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Plan a flight · Sun 8:28 pm EDT (00:28 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Mineta San Jose International RDU → SJC

2,063 nautical miles (2,374 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 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 12:24 pm PDT (19:24 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: 6 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1285 to 1495 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    CO NM AZ UT
    FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
  • SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 1863 nm along the route.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 112355
    MKCW WST 112355
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W
    VALID UNTIL 0155Z
    NV
    FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM
    AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
  • 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 199 to 329 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1216 to 1734 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1226 to 1794 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1325 to 1784 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 1335 to 1564 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 1455 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1485 to 1804 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 1564 to 1614 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1744 to 1953 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.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft240° at 13 kt+11 kt15 °C109 kt18 h 56 min12:24 pm PDT (19:24 UTC)
6,500 ft250° at 14 kt+14 kt14 °C106 kt19 h 28 min12:56 pm PDT (19:56 UTC)
8,500 ft250° at 17 kt+17 kt10 °C103 kt20 h 02 min1:30 pm PDT (20:30 UTC)
10,500 ft240° at 20 kt+19 kt6 °C101 kt20 h 26 min1:54 pm PDT (20:54 UTC)
12,500 ft250° at 21 kt+20 kt2 °C100 kt20 h 38 min2:06 pm PDT (21:06 UTC)
14,500 ft250° at 23 kt+22 kt-2 °C98 kt21 h 03 min2:31 pm PDT (21:31 UTC)
16,500 ft250° at 24 kt+24 kt-6 °C96 kt21 h 29 min2:57 pm PDT (21:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180250° at 26 kt+25 kt-9 °C95 kt21 h 43 min3:11 pm PDT (22:11 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240240° at 29 kt+27 kt-20 °C93 kt22 h 11 min3:39 pm PDT (22:39 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300240° at 44 kt+41 kt-30 °C79 kt26 h 07 min7:35 pm PDT (02:35 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340250° at 45 kt+43 kt-38 °C77 kt26 h 48 min8:16 pm PDT (03:16 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390250° at 44 kt+44 kt-48 °C76 kt27 h 09 min8:37 pm PDT (03:37 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RDUused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line240/28250/22 10°230/30 11°230/40 7°230/45 -4°220/69 -15°220/83 -29°210/84 -40°220/75 -52°
ROAused from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line280/9290/15 12°290/11 8°210/6 3°210/30 -6°220/46 -19°210/74 -30°220/78 -39°220/64 -48°
TRIused from 100 nm out; 55 nm from the line310/28 11°320/32 7°330/30 2°300/28 -9°280/34 -21°250/37 -31°240/39 -38°250/35 -48°
TYSused from 249 nm out; 72 nm from the line290/19310/22 11°330/25 7°330/34 3°320/37 -7°300/37 -18°300/37 -34°280/29 -39°270/29 -48°
LOUused from 299 nm out; 67 nm from the line320/15340/24 14°330/28 9°340/34 4°340/37 -9°340/42 -20°320/39 -35°320/45 -39°330/40 -47°
EVVused from 399 nm out; 35 nm from the line310/13340/26 16°330/29 10°330/32 4°330/30 -9°340/38 -20°330/60 -35°320/57 -41°330/39 -48°
CGIused from 498 nm out; 33 nm from the line250/10290/12 17°290/18 11°300/22 5°320/25 -8°330/30 -18°320/53 -33°320/66 -42°320/56 -50°
STLused from 548 nm out; 52 nm from the line210/13260/16 17°270/21 10°280/24 5°310/20 -7°320/22 -18°320/44 -33°320/59 -43°310/69 -51°
COUused from 598 nm out; 59 nm from the line210/16220/19 15°240/33 10°250/29 7°280/21 -6°280/19 -18°300/34 -31°300/40 -42°300/60 -52°
SGFused from 698 nm out; 59 nm from the line210/21210/21 16°240/28 12°260/24 7°280/21 -6°280/26 -18°290/38 -31°290/37 -41°300/49 -52°
MKCused from 747 nm out; 49 nm from the line200/28220/30 16°270/20 11°280/22 7°260/27 -6°270/27 -18°280/38 -32°270/38 -40°280/50 -52°
SLNused from 847 nm out; 47 nm from the line190/37220/39 20°240/31 14°250/24 7°260/25 -7°250/26 -17°250/44 -31°260/47 -40°260/47 -50°
GCKused from 996 nm out; 56 nm from the line200/35 21°220/34 14°240/30 8°240/27 -6°240/31 -17°240/53 -30°250/55 -39°250/60 -50°
GLDused from 1096 nm out; 45 nm from the line190/29200/30 15°240/23 8°250/39 -7°230/39 -19°230/57 -31°240/67 -39°250/62 -49°
PUBused from 1146 nm out; 69 nm from the line210/24 16°210/28 8°230/43 -8°240/42 -21°240/77 -30°240/72 -36°250/51 -47°
ALSused from 1295 nm out; 78 nm from the line210/32 5°230/48 -8°230/49 -20°230/78 -30°240/74 -36°240/61 -47°
GJTused from 1345 nm out; 61 nm from the line210/40 11°210/46 3°210/61 -10°210/68 -22°220/57 -29°230/59 -36°240/66 -46°
BCEused from 1495 nm out; 90 nm from the line210/47 0°200/50 -12°220/31 -23°220/56 -26°220/58 -35°230/58 -45°
ELYused from 1644 nm out; 79 nm from the line210/20 4°240/21 -1°230/37 -13°200/58 -25°220/73 -27°220/73 -36°220/69 -44°
BIHused from 1794 nm out; 82 nm from the lineL/V210/14 6°210/20 -2°230/26 -14°220/32 -24°220/63 -27°220/56 -35°230/50 -44°
FATused from 1943 nm out; 54 nm from the line180/7170/9 7°200/20 3°210/27 -3°240/27 -14°230/38 -24°220/57 -27°230/42 -33°230/41 -44°
SACused from 1993 nm out; 65 nm from the line270/5L/V 5°L/V -1°240/11 -5°250/22 -15°270/25 -24°260/31 -27°240/39 -33°240/39 -42°
SFOused from 2043 nm out; 34 nm from the line220/11L/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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
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
SME Somerset, KY 289 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line no report just now 927 ft
MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL 518 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower no report just now 411 ft
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO 648 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 1,159 ft
SLN Salina, KS 917 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 1,288 ft
PUB Pueblo, CO 1236 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 4,729 ft
COS Colorado Springs, CO 1246 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 6,187 ft
MLF Milford, UT 1634 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line no report just now 5,042 ft
TPH Tonopah, NV 1833 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line no report just now 5,430 ft
MOD Modesto, CA 2013 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 99 ft
SJC San Jose, CA destination no report just now 62 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 SJC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:24 pm PDT (19:24 UTC)

SJC 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 15 nm from the route, 1256 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 13 nm from the route, 1275 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 on the route, 1953 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 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SJC 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 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

Radar now, the Southeast
Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Mineta San Jose International.