 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 59 min | 6:06 am PDT (13:06 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 8 kt | +1 kt | -5 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 49 min | 5:56 am PDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 8 kt | −4 kt | -8 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 37 min | 5:44 am PDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 11 kt | −10 kt | -11 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 24 min | 5:31 am PDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | −16 kt | -14 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 13 min | 5:20 am PDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 17 kt | −17 kt | -15 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 11 min | 5:18 am PDT (12:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -23 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 51 min | 4:58 am PDT (11:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -32 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 07 min | 5:14 am PDT (12:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 22 kt | −3 kt | -37 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 40 min | 5:47 am PDT (12:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 32 kt | +8 kt | -43 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 07 min | 6:14 am PDT (13:14 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIY | used from 0 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 050/17 1° | 010/16 -5° | 360/26 -8° | 360/71 -14° | 360/94 -23° | 360/88 -37° | 350/41 -40° | 290/17 -41° | |
| RBL | used from 99 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 020/16 | 360/6 5° | L/V -2° | 340/10 -8° | 360/59 -15° | 360/87 -23° | 360/68 -35° | 330/28 -37° | 260/26 -42° |
| SAC | used from 198 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| FAT | used from 296 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 130/16 | 160/20 5° | 190/28 -1° | 210/25 -5° | 220/27 -15° | 230/21 -26° | 220/42 -29° | 220/44 -35° | 220/44 -44° |
| WJF | used from 445 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| ONT | used from 544 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFR Medford, OR | departure | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,335 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
| SIY Montague, CA | 40 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north (360°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,651 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GOO Grass Valley, CA | 208 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 3,157 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 237 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MPI Mariposa, CA | 316 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,254 ft | ||||
| FAT Fresno, CA | 366 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 12 knots | 9 mi | 12,000 ft | 335 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 455 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 509 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| WJF Lancaster, CA | 504 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet | from the west (260°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 2,350 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 544 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 295 ft | 02:45 UTC |
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 55 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,157 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:58 am PDT (11:58 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for SNA
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for MFR, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 15 nm from the route, 208 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 326 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, 455 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MFR 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SNA is before sunrise there (6:53 am PDT (13:53 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: Rogue Valley Intl/Medford Airport, John Wayne/Orange County.