Sacramento International to Cedar City Regional SMF → CDC
405 nautical miles (466 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 096°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 28-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind calm; CDC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22. 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 158 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 49 to 89 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 158 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 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 SMF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A35K at 32,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 44 nm southwest 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
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 5 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE). 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 | 010° at 1 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 3 h 22 min | 8:19 am MDT (14:19 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 8 kt | −4 kt | 1 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 16 min | 8:13 am MDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 9 kt | −5 kt | -2 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 14 min | 8:11 am MDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | −7 kt | -5 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 11 min | 8:08 am MDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −9 kt | -8 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 08 min | 8:05 am MDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −11 kt | -12 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:02 am MDT (14:02 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −14 kt | -15 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 01 min | 7:58 am MDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 23 kt | −14 kt | -16 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 01 min | 7:58 am MDT (13:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 26 kt | −20 kt | -24 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 54 min | 7:51 am MDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 38 kt | −26 kt | -31 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 46 min | 7:43 am MDT (13:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 45 kt | −28 kt | -37 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 44 min | 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 45 kt | −26 kt | -43 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 46 min | 7:43 am MDT (13:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 22 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 49 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° | |
| BIH | used from 99 nm out; 71 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 247 nm out; 87 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 346 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMF Sacramento, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC) |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 40 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA | 69 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 6,268 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HTH Hawthorne, NV | 138 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,230 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 217 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,430 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| CDC Cedar City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 5,622 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,268 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CDC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:41 am MDT (13:41 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CDC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
The forecast for SMF, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest 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 17 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC), at CDC 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm MDT (01:24 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: Sacramento International, Cedar City Regional.