Seattle-Tacoma International to Jackson Hole Airport SEA → JAC
538 nautical miles (619 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 111°, about 095° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:15 am MDT (13:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SEA is VFR, wind calm; JAC is 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: 401 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 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 389 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 399 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 508 nm out.
- 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 249 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 130 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 SEA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, LWS, DLN, PIH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 360° at 3 kt | −1 kt | 121 kt | 4 h 27 min | 7:30 am MDT (13:30 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 360° at 6 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 4 h 25 min | 7:28 am MDT (13:28 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 040° at 1 kt | +1 kt | -4 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 31 min | 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 090° at 2 kt | +2 kt | -6 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 34 min | 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | light and variable | +1 kt | -7 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 31 min | 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 060° at 3 kt | +2 kt | -11 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 34 min | 7:37 am MDT (13:37 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 060° at 6 kt | +4 kt | -14 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 38 min | 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 060° at 9 kt | +6 kt | -18 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 43 min | 7:46 am MDT (13:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 060° at 9 kt | +7 kt | -19 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 46 min | 7:49 am MDT (13:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 6 kt | −1 kt | -29 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 27 min | 7:30 am MDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 10 kt | −5 kt | -35 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 18 min | 7:21 am MDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 18 kt | −6 kt | -38 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 16 min | 7:19 am MDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 27 kt | −8 kt | -42 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 12 min | 7:15 am MDT (13:15 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -45° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| LWS | used from 149 nm out; 57 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| DLN | used from 349 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 498 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA Seattle, WA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 432 ft | 1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC) |
| ESW Easton, WA | 50 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,226 ft | ||||
| YKM Yakima, WA | 90 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 1,098 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| PSC Pasco, WA | 149 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 410 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ALW Walla Walla, WA | 179 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 1,194 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GIC Grangeville, ID | 269 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 3,313 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| SMN Salmon, ID | 379 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,044 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| DIJ Driggs, ID | 518 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 6,257 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 6,451 ft | 2:56 am MDT (08:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,451 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:15 am MDT (13:15 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for JAC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
The forecast for SEA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 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 SEA 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC), at JAC 6:43 pm MDT (00:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at JAC is before sunrise there (7:33 am MDT (13:33 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: Seattle-Tacoma International, Jackson Hole Airport.