Phoenix Sky Harbor International to San Diego International PHX → SAN
264 nautical miles (304 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 250° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 4:45 am PDT (11:45 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots; SAN 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: 12,918 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 SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 20 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 176 to 235 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 225 to 254 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 PHX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 1,800 ft, 0 nm northwest, 12:34 am MST (07:34 UTC): a broken layer, 18 °C, remarks: bases 1,800 ft to the east. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV FINAL RWY 27/TM 0734/FL018/TP B739/SK BKN/WX 4SM/TA 18/WV CALM/RM BASES 018 TO THE EAST
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- final runway 27
- Time
- 07:34 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- a broken layer
- Weather
- 4SM
- Temperature
- 18 °C
- Wind
- calm
- Remarks
- bases 1,800 ft to the east
- E75L at 700 ft, 0 nm northwest, 11:40 pm MST (06:40 UTC): a broken layer, 18 °C, wind 170° at 6 knots, remarks: rain bases 700 ft to the east. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV FINAL RWY 27/TM 0640/FL007/TP E75L/SK BKN/WX 5SM/TA 18/WV 17006/RM -RA BASES 007 TO THE EAST
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- final runway 27
- Time
- 06:40 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- a broken layer
- Weather
- 5SM
- Temperature
- 18 °C
- Wind
- from 170° at 6 knots
- Remarks
- rain bases 700 ft to the east
- BCS3 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm northwest, 11:20 pm MST (06:20 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0620/FL010/TP BCS3/SK BASE010/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- BASE010
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
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 3 forecast points nearest it (PHX, BLH, SAN). 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 | 220° at 18 kt | +13 kt | 107 kt | 2 h 28 min | 4:45 am PDT (11:45 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +14 kt | 8 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 29 min | 4:46 am PDT (11:46 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | +16 kt | 4 °C | 104 kt | 2 h 32 min | 4:49 am PDT (11:49 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 30 kt | +19 kt | 1 °C | 101 kt | 2 h 37 min | 4:54 am PDT (11:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | +23 kt | -3 °C | 97 kt | 2 h 43 min | 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 41 kt | +30 kt | -5 °C | 90 kt | 2 h 56 min | 5:13 am PDT (12:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 49 kt | +37 kt | -8 °C | 83 kt | 3 h 11 min | 5:28 am PDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 55 kt | +42 kt | -10 °C | 78 kt | 3 h 23 min | 5:40 am PDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 67 kt | +50 kt | -20 °C | 70 kt | 3 h 46 min | 6:03 am PDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 77 kt | +58 kt | -29 °C | 62 kt | 4 h 15 min | 6:32 am PDT (13:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 81 kt | +66 kt | -37 °C | 54 kt | 4 h 53 min | 7:10 am PDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 86 kt | +65 kt | -47 °C | 55 kt | 4 h 48 min | 7:05 am PDT (14:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 190/15 | 210/25 12° | 200/34 4° | 200/34 2° | 220/58 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/91 -28° | 220/100 -35° | 220/95 -47° |
| BLH | used from 49 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| SAN | used from 195 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 240/10 | 220/19 6° | 230/26 2° | 230/29 -3° | 230/43 -11° | 220/61 -20° | 220/72 -29° | 220/75 -38° | 220/71 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,134 ft | 1:51 am MST (08:51 UTC) |
| GYR Goodyear, AZ | 20 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 969 ft | 03:47 UTC |
| BWC Brawley, CA | 176 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | -127 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 244 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 1.75 mi | 1,400 ft | 1,394 ft | 09:12 UTC |
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 16 ft | 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,394 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:45 am PDT (11:45 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet marginal VFR
At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAN
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for PHX, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/2656 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 19 nm from the route, 166 nm along the route · security · until 2 January · ZLA
- 6/2657 Calexico, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 19 nm from the route, 166 nm along the route · security · until 2 January · ZLA
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 6 nm from the route, 186 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/2652 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 16 nm from the route, 205 nm along the route · security · until 2 January · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is before sunrise there (6:50 am PDT (13:50 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: Phoenix Sky Harbor International, San Diego International.