The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Mon 4:04 am CDT (09:04 UTC)

Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Mineta San Jose International MSP → SJC

1,366 nautical miles (1,572 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 2:36 pm PDT (21:36 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots; SJC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 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: 1,021 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 W17W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 947 to 1017 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120755
    MKCW WST 120755
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17W
    VALID UNTIL 0955Z
    AZ UT NV
    FROM 20WNW BVL-30N BCE-60SSW BCE-50NNE LAS-60NNW ELY-20WNW BVL
    AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • 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 route from 90 to 538 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 459 to 708 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 509 to 768 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 548 to 658 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 598 to 648 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 618 to 1137 nm out.
  • AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 648 to 1147 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 877 to 1027 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 160 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 MSP.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

  • A35K at 32,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 3:39 am CDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the destination end, 46 nm northwest of the line.
    as filed, and in English
    OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
    Report
    a routine report filed through OAK
    Where
    24 nm north (348°) of OAK
    Time
    08:39 UTC
    Height
    at 32,000 ft
    Aircraft
    A35K
    Turbulence
    moderate chop
    Remarks
    fdcs zoa

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 15 forecast points nearest it (MSP, AXN, FSD, ABR, PIR, RAP, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO, SAC, SFO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft240° at 12 kt+11 kt16 °C109 kt12 h 32 min2:36 pm PDT (21:36 UTC)
6,500 ft240° at 14 kt+13 kt14 °C107 kt12 h 46 min2:50 pm PDT (21:50 UTC)
8,500 ft240° at 16 kt+16 kt7 °C104 kt13 h 08 min3:12 pm PDT (22:12 UTC)
10,500 ft240° at 20 kt+19 kt2 °C101 kt13 h 31 min3:35 pm PDT (22:35 UTC)
12,500 ft230° at 24 kt+22 kt-2 °C98 kt13 h 56 min4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC)
14,500 ft230° at 24 kt+22 kt-6 °C98 kt13 h 56 min4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC)
16,500 ft230° at 25 kt+22 kt-10 °C98 kt13 h 56 min4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 25 kt+22 kt-13 °C98 kt13 h 56 min4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240230° at 33 kt+29 kt-23 °C91 kt15 h 01 min5:05 pm PDT (00:05 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300240° at 39 kt+37 kt-33 °C83 kt16 h 27 min6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340240° at 43 kt+42 kt-37 °C78 kt17 h 31 min7:35 pm PDT (02:35 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390240° at 45 kt+45 kt-45 °C75 kt18 h 13 min8:17 pm PDT (03:17 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
MSPused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line250/12250/17 17°240/26 12°250/26 5°280/26 -9°280/32 -22°270/37 -38°280/47 -41°280/55 -48°
AXNused from 50 nm out; 74 nm from the line110/6260/10 16°240/17 12°250/20 5°260/29 -10°260/35 -22°260/29 -38°270/48 -41°270/61 -48°
FSDused from 100 nm out; 62 nm from the line210/20230/23 21°220/25 14°230/30 5°230/26 -9°240/30 -21°270/33 -36°260/47 -37°270/58 -47°
ABRused from 199 nm out; 77 nm from the line080/12210/12 17°220/22 12°230/26 5°220/28 -10°230/41 -21°250/36 -36°260/47 -39°260/63 -47°
PIRused from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line230/15 15°220/22 14°220/24 6°200/32 -10°210/48 -22°240/45 -33°240/43 -37°250/55 -46°
RAPused from 349 nm out; 65 nm from the line250/28 16°260/31 10°240/25 4°210/35 -10°200/45 -23°230/47 -31°230/47 -36°230/51 -46°
BFFused from 499 nm out; 86 nm from the line280/28260/39 11°240/34 5°210/38 -11°210/52 -22°230/61 -31°230/61 -36°240/56 -45°
LNDused from 548 nm out; 118 nm from the line240/10 3°240/30 0°220/42 -13°230/52 -23°220/54 -33°220/52 -36°220/53 -44°
RKSused from 648 nm out; 48 nm from the line250/9230/21 -1°210/43 -14°220/59 -23°220/55 -32°220/53 -35°220/48 -44°
SLCused from 798 nm out; 39 nm from the line200/16210/23 4°220/34 -3°210/40 -16°220/66 -23°220/64 -31°220/57 -36°220/50 -43°
ELYused from 947 nm out; 61 nm from the line210/34 1°220/40 -4°220/39 -17°210/51 -24°220/65 -30°220/60 -37°220/56 -44°
BAMused from 1047 nm out; 67 nm from the line280/9 -2°260/18 -8°190/47 -19°200/50 -29°210/56 -29°220/54 -34°220/45 -42°
RNOused from 1147 nm out; 80 nm from the line010/6270/12 -3°220/26 -10°280/13 -19°350/44 -24°320/30 -32°260/22 -36°240/24 -42°
SACused from 1246 nm out; 67 nm from the lineL/VL/V 4°340/9 -4°340/22 -8°360/71 -12°360/82 -23°350/58 -37°310/30 -40°270/25 -44°
SFOused from 1346 nm out; 32 nm from the line090/9050/12 4°010/17 -2°350/34 -3°360/70 -11°360/75 -22°350/57 -38°330/37 -42°280/25 -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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
MSP Minneapolis, MN departure VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots 10+ mi 18,000 ft 841 ft 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC)
GYL Glencoe, MN 40 nm out, 3 nm east of the line VFR from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots 10+ mi none 992 ft 08:55 UTC
BKX Brookings, SD 160 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots 2.5 mi 300 ft 1,647 ft 08:56 UTC
DGW Douglas, WY 538 nm out, 3 nm west of the line VFR calm 10+ mi none 4,932 ft 08:53 UTC
CPR Casper, WY 588 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet from the southwest (230°) at 22 knots, gusting to 28 10+ mi 10,000 ft 5,344 ft 08:53 UTC
EVW Evanston, WY 808 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots 10+ mi none 7,142 ft 08:53 UTC
SLC Salt Lake City, UT 858 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots 10+ mi 8,000 ft 4,230 ft 08:54 UTC
GAB Gabbs, NV 1157 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line no report just now 4,699 ft
MOD Modesto, CA 1316 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet calm 10+ mi 9,500 ft 99 ft 08:53 UTC
SJC San Jose, CA destination VFR from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots 10+ mi none 62 ft 1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SJC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:36 pm PDT (21:36 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SJC
  • From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
  • From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MSP, the departure
  • From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
  • From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
  • From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

  • 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 19 October · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at SJC 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the northern Rockies
Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport, Mineta San Jose International.