Plan a flight · Sun 11:03 pm PDT (06:03 UTC)

Sacramento International to Charleston Afb/Intl Airport SMF → CHS

2,035 nautical miles (2,342 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 087°, about 074° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:37 pm EDT (18:37 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; CHS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 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 80 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 200 to 619 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 210 to 549 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 269 to 878 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 449 to 848 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 629 to 808 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 848 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 868 to 1307 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1666 to 1756 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 1806 to 1886 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

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 49 nm north, 9:30 pm PDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 688 nm along the route, 49 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 48 nm south, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 180 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through TPH
Where
over OAL
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−15 °C
Turbulence
moderate
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs
UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 40 nm north, 8:11 pm PDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. 639 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B733 at 20,000 ft, 4 nm east, 8:16 pm PDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. 678 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
over HBU
Time
03:16 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B733
Sky
clear
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-12
E170 at 22,500 ft, 50 nm north, 10:06 pm PDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 748 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 18 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, ALS, PUB, GCK, ICT, TUL, SGF, LIT, MEM, HSV, ATL, CAE, CHS). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	−15 kt		135 kt	15 h 04 min	5:07 pm EDT (21:07 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 17 kt	−16 kt	21 °C	136 kt	14 h 58 min	5:01 pm EDT (21:01 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	−17 kt	12 °C	137 kt	14 h 51 min	4:54 pm EDT (20:54 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	−18 kt	8 °C	138 kt	14 h 45 min	4:48 pm EDT (20:48 UTC)
11,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	−18 kt	4 °C	138 kt	14 h 45 min	4:48 pm EDT (20:48 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	−19 kt	0 °C	139 kt	14 h 38 min	4:41 pm EDT (20:41 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−20 kt	-4 °C	140 kt	14 h 32 min	4:35 pm EDT (20:35 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	−21 kt	-8 °C	141 kt	14 h 26 min	4:29 pm EDT (20:29 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 27 kt	−21 kt	-9 °C	141 kt	14 h 26 min	4:29 pm EDT (20:29 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 33 kt	−29 kt	-20 °C	149 kt	13 h 39 min	3:42 pm EDT (19:42 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 43 kt	−40 kt	-30 °C	160 kt	12 h 43 min	2:46 pm EDT (18:46 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 44 kt	−42 kt	-37 °C	162 kt	12 h 34 min	2:37 pm EDT (18:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 39 kt	−38 kt	-47 °C	158 kt	12 h 53 min	2:56 pm EDT (18:56 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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	110/6	L/V 4°	010/11 -2°	350/11 -7°	340/24 -16°	360/44 -23°	330/24 -30°	270/21 -35°	230/23 -43°
RNO	used from 50 nm out; 46 nm from the line		010/9	320/10 -2°	210/23 -9°	210/34 -19°	220/36 -25°	230/31 -29°	230/41 -33°	230/38 -42°
BIH	used from 150 nm out; 89 nm from the line		L/V	240/7 1°	190/13 -3°	200/26 -16°	210/43 -26°	220/54 -28°	220/51 -35°	220/47 -43°
ELY	used from 200 nm out; 96 nm from the line			200/39 3°	210/27 -2°	210/45 -15°	220/56 -24°	210/60 -28°	210/63 -34°	220/61 -43°
BCE	used from 399 nm out; 65 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
GJT	used from 499 nm out; 93 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°
ALS	used from 698 nm out; 57 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
PUB	used from 748 nm out; 30 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
GCK	used from 898 nm out; 60 nm from the line		220/48 21°	230/37 14°	250/30 8°	230/37 -6°	240/37 -20°	240/69 -28°	250/67 -37°	260/58 -48°
ICT	used from 1048 nm out; 70 nm from the line	200/48	230/39 19°	240/24 14°	240/20 8°	240/22 -6°	250/31 -18°	250/61 -29°	260/58 -38°	270/54 -49°
TUL	used from 1197 nm out; 46 nm from the line	210/37	240/29 17°	260/15 14°	260/11 7°	240/22 -6°	250/29 -16°	270/45 -29°	270/47 -40°	280/44 -50°
SGF	used from 1297 nm out; 45 nm from the line	230/33	230/28 15°	250/20 13°	240/18 7°	250/20 -6°	250/24 -17°	280/42 -31°	280/49 -40°	290/46 -51°
LIT	used from 1397 nm out; 88 nm from the line	220/21	230/17 16°	250/24 12°	260/15 7°	260/13 -5°	280/25 -16°	290/35 -30°	300/42 -40°	300/40 -52°
MEM	used from 1447 nm out; 68 nm from the line	230/19	260/16 15°	270/17 12°	300/13 6°	300/15 -5°	300/26 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/41 -40°	310/46 -52°
HSV	used from 1596 nm out; 65 nm from the line	310/20	330/20 16°	320/27 11°	340/23 5°	320/23 -7°	340/30 -17°	320/50 -33°	330/61 -41°	340/41 -50°
ATL	used from 1746 nm out; 56 nm from the line	320/30	330/37 16°	340/44 11°	330/35 7°	310/33 -6°	300/38 -18°	330/58 -33°	330/48 -40°	320/34 -49°
CAE	used from 1896 nm out; 56 nm from the line	330/15	330/13 12°	330/22 9°	300/26 6°	280/33 -7°	270/38 -18°	250/45 -33°	240/46 -40°	270/38 -49°
CHS	used from 1996 nm out; 20 nm from the line	280/21	270/23 12°	280/28 11°	260/35 6°	250/41 -5°	250/45 -16°	230/59 -32°	220/74 -40°	230/67 -52°

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	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)
PVF Placerville, CA	40 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	2,585 ft	05:55 UTC
MLF Milford, UT	399 nm out, 20 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	5,042 ft	05:52 UTC
RIF Richfield, UT	449 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	variable at 2 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	5,318 ft	05:54 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	798 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	05:53 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	978 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	05:54 UTC
ICT Wichita, KS	1137 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	1,332 ft	05:53 UTC
BBG Branson, MO	1347 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,302 ft	05:55 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	1567 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	434 ft	05:53 UTC
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	1826 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	05:56 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	1856 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	812 ft	05:51 UTC
CHS Charleston, SC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,318 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CHS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:37 pm EDT (18:37 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CHS

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 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, Charleston Afb/Intl Airport.