Mineta San Jose International to Jack MC Namara Field SJC → CEC
286 nautical miles (329 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 339°, about 326° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SJC is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24; CEC is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 16 knots, gusting to 32. 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: 1 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 25,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 256 nm along 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 SJC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C680 descending, 47 nm south, 5:46 pm PDT (00:46 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 3,500 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MRY UA /OV MRY/TM 0046/FLDURD/TP C680/SK BKN030-TOP035
- Report
- a routine report filed through MRY
- Where
- over MRY
- Time
- 00:46 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- C680
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 3,500 ft
- E50P descending, 47 nm south, 3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots short final. At the departure end, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MRY UA /OV KMRY/TM 2203/FLDURD/TP E50P/RM LLWS +/- 10KTS SHORT FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through MRY
- Where
- over KMRY
- Time
- 22:03 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E50P
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 10 knots short final
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RBL, FOT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 360° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 111 kt | 2 h 35 min | 8:28 pm PDT (03:28 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 010° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 4 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 32 min | 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 010° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 1 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 32 min | 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 360° at 11 kt | +10 kt | -3 °C | 110 kt | 2 h 36 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 350° at 14 kt | +14 kt | -7 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 42 min | 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 350° at 19 kt | +19 kt | -10 °C | 101 kt | 2 h 50 min | 8:43 pm PDT (03:43 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 350° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -13 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 59 min | 8:52 pm PDT (03:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 350° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -16 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:58 pm PDT (03:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 350° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -24 °C | 77 kt | 3 h 43 min | 9:36 pm PDT (04:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 38 kt | +38 kt | -31 °C | 82 kt | 3 h 29 min | 9:22 pm PDT (04:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 28 kt | +23 kt | -35 °C | 97 kt | 2 h 57 min | 8:50 pm PDT (03:50 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 31 kt | +14 kt | -41 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 42 min | 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 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; 14 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 49 nm out; 47 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° |
| RBL | used from 99 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 350/10 | 350/7 6° | L/V -1° | 320/6 -8° | 340/24 -18° | 340/38 -24° | 330/32 -30° | 300/25 -34° | 270/37 -40° |
| FOT | used from 197 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 360/29 | 020/22 5° | 020/29 0° | 010/40 -5° | 010/61 -14° | 010/90 -24° | 360/81 -36° | 340/55 -38° | 320/34 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJC San Jose, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 5,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 62 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| HWD Hayward, CA | 20 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 52 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| APC Napa, CA | 49 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 35 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| HES Healdsburg, CA | 89 nm out, 14 nm west of the line | no report just now | 280 ft | ||||
| ACV Arcata/Eureka, CA | 237 nm out, 13 nm west of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 14 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 222 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| CEC Crescent City, CA | destination | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 16 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | none | 60 ft | 4:56 pm PDT (23:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 280 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CEC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 16 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for CEC
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 16 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for SJC, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 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 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 30 nm along the route · security · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SJC 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC), at CEC 6:40 pm PDT (01:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:08 pm PDT (02:08 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CEC is after sunset there (6:42 pm PDT (01:42 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: Mineta San Jose International, Jack MC Namara Field.