Missoula Montana Airport to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport MSO → OAK
659 nautical miles (758 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 216°, about 203° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:21 am PDT (12:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots; OAK is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 9 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: 8 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 160 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 200 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 299 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 MSO.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (GPI, LWS, BOI, LKV, RNO, SAC, SFO). 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 | 040° at 5 kt | −5 kt | 0 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 16 min | 5:23 am PDT (12:23 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 030° at 5 kt | −5 kt | 0 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 16 min | 5:23 am PDT (12:23 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 010° at 6 kt | −6 kt | -5 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 14 min | 5:21 am PDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 3 kt | −2 kt | -7 °C | 122 kt | 5 h 24 min | 5:31 am PDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 4 kt | +3 kt | -10 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 38 min | 5:45 am PDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | +8 kt | -14 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 53 min | 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | +13 kt | -17 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 10 min | 6:17 am PDT (13:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 17 kt | +17 kt | -19 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 24 min | 6:31 am PDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 12 kt | +10 kt | -27 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 59 min | 6:06 am PDT (13:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 21 kt | +19 kt | -32 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 31 min | 6:38 am PDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 31 kt | +28 kt | -34 °C | 92 kt | 7 h 10 min | 7:17 am PDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -40 °C | 89 kt | 7 h 24 min | 7:31 am PDT (14:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPI | used from 0 nm out; 104 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| LWS | used from 50 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 070/10 | 080/12 -2° | 030/12 -6° | 080/7 -10° | 170/34 -21° | 160/46 -32° | 200/33 -35° | 220/22 -35° | 230/18 -38° |
| BOI | used from 150 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 300/7 2° | 280/5 -4° | 210/16 -9° | 210/60 -20° | 210/75 -29° | 210/63 -32° | 220/64 -32° | 220/54 -39° | |
| LKV | used from 299 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 010/8 -8° | 350/13 -11° | 340/21 -21° | 360/60 -26° | 350/37 -32° | 310/26 -35° | 260/25 -39° | ||
| RNO | used from 449 nm out; 55 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 549 nm out; 27 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° |
| SFO | used from 649 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSO Missoula, MT | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 3,205 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 30 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,100 ft | 3,635 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| MYL Mc Call, ID | 150 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,300 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet Weather: light snow | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 5,024 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| ONO Ontario, OR | 210 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 2,193 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| REO Rome, OR | 309 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the east (080°) at 8 knots | none | 4,053 ft | 06:52 UTC | |
| SVE Susanville, CA | 479 nm out, 17 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,149 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | 589 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 26 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CCR Concord, CA | 639 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| OAK Oakland, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,024 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At OAK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:21 am PDT (12:21 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for OAK
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MSO, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet
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 2 nm from the route, 569 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC), at OAK 6:34 pm PDT (01:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at OAK is before sunrise there (7:14 am PDT (14:14 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: Missoula Montana Airport, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.