San Diego International to Waterloo Regional SAN → ALO
1,311 nautical miles (1,509 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 056°, about 045° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 72-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:06 am CDT (13:06 UTC). Right now SAN is marginal VFR, wind calm; 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: 2 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 586 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 119 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 417 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 248 to 795 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 278 to 328 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 576 to 705 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 596 to 795 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 507 nm of 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 SAN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L climbing, 47 nm northwest, 8:22 pm PDT (03:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 79 nm along the route, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSP UA /OV PSP345013/TM 0322/FLDURC/TP E75L/TB MOD CHOP/LT TURBU SFC-60
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSP
- Where
- 13 nm north (345°) of PSP
- Time
- 03:22 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate chop/lt turbu SFC-60
- B737 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 10:07 pm PDT (05:07 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the departure 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, 9:11 pm PDT (04:11 UTC): a broken layer above 3,100 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the departure 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
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 10:06 pm PDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 685 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 05:06 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
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 (SAN, BLH, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, 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 | 230° at 33 kt | −32 kt | 21 °C | 152 kt | 8 h 38 min | 9:54 am CDT (14:54 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 11 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 59 min | 10:15 am CDT (15:15 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −24 kt | 9 °C | 144 kt | 9 h 06 min | 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −25 kt | 5 °C | 145 kt | 9 h 02 min | 10:18 am CDT (15:18 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −28 kt | 0 °C | 148 kt | 8 h 51 min | 10:07 am CDT (15:07 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -4 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 34 min | 9:50 am CDT (14:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −37 kt | -8 °C | 157 kt | 8 h 21 min | 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 40 kt | −39 kt | -9 °C | 159 kt | 8 h 15 min | 9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 47 kt | −47 kt | -21 °C | 167 kt | 7 h 51 min | 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 65 kt | −65 kt | -30 °C | 185 kt | 7 h 05 min | 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 71 kt | −72 kt | -36 °C | 192 kt | 6 h 50 min | 8:06 am CDT (13:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 62 kt | −63 kt | -46 °C | 183 kt | 7 h 10 min | 8:26 am CDT (13:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| BLH | used from 50 nm out; 63 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° |
| PRC | used from 199 nm out; 50 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 397 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| ALS | used from 546 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| PUB | used from 646 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| GLD | used from 795 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| GRI | used from 944 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| OMA | used from 1093 nm out; 28 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° |
| DSM | used from 1192 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| MCW | used from 1291 nm out; 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN San Diego, CA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 4,200 ft | 16 ft | 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC) |
| RNM Ramona, CA | 20 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, mist | calm | 5 mi | 900 ft | 1,394 ft | 06:09 UTC |
| HII Lake Havasu City, AZ | 179 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 782 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CMR Williams, AZ | 288 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,800 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 15 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 6,690 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 507 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DRO Durango, CO | 536 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,689 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 705 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 854 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 1033 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 1142 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| EFW Jefferson, IA | 1222 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 1,047 ft | ||||
| 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 6,690 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, 8:06 am CDT (13:06 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 SAN, the departure
- 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
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 16 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 189 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 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: San Diego International, Waterloo Regional.