Rhode Island TF Green International to Sacramento International PVD → SMF
2,275 nautical miles (2,618 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 283°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 15W). At 120 knots that is 21 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 2:56 am PDT (09:56 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 2 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 W23W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 1836 to 1876 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121155 MKCW WST 121155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 23W VALID UNTIL 1355Z UT ID FROM 20WSW PIH-20NE MLD-30SW SLC-20NW BVL-20WSW PIH AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 589 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 339 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 110 to 279 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 route from 918 to 1207 nm out.
- 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 route from 1167 to 1417 nm out.
- 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 route from 1387 to 1596 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 1457 to 1706 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1496 to 1586 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1536 to 2035 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 1556 to 1606 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1596 to 2065 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1756 to 1806 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 PVD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 22 forecast points nearest it (BDL, ALB, AVP, SYR, BUF, CLE, MKG, GRB, DBQ, LSE, MCW, FSD, ONL, PIR, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 20 °C | 105 kt | 21 h 40 min | 2:56 am PDT (09:56 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 14 °C | 105 kt | 21 h 40 min | 2:56 am PDT (09:56 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 21 h 52 min | 3:08 am PDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 4 °C | 101 kt | 22 h 31 min | 3:47 am PDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +22 kt | 0 °C | 98 kt | 23 h 13 min | 4:29 am PDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 23 h 13 min | 4:29 am PDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +22 kt | -9 °C | 98 kt | 23 h 13 min | 4:29 am PDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 20 kt | +22 kt | -12 °C | 98 kt | 23 h 13 min | 4:29 am PDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 26 kt | +27 kt | -22 °C | 93 kt | 24 h 28 min | 5:44 am PDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 34 kt | +36 kt | -34 °C | 84 kt | 27 h 05 min | 8:21 am PDT (15:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 39 kt | +42 kt | -39 °C | 78 kt | 29 h 10 min | 10:26 am PDT (17:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 43 kt | +46 kt | -47 °C | 74 kt | 30 h 45 min | 12:01 pm PDT (19:01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL | used from 0 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 020/15 | 010/19 10° | 340/10 7° | 300/17 3° | 280/23 -10° | 250/35 -22° | 250/44 -38° | 250/55 -42° | 250/57 -51° |
| ALB | used from 100 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 340/22 | 340/19 9° | 320/16 7° | 330/16 2° | 330/19 -11° | 320/21 -23° | 320/25 -39° | 280/30 -44° | 270/41 -51° |
| AVP | used from 150 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 010/20 | 020/24 11° | 360/19 8° | 350/23 2° | 320/24 -11° | 330/25 -22° | 330/27 -37° | 310/28 -42° | 290/30 -50° |
| SYR | used from 200 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 330/17 | 320/14 9° | 350/18 8° | 350/26 2° | 340/25 -11° | 360/34 -22° | 350/43 -39° | 330/50 -46° | 350/50 -54° |
| BUF | used from 249 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 300/11 | 330/15 11° | 340/26 8° | 330/28 2° | 340/31 -10° | 340/32 -21° | 340/52 -37° | 340/59 -46° | 330/66 -53° |
| CLE | used from 449 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
| MKG | used from 549 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| GRB | used from 748 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
| DBQ | used from 798 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| LSE | used from 848 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| MCW | used from 898 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| FSD | used from 1048 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| ONL | used from 1147 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 1297 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 1347 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| LND | used from 1546 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| RKS | used from 1596 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 1746 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 200/16 | 210/23 4° | 220/34 -3° | 210/40 -16° | 220/66 -23° | 220/64 -31° | 220/57 -36° | 220/50 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 1896 nm out; 81 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° | ||
| BAM | used from 1995 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 280/9 -2° | 260/18 -8° | 190/47 -19° | 200/50 -29° | 210/56 -29° | 220/54 -34° | 220/45 -42° | ||
| RNO | used from 2095 nm out; 60 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 2245 nm out; 19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVD Providence, RI | departure | no report just now | 54 ft | ||||
| BDL Windsor Locks, CT | 60 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 173 ft | ||||
| ITH Ithaca, NY | 229 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,099 ft | ||||
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 658 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 628 ft | ||||
| MSN Madison, WI | 798 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 886 ft | ||||
| MCW Mason City, IA | 968 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,213 ft | ||||
| VTN Valentine, NE | 1287 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,595 ft | ||||
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 1477 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,401 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 1806 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,472 ft | ||||
| ENV Wendover, UT | 1906 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,236 ft | ||||
| TRK Truckee, CA | 2195 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,904 ft | ||||
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | no report just now | 26 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,904 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, 2:56 am PDT (09:56 UTC)
SMF has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8802 Foxborough, MA, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZBW
- 6/7153 North Sicuate, RI, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 1 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZBW
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at PVD 6:09 pm EDT (22:09 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is before sunrise there (7:13 am PDT (14:13 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: Rhode Island TF Green International, Sacramento International.
