Plan a flight · Mon 7:05 am PDT (14:05 UTC)

Sacramento International to Lovell Field SMF → CHA

1,750 nautical miles (2,014 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 073° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SMF is VFR, wind calm; CHA is low IFR, wind from the west (270°) 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: 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

SIGMET W28W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 8:55 am PDT (15:55 UTC). Near the route, 308 nm along the route.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 121355
MKCW WST 121355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 28W
VALID UNTIL 1555Z
UT NV
FROM 30SSW ELY-20E ILC-70NNE LAS-60ENE BTY-30SSW ELY
AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 89 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 159 to 597 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 169 to 676 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 477 to 875 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 547 to 597 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 607 to 815 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 route from 1064 to 1293 nm out.

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

BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 33 nm north, 6:32 am PDT (13:32 UTC): moderate rime icing, -15 °C. 428 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTA UA /OV DTA038010/TM 1332/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M15/IC MOD RIME 140-190 TOP 200/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTA
Where
10 nm northeast (038°) of DTA
Time
13:32 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Temperature
−15 °C
Icing
moderate rime from 14,000 ft to 19,000 ft top 200/ZLC
C172 at 9,500 ft, 35 nm north, 5:43 am PDT (12:43 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 795 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK348/005/TM 1243/FL095/TP C172/TB TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
BRK348/005
Time
12:43 UTC
Height
at 9,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
turbulence moderate chop
B738 at 14,000 ft, 26 nm north, 5:38 am PDT (12:38 UTC): light icing, -2 °C. 99 nm along the route, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV RNO130020/TM 1238/FL140/TP B738/TA M02/IC LGT RM
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
20 nm southeast (130°) of RNO
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Temperature
−2 °C
Icing
light remarks
B38M at 11,000 ft, 30 nm north, 5:30 am PDT (12:30 UTC): light rime icing, -1 °C, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft rno dept southeast bound entered by zoa fdcs. 99 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV 3917N11935W/TM 1230/FL110/TP B38M/SK UNKN/TA M01/IC LGT RIME/RM 110-140 RNO DEPT SE BOUND ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
3917N11935W
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
unknown
Temperature
−1 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft rno dept southeast bound entered by zoa fdcs
B737 at 15,000 ft, 34 nm south, 5:12 am PDT (12:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: continuous light turbulence occasional moderate chop entered by zoa fdcs. 109 nm along the route, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAT UA /OV FMG150080/TM 1212/FL150/TP B737/TB LGT/RM CONS LGT TURB OCNL MOD CHOP ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAT
Where
80 nm southeast (150°) of FMG
Time
12:12 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
Remarks
continuous light turbulence occasional moderate chop entered by zoa fdcs
B190 at 14,000 ft, 46 nm north, 6:50 am PDT (13:50 UTC): light rime icing, -3 °C. 447 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTA UA /OV DTA034030/TM 1350/FL140/TP B190/TA M03/IC LGT RIME/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTA
Where
30 nm northeast (034°) of DTA
Time
13:50 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B190
Temperature
−3 °C
Icing
light rime/zlc
PC12 at 5,000 ft, 24 nm north, 4:23 am PDT (11:23 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 607 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 1123/FL050/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD/IC NEG/RM DURD. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
11:23 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light to moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent zdvwc
B752 at 23,000 ft, 46 nm north, 4:39 am PDT (11:39 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 736 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN231058/TM 1139/FL230/TP B752/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
58 nm southwest (231°) of DEN
Time
11:39 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
B737 at 13,000 ft, 22 nm north, 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): light turbulence. 786 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK082/11/TM 1300/FL130/TP B737/TB TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
BRK082/11
Time
13:00 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
turbulence light
B737 at 17,000 ft, 47 nm north, 5:24 am PDT (12:24 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, vfr; clear up to 60,000 ft, remarks: not bad for denver. 786 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN170035/TM 1224/FL170/TP B737/SK VFR/WX SKC/TA UNK/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM NOT BAD FOR DENVER
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
35 nm south (170°) of DEN
Time
12:24 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
vfr
Weather
clear sky
Temperature
UNK
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
not bad for denver
B738 at 11,000 ft, 16 nm north, 4:42 am PDT (11:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 795 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK172014/TM 1142/FL110/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
14 nm south (172°) of BRK
Time
11:42 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 6 nm southwest, 4:25 am PDT (11:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zkc fd dl. 1044 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DDC UA /OV DDC090024/TM 1125/FL280/TP CRJ7/TB LGT/RM ZKC FD DL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DDC
Where
24 nm east (090°) of DDC
Time
11:25 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
light
Remarks
zkc fd dl
PC12 at 14,000 ft, 9 nm north, 6:42 am PDT (13:42 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 1134 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ICT UA /OV 30N/TM 1342/FL140/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD TURB /RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ICT
Where
over 30N
Time
13:42 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light to moderate turbulence
Remarks
during the descent
SF50 at 14,000 ft, 24 nm north, 5:50 am PDT (12:50 UTC): light chop turbulence from 14,000 ft to 20,000 ft, remarks: ZME60. At the destination end, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA135040/TM 1250/FL140/TP SF50/SK SKC140/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 200-140/RM ZME60
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
40 nm southeast (135°) of BNA
Time
12:50 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
clear from 14,000 ft
Turbulence
occasional light chop from 20,000 ft to 14,000 ft
Remarks
ZME60

6 more routine reports are on the map.

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 16 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, ALS, PUB, GCK, ICT, TUL, SGF, CGI, MEM, BNA, HSV). 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	250° at 19 kt	−17 kt	22 °C	137 kt	12 h 46 min	10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−18 kt	11 °C	138 kt	12 h 41 min	10:46 pm EDT (02:46 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−18 kt	7 °C	138 kt	12 h 41 min	10:46 pm EDT (02:46 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−19 kt	3 °C	139 kt	12 h 35 min	10:40 pm EDT (02:40 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	−20 kt	-1 °C	140 kt	12 h 30 min	10:35 pm EDT (02:35 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 28 kt	−22 kt	-5 °C	142 kt	12 h 19 min	10:24 pm EDT (02:24 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 30 kt	−24 kt	-9 °C	144 kt	12 h 09 min	10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 30 kt	−24 kt	-10 °C	144 kt	12 h 09 min	10:14 pm EDT (02:14 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 35 kt	−29 kt	-20 °C	149 kt	11 h 45 min	9:50 pm EDT (01:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 52 kt	−49 kt	-30 °C	169 kt	10 h 21 min	8:26 pm EDT (00:26 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 54 kt	−52 kt	-37 °C	172 kt	10 h 10 min	8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 48 kt	−47 kt	-47 °C	167 kt	10 h 29 min	8:34 pm EDT (00:34 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; 24 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 50 nm out; 45 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 149 nm out; 92 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 199 nm out; 95 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 398 nm out; 72 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
GJT	used from 497 nm out; 91 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°
ALS	used from 696 nm out; 70 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
PUB	used from 746 nm out; 33 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
GCK	used from 895 nm out; 63 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
ICT	used from 1044 nm out; 70 nm from the line	230/45	240/33 21°	230/23 14°	230/22 7°	240/29 -7°	240/36 -20°	260/78 -29°	270/69 -36°	270/56 -49°
TUL	used from 1193 nm out; 68 nm from the line	230/42	250/23 17°	220/16 14°	240/10 8°	240/20 -6°	260/28 -17°	270/61 -29°	280/52 -38°	290/46 -50°
SGF	used from 1243 nm out; 68 nm from the line	230/37	260/20 15°	250/16 13°	250/15 8°	260/28 -7°	250/31 -17°	280/59 -31°	280/59 -39°	290/55 -50°
CGI	used from 1442 nm out; 77 nm from the line	260/22	250/15 15°	250/13 11°	250/16 6°	270/29 -7°	280/30 -18°	290/40 -31°	290/55 -40°	300/51 -51°
MEM	used from 1541 nm out; 78 nm from the line	250/19	260/19 17°	270/20 12°	270/16 6°	270/21 -6°	290/27 -17°	300/37 -30°	300/49 -40°	310/40 -51°
BNA	used from 1591 nm out; 61 nm from the line	300/20	300/14 15°	300/14 10°	300/13 4°	310/22 -5°	280/24 -18°	310/37 -33°	310/50 -41°	320/49 -51°
HSV	used from 1690 nm out; 56 nm from the line	300/20	310/14 16°	310/18 10°	310/15 4°	320/19 -5°	290/16 -18°	320/36 -32°	320/47 -41°	330/42 -50°

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	6:53 am PDT (13:53 UTC)
PVF Placerville, CA	40 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	2,585 ft	13:55 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	318 nm out, 25 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	6,259 ft	13:53 UTC
FOM Fillmore, UT	428 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	4,984 ft	13:55 UTC
GJT Grand Junction, CO	607 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	4,861 ft	13:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	805 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	13:53 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	984 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	13:54 UTC
ICT Wichita, KS	1144 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 15,000 feet, a broken layer at 18,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	18,000 ft	1,332 ft	13:53 UTC
JLN Joplin, MO	1283 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	977 ft	13:53 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	1571 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	13:53 UTC
MRC Columbia/Mount Pleasant, TN	1651 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	13:50 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	destination	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	682 ft	9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CHA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CHA

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet

The forecast for SMF, the departure

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
From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 24 nm from the route, 756 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC), at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CHA is after sunset there (7:10 pm EDT (23:10 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 southern Plains · 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: Sacramento International, Lovell Field.