Reno/Tahoe International to Waterloo Regional RNO → ALO
1,248 nautical miles (1,436 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 060° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:47 am CDT (13:47 UTC). Right now RNO is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 9 knots; ALO is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 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
- SIGMET W15W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am PDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 200 to 289 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120555 MKCW WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15W VALID UNTIL 0755Z UT NV FROM 60WNW BVL-10NE BVL-80E OAL-40SE OAL-20W OAL-60WNW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 609 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 140 to 609 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 419 to 778 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 429 to 739 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 509 to 609 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 519 to 679 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 last 459 nm of the route.
- 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 848 to 928 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 RNO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 30,000 ft, 39 nm north, 10:45 pm PDT (05:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 599 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIW UA /OV BOY126080/TM 0545/FL300/TP B38M/TB CONS MOD CHOP /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIW
- Where
- 80 nm southeast (126°) of BOY
- Time
- 05:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate chop zlc
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, LND, BFF, ONL, FSD, OMA, MCW). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | −11 kt | 20 °C | 131 kt | 9 h 32 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −14 kt | 11 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 19 min | 10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | −16 kt | 7 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 11 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −18 kt | 3 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 03 min | 10:35 am CDT (15:35 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −20 kt | -2 °C | 140 kt | 8 h 55 min | 10:27 am CDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −22 kt | -6 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 47 min | 10:19 am CDT (15:19 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 44 min | 10:16 am CDT (15:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 31 kt | −24 kt | -11 °C | 144 kt | 8 h 40 min | 10:12 am CDT (15:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 37 kt | −28 kt | -23 °C | 148 kt | 8 h 26 min | 9:58 am CDT (14:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 47 kt | −39 kt | -31 °C | 159 kt | 7 h 51 min | 9:23 am CDT (14:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 53 kt | −49 kt | -37 °C | 169 kt | 7 h 23 min | 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 54 kt | −52 kt | -45 °C | 172 kt | 7 h 15 min | 8:47 am CDT (13:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 100 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| ELY | used from 200 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| SLC | used from 250 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 449 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 599 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| BFF | used from 649 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 848 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 1048 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| OMA | used from 1098 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| MCW | used from 1148 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNO Reno, NV | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 10:55 pm PDT (05:55 UTC) |
| SPZ Silver Springs, NV | 20 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,265 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 369 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 4,472 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| EVW Evanston, WY | 409 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,142 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 589 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 699 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| AIA Alliance, NE | 788 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,930 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 968 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,033 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 1068 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,098 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| FOD Fort Dodge, IA | 1168 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,156 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ALO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:47 am CDT (13:47 UTC)
Wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ALO
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for RNO, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC), at ALO 6:32 pm CDT (23:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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: Reno/Tahoe International, Waterloo Regional.
