Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to San Diego International MSN → SAN
1,450 nautical miles (1,669 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 254°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 7:13 pm PDT (02:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; SAN is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 4 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 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 89 to 536 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 666 to 795 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 685 to 1162 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 745 to 983 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1083 to 1252 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1113 to 1430 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 1122 to 1232 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 1162 to 1162 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1411 to 1440 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 MSN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 22,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 765 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 08:14 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 32 nm north, 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 864 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
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 12 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, 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 | 240° at 30 kt | +30 kt | 23 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 07 min | 8:04 pm PDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 16 °C | 93 kt | 15 h 35 min | 7:32 pm PDT (02:32 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 9 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 16 min | 7:13 pm PDT (02:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 6 °C | 92 kt | 15 h 46 min | 7:43 pm PDT (02:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +30 kt | 2 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 07 min | 8:04 pm PDT (03:04 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +34 kt | -2 °C | 86 kt | 16 h 52 min | 8:49 pm PDT (03:49 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 39 kt | +38 kt | -6 °C | 82 kt | 17 h 41 min | 9:38 pm PDT (04:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 41 kt | +41 kt | -9 °C | 79 kt | 18 h 21 min | 10:18 pm PDT (05:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 52 kt | +52 kt | -21 °C | 68 kt | 21 h 19 min | 1:16 am PDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 66 kt | +67 kt | -31 °C | 53 kt | 27 h 22 min | 7:19 am PDT (14:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | +74 kt | -36 °C | 46 kt | 31 h 31 min | 11:28 am PDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 69 kt | +71 kt | -47 °C | 49 kt | 29 h 36 min | 9:33 am PDT (16:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| DSM | used from 149 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| OMA | used from 248 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| GRI | used from 348 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| GLD | used from 497 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 695 nm out; 34 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 795 nm out; 39 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 894 nm out; 36 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 1043 nm out; 122 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1093 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1242 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| SAN | used from 1391 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 240/10 | 220/19 6° | 230/26 2° | 230/29 -3° | 230/43 -11° | 220/61 -20° | 220/72 -29° | 220/75 -38° | 220/71 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN Madison, WI | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 886 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 139 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| BNW Boone, IA | 209 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,160 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 417 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HDE Holdrege, NE | 477 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,313 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 596 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 745 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 16 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 944 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 1142 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 7,014 ft | 10:25 UTC |
| CMR Williams, AZ | 1162 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 4 mi | 1,900 ft | 6,690 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1430 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 2 mi | 1,000 ft | 1,394 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 3,400 ft | 16 ft | 3:51 am PDT (10:51 UTC) |
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, 7:13 pm PDT (02:13 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAN
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 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 MSN, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 1262 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 16 nm from the route, 1381 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is after sunset there (6:19 pm PDT (01:19 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, San Diego International.