Sacramento Mather Airport to Joe Foss Field MHR → FSD
1,147 nautical miles (1,320 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 067°, about 054° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:25 am CDT (14:25 UTC). 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: 5 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 W16W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 1:55 am PDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 279 to 369 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120655 MKCW WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16W VALID UNTIL 0855Z UT NV FROM 50NW BVL-20NE BVL-40SE OAL-20N OAL-50NW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 190 to 728 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 219 to 698 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 359 to 818 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 509 to 868 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 608 to 688 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), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 618 to 788 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 858 to 1007 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 968 nm along 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 MHR.
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 12 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, LND, BFF, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 14 kt | −6 kt | 18 °C | 126 kt | 9 h 06 min | 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | −12 kt | 8 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 41 min | 11:24 am CDT (16:24 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −15 kt | 5 °C | 135 kt | 8 h 30 min | 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −20 kt | 1 °C | 140 kt | 8 h 12 min | 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −22 kt | -3 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 05 min | 10:48 am CDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −23 kt | -7 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 01 min | 10:44 am CDT (15:44 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −25 kt | -11 °C | 145 kt | 7 h 55 min | 10:38 am CDT (15:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 31 kt | −25 kt | -12 °C | 145 kt | 7 h 55 min | 10:38 am CDT (15:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 36 kt | −29 kt | -23 °C | 149 kt | 7 h 42 min | 10:25 am CDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 46 kt | −40 kt | -31 °C | 160 kt | 7 h 10 min | 9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 53 kt | −49 kt | -36 °C | 169 kt | 6 h 47 min | 9:30 am CDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 53 kt | −51 kt | -44 °C | 171 kt | 6 h 42 min | 9:25 am CDT (14:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 34 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° |
| RNO | used from 50 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 150 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| ELY | used from 299 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| SLC | used from 349 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 499 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 648 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| BFF | used from 748 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 898 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 948 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 997 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 1097 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHR Sacramento, CA | departure | no report just now | 98 ft | ||||
| TRK Truckee, CA | 70 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,904 ft | ||||
| FLX Fallon, NV | 130 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,966 ft | ||||
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | 449 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,230 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 459 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,472 ft | ||||
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 588 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 6,764 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 788 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| CDR Chadron, NE | 868 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,297 ft | ||||
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 968 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,724 ft | ||||
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 1097 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,304 ft | ||||
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | no report just now | 1,430 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,764 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:25 am CDT (14:25 UTC)
FSD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 25 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MHR 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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: Sacramento Mather Airport, Joe Foss Field.