Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport to Missoula Montana Airport OAK → MSO
659 nautical miles (758 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 031°, about 017° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:44 am MDT (09:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now OAK is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; MSO is marginal 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: 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 299 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 200 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 170 nm of the route.
- 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 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 OAK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CL30 at 4,200 ft, 1 nm southeast, 8:16 pm PDT (03:16 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,200 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. At the destination end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0316/FL042/TP CL30/SK OVC042/WX 2 1/2SM/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSO
- Where
- over MSO
- Time
- 03:16 UTC
- Height
- at 4,200 ft
- Aircraft
- CL30
- Sky
- overcast from 4,200 ft
- Weather
- 2, 1/2SM
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent ils runway 12
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (SAC, RNO, LKV, BOI, LWS, GPI). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 030° at 4 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 41 min | 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 010° at 6 kt | +6 kt | -3 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 47 min | 5:06 am MDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 360° at 6 kt | +5 kt | -6 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 44 min | 5:03 am MDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 2 kt | −1 kt | -8 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 27 min | 4:46 am MDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 7 kt | −7 kt | -12 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 11 min | 4:30 am MDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 12 kt | −12 kt | -15 °C | 132 kt | 5 h | 4:19 am MDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -19 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 47 min | 4:06 am MDT (10:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 19 kt | −19 kt | -20 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 44 min | 4:03 am MDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 12 kt | −12 kt | -27 °C | 132 kt | 5 h | 4:19 am MDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -32 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 44 min | 4:03 am MDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 30 kt | −27 kt | -34 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 29 min | 3:48 am MDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 31 kt | −29 kt | -40 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 25 min | 3:44 am MDT (09:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 34 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° |
| RNO | used from 100 nm out; 50 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° | |
| LKV | used from 200 nm out; 81 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° | ||
| BOI | used from 349 nm out; 80 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° | |
| LWS | used from 499 nm out; 89 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° |
| GPI | used from 649 nm out; 88 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAK Oakland, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
| CCR Concord, CA | 20 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | 70 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| SVE Susanville, CA | 180 nm out, 17 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 11 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,149 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| REO Rome, OR | 349 nm out, 15 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots | none | 4,053 ft | 04:52 UTC | |
| ONO Ontario, OR | 449 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 17 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 2,193 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MYL Mc Call, ID | 509 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 5,024 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 629 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 3,635 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 3,205 ft | 11:07 pm MDT (05:07 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 MSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:44 am MDT (09:44 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for MSO
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 2,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
The forecast for OAK, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 90 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at OAK 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC), at MSO 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm MDT (01:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSO is before sunrise there (7:49 am MDT (13:49 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: Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Missoula Montana Airport.