Sacramento International to Charlotte/Douglas International SMF → CLT
1,945 nautical miles (2,238 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 083°, about 070° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC). 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: 846 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 W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 180 to 289 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W VALID UNTIL 0355Z NV FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Near the route, 768 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO NM FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 30 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 140 to 598 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 160 to 838 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 160 to 229 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 589 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 858 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 419 to 549 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 549 to 758 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 678 to 748 nm out.
- 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 888 to 1237 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 1726 to 1776 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1736 to 1875 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the last 120 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 SMF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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, ELY, BCE, GJT, DEN, PUB, GLD, GCK, SLN, ICT, MKC, SGF, COU, CGI, BNA, TYS, GSP). 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 18 kt | −16 kt | 21 °C | 136 kt | 14 h 18 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 14 h 12 min | 12:51 pm EDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 8 °C | 137 kt | 14 h 12 min | 12:51 pm EDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 06 min | 12:45 pm EDT (16:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 0 °C | 139 kt | 14 h | 12:39 pm EDT (16:39 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −21 kt | -4 °C | 141 kt | 13 h 48 min | 12:27 pm EDT (16:27 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 13 h 42 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 13 h 36 min | 12:15 pm EDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | −28 kt | -20 °C | 148 kt | 13 h 09 min | 11:48 am EDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 40 kt | −39 kt | -30 °C | 159 kt | 12 h 14 min | 10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 45 kt | −45 kt | -37 °C | 165 kt | 11 h 47 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 39 kt | −41 kt | -47 °C | 161 kt | 12 h 05 min | 10:44 am EDT (14:44 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; 42 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° | |
| ELY | used from 199 nm out; 93 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; 90 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; 87 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° | ||
| DEN | used from 698 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| PUB | used from 748 nm out; 51 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° | ||
| GLD | used from 848 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| GCK | used from 948 nm out; 49 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° | |
| SLN | used from 1047 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| ICT | used from 1147 nm out; 56 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° |
| MKC | used from 1197 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| SGF | used from 1297 nm out; 37 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° |
| COU | used from 1396 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| CGI | used from 1446 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| BNA | used from 1596 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| TYS | used from 1746 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| GSP | used from 1845 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
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 | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| PVF Placerville, CA | 40 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,585 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 319 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | no report just now | 6,259 ft | ||||
| FOM Fillmore, UT | 429 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,984 ft | ||||
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 608 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,861 ft | ||||
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 788 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,187 ft | ||||
| SLN Salina, KS | 1117 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,288 ft | ||||
| EMP Emporia, KS | 1187 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,207 ft | ||||
| PAH Paducah, KY | 1546 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 410 ft | ||||
| HVC Hopkinsville, KY | 1616 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 563 ft | ||||
| AVL Asheville, NC | 1865 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,163 ft | ||||
| CLT Charlotte, NC | destination | no report just now | 747 ft |
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 CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC)
CLT has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 15 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 758 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 1 nm from the route, 778 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 14 nm from the route, 1656 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 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, Charlotte/Douglas International.
