Richmond International to San Diego International RIC → SAN
1,964 nautical miles (2,260 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 274°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 5:40 pm PDT (00:40 UTC). Right now RIC is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 5 knots; SAN is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 3 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 40 to 110 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 1216 to 1386 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 489 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 169 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 279 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 778 to 1236 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1266 to 1675 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 658 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1645 to 1725 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). Near the route, 1665 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 RIC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 13 nm south, 1:15 am EDT (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. 1695 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm north (339°) of PXR
- Time
- 05:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent through clouds
- B738 at 11,000 ft, 27 nm south, 11:25 pm EDT (03:25 UTC): 7 °C, wind 220° at 30 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 1416 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ094018 /TM 0325 /FL110 /TP B738 /TA 07 /WV 22030KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 18 nm east (094°) of ABQ
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- 7 °C
- Wind
- from 220° at 30 knots
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
- B737 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 1:07 am EDT (05:07 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0507/FL025/TP B737/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 05:07 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
- B38M at 3,100 ft, 0 nm northwest, 12:11 am EDT (04:11 UTC): a broken layer above 3,100 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0411/FL031/TP B38M/SK BKN031/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 04:11 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,100 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
- B737 at 3,100 ft, 0 nm northwest, 11:05 pm EDT (03:05 UTC): remarks: during the descent bases 3,100 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0305/FL031/TP B737/RM DURD BASES 031
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 03:05 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- during the descent bases 3,100 ft
- C525 at 2,900 ft, 24 nm north, 10:46 pm EDT (02:46 UTC): remarks: B029. At the destination end, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRQ UA /OV CRQ/TM 0246/FL029/TP C525/RM B029
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRQ
- Where
- over CRQ
- Time
- 02:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,900 ft
- Aircraft
- C525
- Remarks
- B029
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 17 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, CRW, TRI, LOU, EVV, CGI, SGF, TUL, ICT, GAG, AMA, TCC, ABQ, PRC, BLH, SAN). 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 20 kt | +20 kt | 17 °C | 100 kt | 19 h 38 min | 6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 14 °C | 101 kt | 19 h 27 min | 6:03 pm PDT (01:03 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 15 min | 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 7 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 04 min | 5:40 pm PDT (00:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 3 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 15 min | 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 19 h 50 min | 6:26 pm PDT (01:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +24 kt | -4 °C | 96 kt | 20 h 28 min | 7:04 pm PDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 26 kt | +27 kt | -8 °C | 93 kt | 21 h 07 min | 7:43 pm PDT (02:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 33 kt | +34 kt | -19 °C | 86 kt | 22 h 50 min | 9:26 pm PDT (04:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 48 kt | +51 kt | -30 °C | 69 kt | 28 h 28 min | 3:04 am PDT (10:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 53 kt | +56 kt | -38 °C | 64 kt | 30 h 41 min | 5:17 am PDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 43 kt | +46 kt | -48 °C | 74 kt | 26 h 32 min | 1:08 am PDT (08:08 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| CRW | used from 199 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 249 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| LOU | used from 299 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| EVV | used from 449 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| CGI | used from 548 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| SGF | used from 698 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| TUL | used from 847 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| ICT | used from 897 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| GAG | used from 997 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 220/40 19° | 230/28 14° | 240/23 8° | 230/21 -6° | 240/31 -19° | 250/66 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 260/47 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 1147 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 1196 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| ABQ | used from 1346 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| PRC | used from 1545 nm out; 136 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1745 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| SAN | used from 1894 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/11 | 200/23 7° | 210/27 4° | 210/31 -3° | 220/56 -10° | 220/56 -19° | 220/52 -30° | 220/64 -37° | 220/67 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC Richmond, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 167 ft | 1:09 am EDT (05:09 UTC) |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 150 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 349 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 05:25 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 469 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 407 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| SGF Springfield, MO | 768 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| JLN Joplin, MO | 818 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 977 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| PYX Perryton, TX | 1127 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 2,918 ft | ||||
| LVS Las Vegas, NM | 1346 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,877 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 1386 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| PAN Payson, AZ | 1655 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 5,160 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1944 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | 900 ft | 1,394 ft | 05:27 UTC |
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 16 ft | 9:56 pm PDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:40 pm PDT (00:40 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAN
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for RIC, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/2652 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 24 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 2 January · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 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: Richmond International, San Diego International.