Plan a flight · Sun 7:58 pm CDT (00:58 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Sacramento International RFD → SMF

1,490 nautical miles (1,715 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 6:55 am PDT (13:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 9 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 576 to 1242 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 705 to 1073 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 765 to 1212 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 775 to 1043 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 835 to 894 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 914 to 1321 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1411 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 RFD.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

urgent BCS3 at 5,400 ft, 33 nm south, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): remarks: wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final. 1023 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UUA /OV PVU310001/TM 2335/FL054/TP BCS3/RM WIND SHEAR 10 KT GAIN 1000 AGL ON FINAL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through PVU
Where
1 nm northwest (310°) of PVU
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 5,400 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final
BE9L at 21,000 ft, 45 nm north, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): light chop turbulence above 21,000 ft, moderate icing above 21,000 ft, -21 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 725 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DGW UA /OV IIP200020/TM 2322/FL210/TP BE9L/SK BASE 200/TA M21/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 210/IC MOD MIX 210/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DGW
Where
20 nm south (200°) of IIP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
base 20,000 ft
Temperature
−21 °C
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 21,000 ft
Icing
moderate mix at 21,000 ft
Remarks
zdvwc
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 47 nm south, 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 765 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG010052/TM 0047/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB COSN MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
52 nm north (010°) of RLG
Time
00:47 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
cosn moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
A339 at 16,000 ft, 29 nm north, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 1013 nm along the route, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OGD UA /OV OGD063012/TM 2335/FL160/TP A339/TB MOD CHOP 160 BLO/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through OGD
Where
12 nm northeast (063°) of OGD
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
A339
Turbulence
moderate chop at 16,000 ft below
Remarks
during the climb zlc
PA44 at 6,000 ft, 32 nm south, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: runway in sight at at 6,400 ft. 1023 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV PVU310002/TM 2325/FL060/TP PA44/TB MOD /RM RWY IN SIGHT AT 064
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
2 nm northwest (310°) of PVU
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
PA44
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
runway in sight at at 6,400 ft
E75L at 14,500 ft, 26 nm north, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 15,800 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the climb zlc. 1023 nm along the route, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OGD UA /OV OGD086008/TM 2305/FL145/TP E75L/WX +RA/TB MOD 158 BLO/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through OGD
Where
8 nm east (086°) of OGD
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 14,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate at 15,800 ft below
Remarks
during the climb zlc
E75L at 12,500 ft, 19 nm north, 5:25 pm CDT (22:25 UTC): moderate turbulence. 1023 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HIF UA /OV HIF103005/TM 2225/FL125/TP E75L/TB MOD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HIF
Where
5 nm east (103°) of HIF
Time
22:25 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate zlc
B739 at 11,000 ft, 6 nm north, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC): moderate turbulence, no icing, -4 °C, wind 180° at 40 knots, remarks: during the descent. 1043 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH240014/TM 2240/FL110/TP B739/TA M04/WV 180040/TB CONT MOD /IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
14 nm southwest (240°) of TCH
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Temperature
−4 °C
Wind
from 180° at 40 knots
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
A21N at 34,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 149 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO180020/TM 2201/FL340/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
20 nm south (180°) of ALO
Time
22:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B763 at 36,000 ft, 12 nm south, 5:48 pm CDT (22:48 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-33. 656 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BFF UA /OV BFF200020/TM 2248/FL360/TP B763/SK TOP 320-340/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-33
```
Report
a routine report filed through BFF
Where
20 nm south (200°) of BFF
Time
22:48 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
top from 32,000 ft to 34,000 ft
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-33
B752 at 35,000 ft, 15 nm north, 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-33. 695 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CYS UA /OV CYS350045/TM 2321/FL350/TP B752/TB CONS LGT-MOD/RM ZDVWC-33
```
Report
a routine report filed through CYS
Where
45 nm north (350°) of CYS
Time
23:21 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-33
CRJ2 at 29,000 ft, 9 nm north, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-34. 755 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CYS UA /OV CYS286065/TM 2237/FL290/TP CRJ2/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-34
```
Report
a routine report filed through CYS
Where
65 nm west (286°) of CYS
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-34
PC12 , 42 nm south, 5:33 pm CDT (22:33 UTC): remarks: ZDVWC-14. 805 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HDN UA /OV CHE030020/TM 2233/FLFL28/TP PC12/SK TOP280/RM ZDVWC-14
```
Report
a routine report filed through HDN
Where
20 nm northeast (030°) of CHE
Time
22:33 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP280
Remarks
ZDVWC-14
A320 at 33,000 ft, 48 nm north, 5:24 pm CDT (22:24 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. 904 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RKS UA /OV OCS306029/TM 2224/FL330/TP A320/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RKS
Where
29 nm northwest (306°) of OCS
Time
22:24 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate zlc

8 more routine reports are on the map.

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 11 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, ONL, BFF, 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	200° at 12 kt	+5 kt	17 °C	115 kt	12 h 57 min	6:55 am PDT (13:55 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 13 kt	+8 kt	15 °C	112 kt	13 h 18 min	7:16 am PDT (14:16 UTC)
8,500 ft	210° at 22 kt	+14 kt	10 °C	106 kt	14 h 03 min	8:01 am PDT (15:01 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+19 kt	5 °C	101 kt	14 h 45 min	8:43 am PDT (15:43 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	15 h 22 min	9:20 am PDT (16:20 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+24 kt	-3 °C	96 kt	15 h 31 min	9:29 am PDT (16:29 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	+25 kt	-7 °C	95 kt	15 h 41 min	9:39 am PDT (16:39 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 32 kt	+26 kt	-10 °C	94 kt	15 h 51 min	9:49 am PDT (16:49 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 37 kt	+32 kt	-22 °C	88 kt	16 h 56 min	10:54 am PDT (17:54 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 45 kt	+41 kt	-32 °C	79 kt	18 h 52 min	12:50 pm PDT (19:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 52 kt	+51 kt	-38 °C	69 kt	21 h 36 min	3:34 pm PDT (22:34 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 57 kt	+59 kt	-47 °C	61 kt	24 h 26 min	6:24 pm PDT (01:24 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
DBQ	used from 0 nm out; 48 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
DSM	used from 149 nm out; 53 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 248 nm out; 64 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
ONL	used from 348 nm out; 56 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
BFF	used from 546 nm out; 75 nm from the line		120/24	180/31 13°	210/26 7°	230/25 -7°	240/41 -20°	230/52 -36°	250/56 -41°	260/57 -45°
RKS	used from 745 nm out; 123 nm from the line			190/43	210/65 3°	210/57 -9°	210/56 -21°	210/47 -33°	230/63 -37°	240/77 -46°
SLC	used from 944 nm out; 61 nm from the line		280/8	210/39 5°	210/52 -1°	200/50 -11°	200/56 -23°	220/61 -28°	230/73 -37°	230/73 -45°
ELY	used from 1093 nm out; 81 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°
BAM	used from 1192 nm out; 55 nm from the line			270/8 4°	230/27 -4°	220/49 -18°	210/52 -26°	220/77 -29°	220/71 -33°	220/63 -43°
RNO	used from 1292 nm out; 81 nm from the line		320/7	260/13 1°	230/21 -7°	210/38 -17°	220/43 -26°	230/54 -29°	230/59 -32°	230/54 -41°
SAC	used from 1441 nm out; 27 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°

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
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC)
DBQ Dubuque, IA	70 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	00:53 UTC
MEY Mapleton, IA	298 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,116 ft
SUX Sioux City, IA	328 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	00:52 UTC
TIF Thedford, NE	507 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	2,925 ft	00:35 UTC
BFF Scottsbluff, NE	646 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR	from the east (100°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	3,967 ft	00:53 UTC
SAA Saratoga, WY	795 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	7,014 ft	00:30 UTC
SLC Salt Lake City, UT	1033 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots	6 mi	4,300 ft	4,230 ft	00:54 UTC
TVY Tooele, UT	1053 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east-southeast (110°) at 9 knots	6 mi	5,000 ft	4,321 ft	00:35 UTC
TMT Austin, NV	1282 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots, gusting to 23	7 mi	4,400 ft	5,735 ft	00:35 UTC
TRK Truckee, CA	1411 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	5,904 ft	00:50 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 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, 6:55 am PDT (13:55 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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

The forecast for RFD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is before sunrise there (7:12 am PDT (14:12 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Chicago/Rockford International, Sacramento International.