Plan a flight · Sun 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)

San Francisco International to Hector International SFO → FAR

1,258 nautical miles (1,447 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 056°, about 042° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 63-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots; FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 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 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 60 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 120 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 799 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 220 to 1038 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 319 to 809 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 route from 539 to 1078 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 589 to 858 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 619 to 809 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 70 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 SFO.

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

B38M descending, 18 nm northwest, 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent runway 35L rno. 160 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV KRNO167009/TM 0128/FLUNKN/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM DURD RY35L RNO
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
9 nm south (167°) of KRNO
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
during the descent runway 35L rno
PC12 at 15,000 ft, 25 nm northwest, 4:47 pm PDT (23:47 UTC): light rime icing above 15,000 ft. 619 nm along the route, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV JAC200025/TM 2347/FL150/TP PC12/IC LGT RIME 150 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
25 nm south (200°) of JAC
Time
23:47 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Icing
light rime at 15,000 ft zlc
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 4:03 pm PDT (23:03 UTC): light rime icing, -6 °C. 629 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV JAC160030/TM 2303/FL170/TP CRJ7/TA M6/IC LGT RIME /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
30 nm south (160°) of JAC
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Temperature
−6 °C
Icing
light rime zlc
A320 descending, 38 nm northwest, 5:54 pm PDT (00:54 UTC): overcast above 7,500 ft, remarks: braking action good during the descent runway 19. 639 nm along the route, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV JAC/TM 0054/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC075/RM BRAKING ACTION GOOD DURD RY19
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
over JAC
Time
00:54 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 7,500 ft
Remarks
braking action good during the descent runway 19
CRJ2 at 11,000 ft, 24 nm northwest, 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 1188 nm along the route, 24 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JMS UA /OV JMS/TM 0053/FL110/TP CRJ2/SK BASE020-TOP040/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through JMS
Where
over JMS
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
BASE020-TOP040
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
A320 descending, 0 nm southwest, 6:01 pm PDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0101/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC012-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
C56X at 1,300 ft, 0 nm southwest, 4:17 pm PDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft

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 12 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, BAM, PIH, LND, BIL, MLS, RAP, DIK, ABR, GFK). 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	110° at 3 kt	+3 kt	8 °C	117 kt	10 h 45 min	7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC)
7,500 ft	200° at 9 kt	−6 kt	8 °C	126 kt	9 h 59 min	6:58 am CDT (11:58 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	−12 kt	4 °C	132 kt	9 h 32 min	6:31 am CDT (11:31 UTC)
11,500 ft	210° at 25 kt	−21 kt	0 °C	141 kt	8 h 55 min	5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	−28 kt	-4 °C	148 kt	8 h 30 min	5:29 am CDT (10:29 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 37 kt	−33 kt	-7 °C	153 kt	8 h 13 min	5:12 am CDT (10:12 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 42 kt	−39 kt	-11 °C	159 kt	7 h 55 min	4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 43 kt	−40 kt	-12 °C	160 kt	7 h 52 min	4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 43 kt	−40 kt	-23 °C	160 kt	7 h 52 min	4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 50 kt	−47 kt	-33 °C	167 kt	7 h 32 min	4:31 am CDT (09:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 59 kt	−58 kt	-38 °C	178 kt	7 h 04 min	4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 62 kt	−63 kt	-46 °C	183 kt	6 h 52 min	3:51 am CDT (08:51 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; 23 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; 47 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°
BAM	used from 250 nm out; 40 nm from the line			270/8 4°	230/27 -4°	220/49 -18°	210/52 -26°	220/77 -29°	220/71 -33°	220/63 -43°
PIH	used from 449 nm out; 82 nm from the line		270/10	270/13 1°	210/16 -2°	200/56 -11°	200/51 -23°	200/68 -33°	220/77 -37°	230/73 -44°
LND	used from 599 nm out; 85 nm from the line			180/33 10°	190/50 3°	210/59 -9°	200/50 -21°	190/41 -34°	230/55 -39°	240/65 -47°
BIL	used from 799 nm out; 122 nm from the line		080/24	130/14 -1°	180/33 0°	210/43 -10°	220/58 -21°	200/55 -36°	220/75 -44°	240/83 -48°
MLS	used from 848 nm out; 105 nm from the line		120/22 5°	170/18 4°	200/33 1°	230/49 -10°	230/58 -21°	220/54 -37°	230/64 -44°	250/74 -49°
RAP	used from 898 nm out; 81 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°
DIK	used from 998 nm out; 74 nm from the line		110/15 6°	200/17 5°	230/31 1°	240/47 -10°	240/52 -20°	230/52 -36°	240/57 -45°	250/67 -51°
ABR	used from 1098 nm out; 78 nm from the line	030/24	220/5 16°	230/18 12°	230/32 5°	240/38 -10°	250/37 -20°	240/40 -35°	240/56 -44°	250/72 -52°
GFK	used from 1198 nm out; 74 nm from the line	050/18	L/V 10°	240/20 7°	240/36 1°	250/47 -11°	260/53 -21°	270/59 -36°	270/65 -47°	260/88 -56°

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)
CCR Concord, CA	30 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	25 ft	01:53 UTC
MEV Minden, NV	150 nm out, 1 nm west of the line	no report just now				4,723 ft
EKO Elko, NV	359 nm out, 3 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
LWL Wells, NV	409 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	no report just now				5,769 ft
AFO Afton, WY	609 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the west (260°) at 8 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	3,100 ft	6,220 ft	01:35 UTC
HSG Thermopolis, WY	729 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain	from the east (080°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	300 ft	4,891 ft	01:35 UTC
WRL Worland, WY	759 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (010°) at 7 knots	8 mi	1,400 ft	4,251 ft	01:53 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD	938 nm out, 25 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,190 ft
LEM Lemmon, SD	1028 nm out, 15 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,572 ft
BAC Valley City, ND	1208 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	1,300 ft	1,401 ft	21:55 UTC
FAR Fargo, ND	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north (010°) at 15 knots	3 mi	400 ft	901 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,220 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC)

Wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet IFR

The whole forecast for FAR

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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 21 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC), at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FAR is before sunrise there (7:40 am CDT (12:40 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 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: San Francisco International, Hector International.