Plan a flight · Mon 3:01 am PDT (10:01 UTC)

Mineta San Jose International to Des Moines International SJC → DSM

1,328 nautical miles (1,528 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 070°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:42 pm CDT (17:42 UTC). Right now SJC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 10 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: 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 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 140 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 230 to 749 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 230 to 769 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 290 to 659 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 489 to 859 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 599 to 829 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 669 to 829 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 last 359 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 SJC.

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

A35K at 32,000 ft, 47 nm north, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
```
Report
a routine report filed through OAK
Where
24 nm north (348°) of OAK
Time
08:39 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A35K
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
fdcs zoa
B737 at 18,000 ft, 9 nm south, 12:24 am PDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 809 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
Time
07:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
FL180-130

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 11 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, BIH, ELY, SLC, GJT, DEN, BFF, GRI, OMA, DSM). 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 19 kt	−18 kt	23 °C	138 kt	9 h 37 min	2:38 pm CDT (19:38 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	−19 kt	9 °C	139 kt	9 h 33 min	2:34 pm CDT (19:34 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	−19 kt	6 °C	139 kt	9 h 33 min	2:34 pm CDT (19:34 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−20 kt	1 °C	140 kt	9 h 29 min	2:30 pm CDT (19:30 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−22 kt	-3 °C	142 kt	9 h 21 min	2:22 pm CDT (19:22 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−24 kt	-7 °C	144 kt	9 h 13 min	2:14 pm CDT (19:14 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	−26 kt	-11 °C	146 kt	9 h 06 min	2:07 pm CDT (19:07 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 32 kt	−27 kt	-12 °C	147 kt	9 h 02 min	2:03 pm CDT (19:03 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 40 kt	−35 kt	-23 °C	155 kt	8 h 34 min	1:35 pm CDT (18:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 52 kt	−48 kt	-31 °C	168 kt	7 h 54 min	12:55 pm CDT (17:55 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 57 kt	−53 kt	-36 °C	173 kt	7 h 41 min	12:42 pm CDT (17:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 54 kt	−52 kt	-45 °C	172 kt	7 h 43 min	12:44 pm CDT (17:44 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; 45 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; 67 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°
BIH	used from 100 nm out; 65 nm from the line		L/V	020/6 0°	140/7 -7°	210/31 -16°	230/34 -26°	220/43 -30°	220/52 -36°	220/46 -43°
ELY	used from 250 nm out; 79 nm from the line			210/34 1°	220/40 -4°	220/39 -17°	210/51 -24°	220/65 -30°	220/60 -37°	220/56 -44°
SLC	used from 449 nm out; 70 nm from the line		200/16	210/23 4°	220/34 -3°	210/40 -16°	220/66 -23°	220/64 -31°	220/57 -36°	220/50 -43°
GJT	used from 549 nm out; 92 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°
DEN	used from 749 nm out; 72 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
BFF	used from 849 nm out; 59 nm from the line		280/28	260/39 11°	240/34 5°	210/38 -11°	210/52 -22°	230/61 -31°	230/61 -36°	240/56 -45°
GRI	used from 998 nm out; 96 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
OMA	used from 1148 nm out; 55 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
DSM	used from 1298 nm out; 15 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°

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 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 9,500 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	62 ft	2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC)
MOD Modesto, CA	50 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	99 ft	09:53 UTC
HTH Hawthorne, NV	170 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	4,230 ft	09:55 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	349 nm out, 11 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	6,259 ft	09:53 UTC
DTA Delta, UT	459 nm out, 12 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
PUC Price, UT	539 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, a broken layer at 2,700 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	2,700 ft	5,957 ft	09:53 UTC
SBS Steamboat Springs, CO	729 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	6,000 ft	6,882 ft	09:55 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	809 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	5,020 ft	09:56 UTC
OGA Ogallala, NE	959 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	3,279 ft	09:55 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	1118 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	09:53 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	1228 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	09:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	24,000 ft	957 ft	4:54 am CDT (09:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,882 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:42 pm CDT (17:42 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for SJC, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 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

6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, 110 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at SJC 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 southern Rockies · 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: Mineta San Jose International, Des Moines International.