The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 11:32 pm PDT (06:32 UTC)

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 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 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.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
5,500 ft210° at 18 kt−11 kt20 °C131 kt9 h 32 min11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC)
7,500 ft220° at 20 kt−14 kt11 °C134 kt9 h 19 min10:51 am CDT (15:51 UTC)
9,500 ft220° at 21 kt−16 kt7 °C136 kt9 h 11 min10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC)
11,500 ft220° at 23 kt−18 kt3 °C138 kt9 h 03 min10:35 am CDT (15:35 UTC)
13,500 ft220° at 26 kt−20 kt-2 °C140 kt8 h 55 min10:27 am CDT (15:27 UTC)
15,500 ft220° at 28 kt−22 kt-6 °C142 kt8 h 47 min10:19 am CDT (15:19 UTC)
17,500 ft220° at 30 kt−23 kt-10 °C143 kt8 h 44 min10:16 am CDT (15:16 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180220° at 31 kt−24 kt-11 °C144 kt8 h 40 min10:12 am CDT (15:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240220° at 37 kt−28 kt-23 °C148 kt8 h 26 min9:58 am CDT (14:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300220° at 47 kt−39 kt-31 °C159 kt7 h 51 min9:23 am CDT (14:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340240° at 53 kt−49 kt-37 °C169 kt7 h 23 min8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390240° at 54 kt−52 kt-45 °C172 kt7 h 15 min8:47 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
RNOused from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line010/9320/10 -2°210/23 -9°210/34 -19°220/36 -25°230/31 -29°230/41 -33°230/38 -42°
BAMused from 100 nm out; 34 nm from the line310/7 0°270/19 -7°200/38 -17°190/49 -28°220/69 -29°220/63 -33°230/48 -41°
ELYused from 200 nm out; 74 nm from the line200/39 3°210/27 -2°210/45 -15°220/56 -24°210/60 -28°210/63 -34°220/61 -43°
SLCused from 250 nm out; 92 nm from the line200/5230/8 2°220/20 -2°210/40 -12°190/53 -25°210/62 -30°220/69 -34°220/64 -43°
RKSused from 449 nm out; 30 nm from the line200/41220/44 1°220/35 -11°220/46 -24°210/53 -27°220/62 -35°230/61 -44°
LNDused from 599 nm out; 118 nm from the line200/23 6°220/31 1°220/39 -11°230/39 -23°220/51 -28°220/66 -37°230/68 -45°
BFFused from 649 nm out; 76 nm from the line180/28220/33 15°210/31 7°230/32 -9°220/41 -21°220/40 -33°240/47 -36°250/54 -46°
ONLused from 848 nm out; 96 nm from the line210/31 20°230/27 13°230/18 7°220/19 -8°240/26 -20°250/44 -35°270/52 -39°260/57 -47°
FSDused from 1048 nm out; 65 nm from the line190/9230/30 18°240/23 13°240/20 6°260/22 -9°250/31 -21°250/43 -36°260/49 -43°270/53 -47°
OMAused from 1098 nm out; 81 nm from the line220/47240/33 19°250/18 11°230/17 6°260/29 -8°250/33 -19°250/51 -33°260/61 -40°270/62 -49°
MCWused from 1148 nm out; 49 nm from the line220/44250/30 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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
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

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest
Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the southern Rockies
Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the northern Rockies
Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Reno/Tahoe International, Waterloo Regional.