San Francisco International to Missoula Montana Airport SFO → MSO
668 nautical miles (769 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 031°, about 017° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC). Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots; MSO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 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: 260 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 whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 169 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 route from 508 to 608 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 159 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
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 7 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, LKV, BOI, LWS, GPI). 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 | 350° at 6 kt | +4 kt | 1 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 46 min | 12:37 pm MDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 6 kt | +3 kt | -3 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 43 min | 12:34 pm MDT (18:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 6 kt | 0 | -6 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 34 min | 12:25 pm MDT (18:25 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 6 kt | −3 kt | -9 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 26 min | 12:17 pm MDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 6 kt | −3 kt | -12 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 26 min | 12:17 pm MDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 6 kt | −2 kt | -15 °C | 122 kt | 5 h 29 min | 12:20 pm MDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 6 kt | −1 kt | -17 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 31 min | 12:22 pm MDT (18:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 6 kt | −1 kt | -18 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 31 min | 12:22 pm MDT (18:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 12 kt | +7 kt | -27 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 55 min | 12:46 pm MDT (18:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 18 kt | 0 | -34 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 34 min | 12:25 pm MDT (18:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 24 kt | −18 kt | -36 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 50 min | 11:41 am MDT (17:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 29 kt | −27 kt | -41 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 33 min | 11:24 am MDT (17:24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 090/9 | 050/12 4° | 010/17 -2° | 350/34 -3° | 360/70 -11° | 360/75 -22° | 350/57 -38° | 330/37 -42° | 280/25 -44° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 11 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
| RNO | used from 100 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 010/6 | 270/12 -3° | 220/26 -10° | 280/13 -19° | 350/44 -24° | 320/30 -32° | 260/22 -36° | 240/24 -42° | |
| LKV | used from 249 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 010/10 -8° | 360/20 -11° | 360/58 -19° | 360/92 -25° | 350/69 -37° | 310/34 -37° | 240/26 -41° | ||
| BOI | used from 349 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 320/11 1° | 280/8 -5° | 220/14 -11° | 200/60 -19° | 190/66 -31° | 210/46 -32° | 220/50 -33° | 220/43 -39° | |
| LWS | used from 548 nm out; 80 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° |
| GPI | used from 648 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° |
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 9,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 4:56 am PDT (11:56 UTC) |
| CCR Concord, CA | 30 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | 70 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SVE Susanville, CA | 189 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,149 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| REO Rome, OR | 359 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | none | 4,053 ft | 11:52 UTC | |
| ONO Ontario, OR | 458 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 2,193 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| MYL Mc Call, ID | 518 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 5,024 ft | 11:51 UTC |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 638 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 3,635 ft | 12:30 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,024 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSO
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet
The forecast for SFO, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local on the route, 100 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 638 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 638 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
Daylight
Sunset at SFO 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC), at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 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, Missoula Montana Airport.