Montrose Regional to Sacramento International MTJ → SMF
642 nautical miles (739 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 263° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 7:37 am PDT (14:37 UTC). Right now MTJ is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 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 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 W17W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am MDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 227 to 336 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the first 207 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 346 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 445 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 69 to 464 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 119 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
- E170 at 4,800 ft, 34 nm north, 12:31 am MDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. 30 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 06:31 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc
- PC12 at 12,000 ft, 22 nm north, 1:08 am MDT (07:08 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, 4 °C, remarks: instrument conditions ZDVWC-11. 59 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV JNC237019/TM 0708/FL120/TP PC12/TA 04/TB OCNL LGT/IC NEG/RM IMC. ZDVWC-11
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- 19 nm southwest (237°) of JNC
- Time
- 07:08 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Temperature
- 4 °C
- Turbulence
- occasional light
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- instrument conditions ZDVWC-11
- A321 at 31,000 ft, 5 nm west, 12:15 am MDT (06:15 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: mountain wave zlc. 128 nm along the route, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CNY UA /OV HVE340015/TM 0615/FL310/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP /RM MTN WAVE /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CNY
- Where
- 15 nm north (340°) of HVE
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- occasional light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- mountain wave zlc
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 6 forecast points nearest it (GJT, BCE, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +12 kt | 2 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 57 min | 7:37 am PDT (14:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +14 kt | -2 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 03 min | 7:43 am PDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +17 kt | -5 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 14 min | 7:54 am PDT (14:54 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +19 kt | -9 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 21 min | 8:01 am PDT (15:01 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +20 kt | -13 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 25 min | 8:05 am PDT (15:05 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 33 kt | +21 kt | -16 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 29 min | 8:09 am PDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 35 kt | +27 kt | -23 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 54 min | 8:34 am PDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 48 kt | +36 kt | -31 °C | 84 kt | 7 h 39 min | 9:19 am PDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 52 kt | +37 kt | -37 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 44 min | 9:24 am PDT (16:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 52 kt | +36 kt | -44 °C | 84 kt | 7 h 39 min | 9:19 am PDT (16:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT | used from 0 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| BCE | used from 99 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| ELY | used from 247 nm out; 63 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 445 nm out; 89 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 494 nm out; 57 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 593 nm out; 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTJ Montrose, CO | departure | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,758 ft | 1:53 am MDT (07:53 UTC) |
| AIB Nucla, CO | 30 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet Weather: haze | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots | 1.25 mi | 9,000 ft | 5,945 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| CNY Moab, UT | 89 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,579 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| RIF Richfield, UT | 198 nm out, 0 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 5,318 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 474 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA | 563 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 6,268 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 603 nm out, 0 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,268 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, 7:37 am PDT (14:37 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SMF
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- 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
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
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MTJ 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 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: Montrose Regional, Sacramento International.