San Francisco International to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall SFO → BWI
2,130 nautical miles (2,451 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 059° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC). Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots; BWI is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) 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: 2,095 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 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 300 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 250 to 620 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 300 to 950 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 310 to 770 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 420 to 860 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 490 to 760 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 650 to 680 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1760 to 1900 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1930 to 2080 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 1950 to 2120 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 140 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 SFO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 23 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, SLC, GJT, DEN, BFF, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, JOT, IND, FWA, CMH, AGC, EKN, PSB, RIC). 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 | 240° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 17 °C | 129 kt | 16 h 31 min | 1:41 pm EDT (17:41 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | −12 kt | 11 °C | 132 kt | 16 h 08 min | 1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 8 °C | 134 kt | 15 h 54 min | 1:04 pm EDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | −15 kt | 4 °C | 135 kt | 15 h 47 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 0 °C | 138 kt | 15 h 26 min | 12:36 pm EDT (16:36 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -5 °C | 140 kt | 15 h 13 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 15 h | 12:10 pm EDT (16:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 14 h 54 min | 12:04 pm EDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 29 kt | −26 kt | -21 °C | 146 kt | 14 h 35 min | 11:45 am EDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | −38 kt | -31 °C | 158 kt | 13 h 29 min | 10:39 am EDT (14:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 47 kt | −46 kt | -39 °C | 166 kt | 12 h 50 min | 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 49 kt | −50 kt | -48 °C | 170 kt | 12 h 32 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -43° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| RNO | used from 100 nm out; 78 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° | |
| BIH | used from 150 nm out; 66 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| ELY | used from 250 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 210/20 4° | 240/21 -1° | 230/37 -13° | 200/58 -25° | 220/73 -27° | 220/73 -36° | 220/69 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 450 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 280/8 | 210/39 5° | 210/52 -1° | 200/50 -11° | 200/56 -23° | 220/61 -28° | 230/73 -37° | 230/73 -45° | |
| GJT | used from 600 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| DEN | used from 750 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| BFF | used from 900 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 120/24 | 180/31 13° | 210/26 7° | 230/25 -7° | 240/41 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 250/56 -41° | 260/57 -45° | |
| GLD | used from 950 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| GRI | used from 1050 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| OMA | used from 1200 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| DSM | used from 1300 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| BRL | used from 1400 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| SPI | used from 1500 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| JOT | used from 1550 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| IND | used from 1650 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| FWA | used from 1700 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| CMH | used from 1750 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| AGC | used from 1900 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| EKN | used from 2000 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| PSB | used from 2050 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 2100 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO San Francisco, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 5:56 pm PDT (00:56 UTC) |
| SCK Stockton, CA | 60 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| ELY Ely, NV | 370 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 6,259 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| DTA Delta, UT | 480 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 4,759 ft | 17:35 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 830 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| HEQ Holyoke, CO | 950 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: haze | from the east (080°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | none | 3,729 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 1200 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| FSW Fort Madison, IA | 1450 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 721 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 1650 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| OSU Columbus, OH | 1830 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 900 ft | 905 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 2070 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 564 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 500 ft | 143 ft | 8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BWI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BWI
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for SFO, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 16 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 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 east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC), at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 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 Francisco International, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.