General Mitchell International to San Diego International MKE → SAN
1,508 nautical miles (1,736 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 256°, about 260° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 3:33 pm PDT (22:33 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: 397 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 C10C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 789 to 889 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120555 MKCC WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C VALID UNTIL 0755Z CO NM FROM 20NNE PUB-40WSW LAA-30WSW CIM-50WSW ALS-50ESE HBU-20NNE PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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). Over the route from 90 to 719 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 719 to 1259 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 729 to 879 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 809 to 919 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 619 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1099 to 1298 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 1179 to 1229 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1388 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 MKE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 31,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 789 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- over BRK
- Time
- 06:41 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
- PC12 at 26,000 ft, 28 nm northwest, 1:27 am CDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 879 nm along the route, 28 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 40 nm east (090°) of HBU
- Time
- 06:27 UTC
- Height
- at 26,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-12
- E75L at 700 ft, 0 nm northwest, 1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC): a broken layer, 18 °C, wind 170° at 6 knots, remarks: rain bases 700 ft to the east. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV FINAL RWY 27/TM 0640/FL007/TP E75L/SK BKN/WX 5SM/TA 18/WV 17006/RM -RA BASES 007 TO THE EAST
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- final runway 27
- Time
- 06:40 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- a broken layer
- Weather
- 5SM
- Temperature
- 18 °C
- Wind
- from 170° at 6 knots
- Remarks
- rain bases 700 ft to the east
- BCS3 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm northwest, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0620/FL010/TP BCS3/SK BASE010/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- BASE010
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
- B737 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 12:07 am CDT (05:07 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0507/FL025/TP B737/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 05:07 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
- B38M at 3,100 ft, 0 nm northwest, 11:11 pm CDT (04:11 UTC): a broken layer above 3,100 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0411/FL031/TP B38M/SK BKN031/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 04:11 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,100 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
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 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 12 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). 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 | 230° at 33 kt | +31 kt | 21 °C | 89 kt | 16 h 57 min | 4:48 pm PDT (23:48 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +30 kt | 15 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 45 min | 4:36 pm PDT (23:36 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 10 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 42 min | 3:33 pm PDT (22:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 7 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 42 min | 3:33 pm PDT (22:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 3 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 52 min | 3:43 pm PDT (22:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +28 kt | -1 °C | 92 kt | 16 h 23 min | 4:14 pm PDT (23:14 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +32 kt | -5 °C | 88 kt | 17 h 08 min | 4:59 pm PDT (23:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 36 kt | +35 kt | -9 °C | 85 kt | 17 h 44 min | 5:35 pm PDT (00:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | +43 kt | -20 °C | 77 kt | 19 h 35 min | 7:26 pm PDT (02:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 61 kt | +61 kt | -30 °C | 59 kt | 25 h 34 min | 1:25 am PDT (08:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 67 kt | +68 kt | -37 °C | 52 kt | 29 h | 4:51 am PDT (11:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 60 kt | +62 kt | -47 °C | 58 kt | 26 h | 1:51 am PDT (08:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 300 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| GRI | used from 449 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| GLD | used from 549 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| PUB | used from 749 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 849 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 949 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| PRC | used from 1149 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1298 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| SAN | used from 1448 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/11 | 200/23 7° | 210/27 4° | 210/31 -3° | 220/56 -10° | 220/56 -19° | 220/52 -30° | 220/64 -37° | 220/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | departure | no report just now | 728 ft | ||||
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 130 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,076 ft | ||||
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 270 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 420 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,218 ft | ||||
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 599 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,706 ft | ||||
| GLD Goodland, KS | 659 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,657 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 809 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| FMN Farmington, NM | 1009 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,506 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 1199 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 1249 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,045 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1488 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,394 ft | ||||
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | no report just now | 16 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:33 pm PDT (22:33 UTC)
SAN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 25 nm from the route, 1318 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 15 nm from the route, 1438 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 1438 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 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: General Mitchell International, San Diego International.