Plan a flight · Mon 12:03 am MDT (06:03 UTC)

Montrose Regional to San Francisco International MTJ → SFO

686 nautical miles (789 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 5:14 am PDT (12:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MTJ is VFR, wind variable at 3 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 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: 89 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 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 first 20 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 189 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 388 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 20 to 437 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 99 to 368 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 89 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 MTJ.

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

PC12 at 17,000 ft, 6 nm south, 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 467 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through TPH
Where
over OAL
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−15 °C
Turbulence
moderate
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs
B733 at 20,000 ft, 40 nm east, 9:16 pm MDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. At the departure end, 40 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
over HBU
Time
03:16 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B733
Sky
clear
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-12
UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 39 nm north, 9:11 pm MDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. At the departure end, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

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 (GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, FAT, 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
8,500 ft	200° at 21 kt	+9 kt	3 °C	111 kt	6 h 11 min	5:14 am PDT (12:14 UTC)
10,500 ft	210° at 22 kt	+13 kt	-1 °C	107 kt	6 h 25 min	5:28 am PDT (12:28 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	+15 kt	-3 °C	105 kt	6 h 32 min	5:35 am PDT (12:35 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+16 kt	-7 °C	104 kt	6 h 36 min	5:39 am PDT (12:39 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+17 kt	-11 °C	103 kt	6 h 40 min	5:43 am PDT (12:43 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 30 kt	+19 kt	-14 °C	101 kt	6 h 48 min	5:51 am PDT (12:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 38 kt	+28 kt	-24 °C	92 kt	7 h 27 min	6:30 am PDT (13:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 48 kt	+33 kt	-29 °C	87 kt	7 h 53 min	6:56 am PDT (13:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 51 kt	+36 kt	-34 °C	84 kt	8 h 10 min	7:13 am PDT (14:13 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 48 kt	+34 kt	-44 °C	86 kt	7 h 59 min	7:02 am PDT (14:02 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
GJT	used from 0 nm out; 37 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°
BCE	used from 99 nm out; 89 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
ELY	used from 249 nm out; 77 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°
BIH	used from 398 nm out; 86 nm from the line		L/V	240/7 1°	190/13 -3°	200/26 -16°	210/43 -26°	220/54 -28°	220/51 -35°	220/47 -43°
FAT	used from 547 nm out; 68 nm from the line	130/16	160/20 5°	190/28 -1°	210/25 -5°	220/27 -15°	230/21 -26°	220/42 -29°	220/44 -35°	220/44 -44°
SAC	used from 596 nm out; 49 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 646 nm out; 20 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
MTJ Montrose, CO	departure	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,758 ft	11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC)
AIB Nucla, CO	30 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet Weather: haze	from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22	1.25 mi	9,000 ft	5,945 ft	05:55 UTC
HVE Hanksville, UT	129 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	4,453 ft	05:50 UTC
RIF Richfield, UT	199 nm out, 18 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	variable at 2 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	5,318 ft	05:54 UTC
MLF Milford, UT	239 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	5,042 ft	05:52 UTC
TPH Tonopah, NV	437 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms	from the north (010°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	4,500 ft	5,430 ft	05:56 UTC
MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA	517 nm out, 23 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	7,134 ft	05:55 UTC
MOD Modesto, CA	616 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	99 ft	05:53 UTC
LVK Livermore, CA	656 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	399 ft	05:53 UTC
SFO San Francisco, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	13 ft	10:56 pm PDT (05:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,134 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:14 am PDT (12:14 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SFO

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for MTJ, the departure

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet

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

6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 557 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at MTJ 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · 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: Montrose Regional, San Francisco International.