Plan a flight · Mon 8:59 am CDT (13:59 UTC)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International to Sacramento International MSY → SMF

1,629 nautical miles (1,875 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 297°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 1-knot headwind), arriving about 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSY is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots; SMF is VFR, wind calm. 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 W28W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC). Over the route from 1289 to 1329 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 121355
MKCW WST 121355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 28W
VALID UNTIL 1555Z
UT NV
FROM 30SSW ELY-20E ILC-70NNE LAS-60ENE BTY-30SSW ELY
AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
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 820 to 1220 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 830 to 870 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 940 to 1429 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1000 to 1180 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 1150 to 1260 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1150 to 1349 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 200 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1499 to 1569 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 MSY.

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

C25A at 41,000 ft, 47 nm northeast, 6:05 am CDT (11:05 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 47 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HSA UA /OV KPCU314014/TM 1105/FL410/TP C25A/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through HSA
Where
14 nm northwest (314°) of KPCU
Time
11:05 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zhu
B738 at 40,000 ft, 0 nm northeast, 6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSY UA /OV KHRV067024/TM 1103/FL400/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSY
Where
24 nm northeast (067°) of KHRV
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zhu
B737 at 23,000 ft, 9 nm northeast, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): no turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BTR UA /OV KLSU945005/TM 1230/FL230/TP B737/TB NEG 000-230/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BTR
Where
5 nm southwest (945°) of KLSU
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no from 0 ft to 23,000 ft
Remarks
zhu
A21N at 34,000 ft, 9 nm northeast, 6:37 am CDT (11:37 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BTR UA /OV KBTR/TM 1137/FL340/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BTR
Where
over KBTR
Time
11:37 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zhu
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 10 nm north, 8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 140 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AEX UA /OV AEX250010/TM 1349/FL200/TP PC12/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through AEX
Where
10 nm west (250°) of AEX
Time
13:49 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
zhu
A321 at 32,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW89. 250 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GGG UA /OV GGG155035/TM 1253/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZFW89
```
Report
a routine report filed through GGG
Where
35 nm southeast (155°) of GGG
Time
12:53 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZFW89
E55P at 11,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW83. 350 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRL UA /OV TRL/TM 1242/FL110/TP E55P/TB NEG/RM ZFW83
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRL
Where
over TRL
Time
12:42 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW83
TBM8 at 30,000 ft, 48 nm southwest, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW62. 380 nm along the route, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACT UA /OV ACT340020/TM 1343/FL300/TP TBM8/TB NEG/RM ZFW62
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACT
Where
20 nm north (340°) of ACT
Time
13:43 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
TBM8
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW62
A320 at 2,400 ft, 9 nm northeast, 7:38 am CDT (12:38 UTC): a few clouds above 2,400 ft, remarks: bases 2400 ft, airport in sight on 8 mile final. 390 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1238/FL024/TP A320/SK FEW024/RM BASES 2400 FT, AIRPORT IN SIGHT ON 8 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 2,400 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a few clouds from 2,400 ft
Remarks
bases 2400 ft, airport in sight on 8 mile final
B738 at 2,100 ft, 9 nm northeast, 6:55 am CDT (11:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 390 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV 3 N OF DFW/TM 1155/FL021/TP B738/SK BASE021
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
3 north of dfw
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
at 2,100 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
BASE021
E170 at 2,200 ft, 9 nm northeast, 6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,200 ft, remarks: haze layer on final at 2200 ft. 390 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1142/FL022/TP E170/SK SCT022/RM HAZE LAYER ON FINAL AT 2200 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
11:42 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,200 ft
Remarks
haze layer on final at 2200 ft
C560 at 2,600 ft, 3 nm southwest, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft. 400 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FTW UA /OV 5 NM W/TM 1302/FL026/TP C560/SK BKN026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FTW
Where
5 nautical miles west
Time
13:02 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft
C172 at 2,500 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,700 ft. 400 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FTW UA /OV 3 NM NW FTW/TM 1255/FL025/TP C172/SK SCT027
```
Report
a routine report filed through FTW
Where
3 nautical miles northwest ftw
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,700 ft
M20P at 3,500 ft, 24 nm southwest, 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC): a broken layer, remarks: during the descent. 400 nm along the route, 24 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV 50F140007/TM 1239/FL035/TP M20P/SK B035 BKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
7 nm southeast (140°) of 50F
Time
12:39 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
M20P
Sky
B035 broken
Remarks
during the descent

7 more routine reports are on the map.

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 16 forecast points nearest it (MSY, LCH, SHV, DAL, SPS, LBB, AMA, TCC, ABQ, FMN, BCE, LAS, ELY, BIH, 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 16 kt	+1 kt	17 °C	119 kt	13 h 41 min	8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC)
6,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	+2 kt	15 °C	118 kt	13 h 48 min	8:47 pm PDT (03:47 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	+5 kt	10 °C	115 kt	14 h 10 min	9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	+6 kt	5 °C	114 kt	14 h 17 min	9:16 pm PDT (04:16 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 19 kt	+8 kt	1 °C	112 kt	14 h 33 min	9:32 pm PDT (04:32 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+11 kt	-3 °C	109 kt	14 h 57 min	9:56 pm PDT (04:56 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+13 kt	-7 °C	107 kt	15 h 13 min	10:12 pm PDT (05:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 27 kt	+16 kt	-10 °C	104 kt	15 h 40 min	10:39 pm PDT (05:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 35 kt	+24 kt	-19 °C	96 kt	16 h 58 min	11:57 pm PDT (06:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 47 kt	+34 kt	-29 °C	86 kt	18 h 57 min	1:56 am PDT (08:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 46 kt	+35 kt	-38 °C	85 kt	19 h 10 min	2:09 am PDT (09:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 41 kt	+35 kt	-48 °C	85 kt	19 h 10 min	2:09 am PDT (09:09 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
MSY	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	150/9	140/8 18°	L/V 13°	L/V 6°	320/15 -5°	310/16 -16°	320/32 -31°	340/35 -40°	350/34 -52°
LCH	used from 100 nm out; 64 nm from the line	170/21	160/23 18°	170/13 13°	170/6 8°	300/12 -7°	280/16 -14°	320/27 -30°	330/23 -41°	340/38 -51°
SHV	used from 200 nm out; 51 nm from the line	210/20	210/20 18°	230/20 11°	240/16 7°	270/17 -7°	250/11 -15°	300/34 -30°	310/34 -40°	320/36 -51°
DAL	used from 300 nm out; 54 nm from the line	190/30	200/28 18°	220/18 13°	250/13 8°	240/24 -6°	270/20 -14°	270/35 -29°	290/34 -39°	310/41 -51°
SPS	used from 450 nm out; 40 nm from the line	220/35	220/31 18°	230/16 14°	230/10 8°	250/18 -5°	250/32 -16°	260/51 -28°	280/46 -38°	300/50 -50°
LBB	used from 550 nm out; 67 nm from the line		220/25 21°	230/20 15°	220/20 7°	230/36 -6°	240/50 -15°	240/59 -28°	260/52 -37°	260/45 -50°
AMA	used from 650 nm out; 53 nm from the line		230/32	230/28 14°	230/27 7°	230/38 -6°	230/50 -17°	250/69 -28°	260/62 -37°	270/65 -49°
TCC	used from 700 nm out; 23 nm from the line		240/20	230/22 13°	230/27 6°	230/40 -7°	240/55 -18°	240/74 -27°	240/68 -37°	250/64 -49°
ABQ	used from 800 nm out; 69 nm from the line			220/19 9°	220/35 3°	230/50 -8°	240/64 -19°	230/83 -26°	230/85 -36°	230/80 -48°
FMN	used from 950 nm out; 33 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 1100 nm out; 67 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
LAS	used from 1250 nm out; 97 nm from the line		210/20 8°	210/29 4°	200/32 -3°	200/51 -15°	210/64 -21°	220/70 -30°	220/66 -38°	220/55 -44°
ELY	used from 1299 nm out; 97 nm from the line			210/34 1°	220/40 -4°	220/39 -17°	210/51 -24°	220/65 -30°	220/60 -37°	220/56 -44°
BIH	used from 1349 nm out; 104 nm from the line		L/V	020/6 0°	140/7 -7°	210/31 -16°	230/34 -26°	220/43 -30°	220/52 -36°	220/46 -43°
RNO	used from 1499 nm out; 69 nm from the line		010/6	270/12 -3°	220/26 -10°	280/13 -19°	350/44 -24°	320/30 -32°	260/22 -36°	240/24 -42°
SAC	used from 1549 nm out; 50 nm from the line	L/V	L/V 4°	340/9 -4°	340/22 -8°	360/71 -12°	360/82 -23°	350/58 -37°	310/30 -40°	270/25 -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

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
MSY New Orleans, LA	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	3 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	60 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	69 ft	13:53 UTC
TYR Tyler, TX	300 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	13:53 UTC
FTW Fort Worth, TX	400 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	710 ft	13:53 UTC
PVW Plainview, TX	630 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	3,374 ft	13:35 UTC
TCC Tucumcari, NM	740 nm out, 15 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	4,064 ft	13:53 UTC
SAF Santa Fe, NM	870 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	6,348 ft	13:53 UTC
PGA Page, AZ	1140 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	4,316 ft	13:53 UTC
KNB Kanab, UT	1190 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the north (360°) at 0 knots	10+ mi	none	4,867 ft	13:55 UTC
TPH Tonopah, NV	1409 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	5,430 ft	12:56 UTC
PVF Placerville, CA	1589 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	2,585 ft	13:35 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	26 ft	6:53 am PDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 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, 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for SMF

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for MSY, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/8926 Tyler, TX, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 300 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZFW
9/2934 DALLAS, TX 12 nm from the route, 380 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 390 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at MSY 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is after sunset there (6:32 pm PDT (01:32 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 lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International, Sacramento International.