Seattle-Tacoma International to Reno/Tahoe International SEA → RNO
490 nautical miles (564 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 166°, about 150° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:34 pm PDT (03:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SEA is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots; RNO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14. 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: 2,623 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 160 to 200 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 190 to 240 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 SEA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 10,000 ft, 26 nm west, 3:04 pm PDT (22:04 UTC): moderate rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: from 10,000 ft to 7,500 ft during the descent. 80 nm along the route, 26 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PDX UA /OV PDX360025/TM 2204/FL100/TP E75L/TA M9/IC MOD RIME /RM 100-075 DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PDX
- Where
- 25 nm north (360°) of PDX
- Time
- 22:04 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- moderate rime
- Remarks
- from 10,000 ft to 7,500 ft during the descent
- C182 at 8,000 ft, 23 nm west, 3:52 pm PDT (22:52 UTC): light rime icing, -2 °C. 100 nm along the route, 23 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PDX UA /OV PDX040017/TM 2252/FL080/TP C182/TA M02/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through PDX
- Where
- 17 nm northeast (040°) of PDX
- Time
- 22:52 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C182
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- E75L at 9,500 ft, 3 nm northeast, 4:07 pm PDT (23:07 UTC): light rime icing from 7,000 ft to 9,500 ft, a broken layer above 7,300 ft, -2 °C, remarks: during the descent runway 5. 200 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDM UA /OV RDM/TM 2307/FL095/TP E75L/SK BKN073-TOPSUNKN/TA M2/IC LGT RIME 095-070/RM DURD RWY 5
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDM
- Where
- over RDM
- Time
- 23:07 UTC
- Height
- at 9,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- a broken layer from 7,300 ft, tops unknown
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 9,500 ft to 7,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 5
- E170 at 10,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 3:02 pm PDT (22:02 UTC): light rime icing from 7,000 ft to 10,000 ft. 200 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDM UA /OV RDM/TM 2202/FL100/TP E170/SK BASE 065-TOPS UNKN/TA UNKN/IC LGT RIME 100-070
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDM
- Where
- over RDM
- Time
- 22:02 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- base 065-TOPS unknown
- Temperature
- UNKN
- Icing
- light rime from 10,000 ft to 7,000 ft
- E75L at 9,000 ft, 6 nm west, 4:05 pm PDT (23:05 UTC): light rime icing, -6 °C, remarks: zse. 210 nm along the route, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDM UA /OV DSD155012/TM 2305/FL090/TP E75L/TA M06/IC LGT RIME/RM ZSE
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDM
- Where
- 12 nm southeast (155°) of DSD
- Time
- 23:05 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Temperature
- −6 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- zse
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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, PDX, RDM, LKV, RNO). 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 | 360° at 11 kt | −11 kt | -2 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 44 min | 9:10 pm PDT (04:10 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 010° at 13 kt | −12 kt | -4 °C | 132 kt | 3 h 43 min | 9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 010° at 13 kt | −11 kt | -6 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 44 min | 9:10 pm PDT (04:10 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 360° at 9 kt | −9 kt | -10 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 48 min | 9:14 pm PDT (04:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 360° at 12 kt | −11 kt | -13 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 44 min | 9:10 pm PDT (04:10 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 010° at 16 kt | −15 kt | -16 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 38 min | 9:04 pm PDT (04:04 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 010° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -19 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 32 min | 8:58 pm PDT (03:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 010° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -20 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 30 min | 8:56 pm PDT (03:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 360° at 36 kt | −36 kt | -26 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 08 min | 8:34 pm PDT (03:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -34 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 11 min | 8:37 pm PDT (03:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -36 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 30 min | 8:56 pm PDT (03:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 21 kt | −11 kt | -41 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 44 min | 9:10 pm PDT (04:10 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 | 360/9 | 350/10 1° | 010/10 -5° | 030/20 -11° | 020/60 -17° | 010/86 -26° | 360/90 -40° | 010/68 -42° | 360/31 -43° |
| PDX | used from 50 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 330/7 | 360/13 0° | 040/22 -6° | 030/23 -12° | 020/64 -18° | 010/93 -25° | 010/91 -39° | 360/62 -40° | 350/41 -43° |
| RDM | used from 150 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 010/15 -2° | 030/21 -8° | 020/26 -12° | 020/46 -22° | 010/72 -27° | 360/47 -34° | 340/31 -35° | 320/20 -40° | |
| LKV | used from 250 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 010/18 -6° | 280/7 -11° | 290/9 -22° | 280/13 -27° | 290/20 -31° | 260/19 -34° | 260/27 -39° | ||
| RNO | used from 400 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 320/7 | 260/13 1° | 230/21 -7° | 210/38 -17° | 220/43 -26° | 230/54 -29° | 230/59 -32° | 230/54 -41° |
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 Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 432 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| PLU Puyallup, WA | 20 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR Weather: light drizzle | calm | 10+ mi | none | 537 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| CZK Cascade Locks, OR | 110 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | no report just now | 151 ft | ||||
| RDM Redmond, OR | 200 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 3,081 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| LKV Lakeview, OR | 330 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 4,734 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| AAT Alturas, CA | 370 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet | from the north (360°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,378 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| SVE Susanville, CA | 430 nm out, 25 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,149 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,734 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:34 pm PDT (03:34 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RNO
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 4,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for SEA, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, 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 northwest at 5 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 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC), at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RNO is after sunset there (6:26 pm PDT (01:26 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, Reno/Tahoe International.