Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Sacramento International MSN → SMF
1,478 nautical miles (1,701 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 271°, about 274° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 2:24 pm PDT (21:24 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: 3 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 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 1099 to 1188 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 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 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 10 to 589 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 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 459 to 609 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 599 to 969 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 649 to 1108 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 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 699 to 859 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 759 to 1278 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 769 to 1248 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 779 to 869 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 100 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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, LSE, MCW, FSD, ONL, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO, SAC). 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 | 210° at 19 kt | +12 kt | 20 °C | 108 kt | 13 h 41 min | 2:24 pm PDT (21:24 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 16 °C | 107 kt | 13 h 49 min | 2:32 pm PDT (21:32 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +15 kt | 9 °C | 105 kt | 14 h 05 min | 2:48 pm PDT (21:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | +17 kt | 5 °C | 103 kt | 14 h 21 min | 3:04 pm PDT (22:04 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +19 kt | 1 °C | 101 kt | 14 h 38 min | 3:21 pm PDT (22:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +21 kt | -4 °C | 99 kt | 14 h 56 min | 3:39 pm PDT (22:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +22 kt | -8 °C | 98 kt | 15 h 05 min | 3:48 pm PDT (22:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -11 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 24 min | 4:07 pm PDT (23:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 34 kt | +29 kt | -23 °C | 91 kt | 16 h 15 min | 4:58 pm PDT (23:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | +38 kt | -31 °C | 82 kt | 18 h 01 min | 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | +48 kt | -37 °C | 72 kt | 20 h 32 min | 9:15 pm PDT (04:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 52 kt | +52 kt | -46 °C | 68 kt | 21 h 44 min | 10:27 pm PDT (05:27 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; 57 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° |
| LSE | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| MCW | used from 100 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| FSD | used from 250 nm out; 60 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° |
| ONL | used from 350 nm out; 44 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° | |
| BFF | used from 549 nm out; 67 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° | |
| LND | used from 749 nm out; 101 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 799 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 949 nm out; 46 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° | |
| ELY | used from 1099 nm out; 80 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° | ||
| BAM | used from 1198 nm out; 38 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° | ||
| RNO | used from 1298 nm out; 61 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° | |
| SAC | used from 1448 nm out; 19 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° |
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 | ||||
| OVS Boscobel, WI | 60 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 672 ft | ||||
| AXA Algona, IA | 220 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,216 ft | ||||
| SXK Maurice, IA | 300 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,408 ft | ||||
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 469 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,588 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 679 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 879 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 6,764 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 1009 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,472 ft | ||||
| ENV Wendover, UT | 1108 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,236 ft | ||||
| TMT Austin, NV | 1268 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | no report just now | 5,735 ft | ||||
| TRK Truckee, CA | 1398 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,904 ft | ||||
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | no report just now | 26 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 SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:24 pm PDT (21:24 UTC)
SMF 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 12 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 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, Sacramento International.