Raleigh-Durham International to San Francisco International RDU → SFO
2,081 nautical miles (2,394 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 18 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 11:52 am PDT (18:52 UTC). 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: 1,763 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 179 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 100 to 279 nm out.
- 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 route from 129 to 329 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1215 to 1782 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1215 to 1712 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1324 to 1782 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 1334 to 1573 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 1453 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1483 to 1822 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1563 to 1692 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1722 to 1961 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 RDU.
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 20:00–03:00 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 23 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, TRI, TYS, LOU, EVV, CGI, STL, COU, SGF, MKC, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB, ALS, GJT, BCE, ELY, BIH, FAT, SAC, SFO). 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 | 240° at 13 kt | +10 kt | 13 °C | 110 kt | 18 h 55 min | 11:52 am PDT (18:52 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 13 °C | 107 kt | 19 h 27 min | 12:24 pm PDT (19:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 20 h 01 min | 12:58 pm PDT (19:58 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 6 °C | 101 kt | 20 h 36 min | 1:33 pm PDT (20:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 3 °C | 100 kt | 20 h 49 min | 1:46 pm PDT (20:46 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -2 °C | 98 kt | 21 h 14 min | 2:11 pm PDT (21:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +24 kt | -6 °C | 96 kt | 21 h 41 min | 2:38 pm PDT (21:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 26 kt | +26 kt | -9 °C | 94 kt | 22 h 08 min | 3:05 pm PDT (22:05 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -20 °C | 93 kt | 22 h 23 min | 3:20 pm PDT (22:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 43 kt | +40 kt | -30 °C | 80 kt | 26 h 01 min | 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 46 kt | +43 kt | -38 °C | 77 kt | 27 h 02 min | 7:59 pm PDT (02:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 45 kt | +44 kt | -48 °C | 76 kt | 27 h 23 min | 8:20 pm PDT (03:20 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -52° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 280/9 | 290/15 12° | 290/11 8° | 210/6 3° | 210/30 -6° | 220/46 -19° | 210/74 -30° | 220/78 -39° | 220/64 -48° |
| TRI | used from 100 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| TYS | used from 249 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| LOU | used from 299 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| EVV | used from 398 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| CGI | used from 498 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 250/10 | 290/12 17° | 290/18 11° | 300/22 5° | 320/25 -8° | 330/30 -18° | 320/53 -33° | 320/66 -42° | 320/56 -50° |
| STL | used from 548 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| COU | used from 597 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| SGF | used from 697 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/21 | 210/21 16° | 240/28 12° | 260/24 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/26 -18° | 290/38 -31° | 290/37 -41° | 300/49 -52° |
| MKC | used from 747 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SLN | used from 846 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GCK | used from 996 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| GLD | used from 1045 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| PUB | used from 1195 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 210/24 16° | 210/28 8° | 230/43 -8° | 240/42 -21° | 240/77 -30° | 240/72 -36° | 250/51 -47° | ||
| ALS | used from 1294 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 210/32 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/49 -20° | 230/78 -30° | 240/74 -36° | 240/61 -47° | |||
| GJT | used from 1344 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 1543 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| ELY | used from 1643 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/20 4° | 240/21 -1° | 230/37 -13° | 200/58 -25° | 220/73 -27° | 220/73 -36° | 220/69 -44° | ||
| BIH | used from 1792 nm out; 90 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| FAT | used from 1941 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 180/7 | 170/9 7° | 200/20 3° | 210/27 -3° | 240/27 -14° | 230/38 -24° | 220/57 -27° | 230/42 -33° | 230/41 -44° |
| SAC | used from 1991 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| SFO | used from 2041 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | departure | no report just now | 435 ft | ||||
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 60 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 925 ft | ||||
| JQD Hartford, KY | 398 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | no report just now | 537 ft | ||||
| MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL | 518 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 411 ft | ||||
| IXD Olathe, KS | 786 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,087 ft | ||||
| SLN Salina, KS | 916 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,288 ft | ||||
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 1244 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,187 ft | ||||
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 1424 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,861 ft | ||||
| RIF Richfield, UT | 1593 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 5,318 ft | ||||
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 1832 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | no report just now | 5,430 ft | ||||
| LVK Livermore, CA | 2051 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 399 ft | ||||
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | no report just now | 13 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:52 am PDT (18:52 UTC)
SFO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 1254 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 1274 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 1961 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 11 October · ZOA
- 6/6741 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · until 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 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: Raleigh-Durham International, San Francisco International.