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 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 1:19 pm PDT (20:19 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: 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
- SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 745 to 854 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW 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 10 to 646 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 656 to 844 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 656 to 1202 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 745 to 874 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 586 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1033 to 1252 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 1172 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1331 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 MSN.
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 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 | 230° at 33 kt | +32 kt | 21 °C | 88 kt | 16 h 29 min | 2:42 pm PDT (21:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +30 kt | 15 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 07 min | 2:20 pm PDT (21:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 10 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 06 min | 1:19 pm PDT (20:19 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 7 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 06 min | 1:19 pm PDT (20:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 3 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 16 min | 1:29 pm PDT (20:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +29 kt | -1 °C | 91 kt | 15 h 56 min | 2:09 pm PDT (21:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +33 kt | -5 °C | 87 kt | 16 h 40 min | 2:53 pm PDT (21:53 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 36 kt | +36 kt | -9 °C | 84 kt | 17 h 16 min | 3:29 pm PDT (22:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -21 °C | 77 kt | 18 h 50 min | 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 62 kt | +62 kt | -30 °C | 58 kt | 25 h | 11:13 pm PDT (06:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 67 kt | +68 kt | -36 °C | 52 kt | 27 h 53 min | 2:06 am PDT (09:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 60 kt | +62 kt | -47 °C | 58 kt | 25 h | 11:13 pm PDT (06:13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 52 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 149 nm out; 51 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 248 nm out; 40 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 348 nm out; 49 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 497 nm out; 82 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 695 nm out; 34 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 795 nm out; 39 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 894 nm out; 36 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 1043 nm out; 122 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1093 nm out; 76 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 1242 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 1391 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN Madison, WI | departure | no report just now | 886 ft | ||||
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 139 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 873 ft | ||||
| BNW Boone, IA | 209 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,160 ft | ||||
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 417 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,847 ft | ||||
| HDE Holdrege, NE | 477 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,313 ft | ||||
| SYF St Francis, KS | 596 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,429 ft | ||||
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 745 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,187 ft | ||||
| FMN Farmington, NM | 944 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,506 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 1142 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| CMR Williams, AZ | 1162 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | no report just now | 6,690 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1430 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, 1:19 pm PDT (20:19 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 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
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 1381 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, San Diego International.