Pullman/Moscow Regional to Sacramento International PUW → SMF
522 nautical miles (600 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 204°, about 189° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:19 am PDT (16:19 UTC). Right now PUW is VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 3 knots; SMF is VFR, wind variable at 3 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: 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
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 98 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 246 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). Near the route, 49 nm along 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 PUW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 (LWS, RDM, LKV, RNO, RBL, 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 | 350° at 6 kt | −5 kt | -2 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 11 min | 10:21 am PDT (17:21 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 6 kt | −5 kt | -2 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 11 min | 10:21 am PDT (17:21 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 360° at 7 kt | −6 kt | -6 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 09 min | 10:19 am PDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 360° at 10 kt | −9 kt | -8 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 03 min | 10:13 am PDT (17:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 360° at 16 kt | −14 kt | -11 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 54 min | 10:04 am PDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 360° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -14 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 39 min | 9:49 am PDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 010° at 33 kt | −32 kt | -17 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 26 min | 9:36 am PDT (16:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 010° at 39 kt | −38 kt | -19 °C | 158 kt | 3 h 18 min | 9:28 am PDT (16:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 360° at 51 kt | −46 kt | -26 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 09 min | 9:19 am PDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 350° at 43 kt | −36 kt | -36 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 21 min | 9:31 am PDT (16:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 22 kt | −8 kt | -38 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 05 min | 10:15 am PDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 21 kt | +16 kt | -41 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 01 min | 11:11 am PDT (18:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LWS | used from 0 nm out; 14 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| RDM | used from 148 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 360/14 -2° | 020/25 -8° | 360/34 -13° | 360/75 -16° | 360/88 -25° | 360/80 -39° | 350/47 -42° | 360/11 -43° | |
| LKV | used from 197 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 010/10 -8° | 360/20 -11° | 360/58 -19° | 360/92 -25° | 350/69 -37° | 310/34 -37° | 240/26 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 394 nm out; 67 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° | |
| RBL | used from 443 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 350/14 | 320/9 4° | 290/7 -3° | 350/22 -7° | 360/75 -13° | 350/79 -24° | 350/74 -39° | 340/49 -43° | 280/23 -43° |
| SAC | used from 492 nm out; 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUW Pullman/Moscow, WA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 2,566 ft | 5:53 am PDT (12:53 UTC) |
| LWS Lewiston, ID | 20 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,442 ft | 12:56 UTC |
| LGD La Grande, OR | 98 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 2,717 ft | 12:56 UTC |
| BKE Baker City, OR | 118 nm out, 19 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,200 feet | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 3,373 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| BNO Burns, OR | 207 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,148 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| LKV Lakeview, OR | 305 nm out, 24 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,600 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 4,734 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| AAT Alturas, CA | 345 nm out, 17 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,378 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| SVE Susanville, CA | 413 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,149 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| LHM Lincoln, CA | 502 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 121 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 5:53 am PDT (12:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,734 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, 9:19 am PDT (16:19 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet 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 PUW, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 4,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 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 on the route, 492 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at PUW 6:05 pm PDT (01:05 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: Pullman/Moscow Regional, Sacramento International.