Plan a flight · Sun 7:40 pm PDT (02:40 UTC)

Santa Barbara Municipal to Great Falls International SBA → GTF

872 nautical miles (1,003 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 023°, about 009° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 60-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:31 am MDT (07:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SBA is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 knots; GTF is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 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: 1 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 W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 238 to 466 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
NV
FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 30 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 307 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 248 to 703 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 614 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 555 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 last 258 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 16,000 ft. Over the last 158 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 SBA.

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

BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 33 nm northwest, 6:53 pm PDT (01:53 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -13 °C, remarks: zlawc. 99 nm along the route, 33 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TPH UA /OV UTI250300/TM 0153/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M13/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through TPH
Where
300 nm west (250°) of UTI
Time
01:53 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime
Remarks
zlawc
PC12 at 14,000 ft, 26 nm northwest, 7:13 pm PDT (02:13 UTC): light turbulence up to 21,000 ft, light rime icing from 10,000 ft to 14,000 ft, -10 °C. 555 nm along the route, 26 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BOI UA /OV BOI117049/TM 0213/FL140/TP PC12/TA M10/TB CONS LGT 210 BLO/IC LGT RIME 140-100 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BOI
Where
49 nm southeast (117°) of BOI
Time
02:13 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−10 °C
Turbulence
continuous light at 21,000 ft below
Icing
light rime from 14,000 ft to 10,000 ft zlc
PC12 at 6,000 ft, 3 nm southeast, 6:09 pm PDT (01:09 UTC): scattered clouds up to 6,000 ft, remarks: multiple scattered layers during the descent runway 31. 604 nm along the route, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SUN UA /OV KSUN/TM 0109/FL060/TP PC12/SK SCT-TOP060/WX FV05SM/RM MULTIPLE SCT LAYERS DURD RY31
```
Report
a routine report filed through SUN
Where
over KSUN
Time
01:09 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
scattered clouds, tops 6,000 ft
Weather
flight visibility 5 miles
Remarks
multiple scattered layers during the descent runway 31

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 9 forecast points nearest it (SBA, WJF, FAT, BIH, BAM, BOI, PIH, DLN, GTF). 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	180° at 4 kt	−4 kt	3 °C	124 kt	7 h 02 min	3:42 am MDT (09:42 UTC)
7,500 ft	210° at 3 kt	−3 kt	-1 °C	123 kt	7 h 05 min	3:45 am MDT (09:45 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 6 kt	−6 kt	-2 °C	126 kt	6 h 55 min	3:35 am MDT (09:35 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 13 kt	−12 kt	-5 °C	132 kt	6 h 36 min	3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 19 kt	−19 kt	-8 °C	139 kt	6 h 16 min	2:56 am MDT (08:56 UTC)
15,500 ft	210° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-12 °C	145 kt	6 h 01 min	2:41 am MDT (08:41 UTC)
17,500 ft	210° at 32 kt	−32 kt	-15 °C	152 kt	5 h 44 min	2:24 am MDT (08:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	210° at 34 kt	−34 kt	-16 °C	154 kt	5 h 40 min	2:20 am MDT (08:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	210° at 49 kt	−49 kt	-26 °C	169 kt	5 h 10 min	1:50 am MDT (07:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 60 kt	−59 kt	-31 °C	179 kt	4 h 52 min	1:32 am MDT (07:32 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 62 kt	−60 kt	-35 °C	180 kt	4 h 51 min	1:31 am MDT (07:31 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	220° at 57 kt	−54 kt	-42 °C	174 kt	5 h 01 min	1:41 am MDT (07:41 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
SBA	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	L/V	190/13 5°	210/20 2°	220/22 -3°	260/19 -13°	230/35 -22°	220/43 -28°	220/46 -36°	220/45 -44°
WJF	used from 50 nm out; 70 nm from the line		200/28 6°	210/28 3°	210/29 -4°	210/28 -14°	220/41 -20°	220/47 -29°	220/46 -37°	220/53 -44°
FAT	used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line	130/16	160/20 5°	190/28 -1°	210/25 -5°	220/27 -15°	230/21 -26°	220/42 -29°	220/44 -35°	220/44 -44°
BIH	used from 149 nm out; 18 nm from the line		L/V	240/7 1°	190/13 -3°	200/26 -16°	210/43 -26°	220/54 -28°	220/51 -35°	220/47 -43°
BAM	used from 297 nm out; 78 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°
BOI	used from 495 nm out; 89 nm from the line		300/7 2°	280/5 -4°	210/16 -9°	210/60 -20°	210/75 -29°	210/63 -32°	220/64 -32°	220/54 -39°
PIH	used from 594 nm out; 87 nm from the line		L/V	240/13 1°	240/15 -3°	210/42 -15°	200/70 -25°	220/74 -29°	220/71 -36°	220/62 -43°
DLN	used from 644 nm out; 66 nm from the line			090/6 -6°	240/22 -4°	210/34 -16°	210/62 -25°	210/66 -34°	210/82 -36°	220/77 -42°
GTF	used from 792 nm out; 54 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -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
SBA Santa Barbara, CA	departure	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	from the west (260°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	4,800 ft	13 ft	6:53 pm PDT (01:53 UTC)
BFL Bakersfield, CA	69 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25	7 mi	none	509 ft	01:54 UTC
DLO Delano, CA	89 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	314 ft	02:35 UTC
BIH Bishop, CA	188 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	4,124 ft	01:56 UTC
TMT Austin, NV	327 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	5,735 ft	02:15 UTC
EKO Elko, NV	426 nm out, 15 nm east of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,600 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	10,000 ft	5,139 ft	01:56 UTC
SUN Hailey, ID	604 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-southeast (120°) at 10 knots	4 mi	1,500 ft	5,319 ft	02:20 UTC
LLJ Challis, ID	664 nm out, 22 nm west of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	5,075 ft	01:55 UTC
BTM Butte, MT	773 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots, gusting to 15	1.5 mi	1,600 ft	5,550 ft	02:03 UTC
HLN Helena, MT	812 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 1,000 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the west (280°) at 8 knots	0.75 mi	1,000 ft	3,877 ft	02:32 UTC
GTF Great Falls, MT	destination	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots	1 mi	900 ft	3,680 ft	8:35 pm MDT (02:35 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,735 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GTF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:31 am MDT (07:31 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility ¾ mile, light snow, mist, a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet low IFR

At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, overcast at 600 feet IFR

The whole forecast for GTF

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility ¾ mile, light snow, mist, a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, light snow, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet

The forecast for SBA, the departure

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 SBA 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC), at GTF 6:43 pm MDT (00:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:14 pm MDT (01:14 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GTF is before sunrise there (7:39 am MDT (13:39 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 · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern 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: Santa Barbara Municipal, Great Falls International.