Sacramento International to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal SMF → COS
790 nautical miles (909 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 071° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 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: 5 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 W14W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 170 to 270 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120455 MKCW WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14W VALID UNTIL 0655Z NV FROM 40NW BVL-20WNW ELY-20SSE OAL-40WNW OAL-50NE BAM-40NW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 20 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 570 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 200 to 610 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 510 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 330 nm of the route.
- 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 last 180 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
- urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 18 nm north, 9:30 pm PDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 690 nm along the route, 18 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
- UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 12 nm north, 8:11 pm PDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. 640 nm along the route, 12 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
- BE20 at 16,000 ft, 34 nm north, 8:28 pm PDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. 650 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIL
- Where
- over RIL
- Time
- 03:28 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Temperature
- −3 °C
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-11
- B733 at 20,000 ft, 29 nm south, 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. 680 nm along the route, 29 nm south 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, 16 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. 750 nm along the route, 16 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 6 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, ELY, BCE, GJT, PUB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | −13 kt | 6 °C | 133 kt | 5 h 56 min | 5:31 am MDT (11:31 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −15 kt | 3 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 51 min | 5:26 am MDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −19 kt | -1 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 41 min | 5:16 am MDT (11:16 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 31 kt | −20 kt | -5 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 39 min | 5:14 am MDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 5 h 34 min | 5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | −23 kt | -13 °C | 143 kt | 5 h 31 min | 5:06 am MDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 39 kt | −23 kt | -14 °C | 143 kt | 5 h 31 min | 5:06 am MDT (11:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 47 kt | −32 kt | -23 °C | 152 kt | 5 h 12 min | 4:47 am MDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 51 kt | −35 kt | -29 °C | 155 kt | 5 h 06 min | 4:41 am MDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 55 kt | −39 kt | -34 °C | 159 kt | 4 h 58 min | 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 51 kt | −36 kt | -44 °C | 156 kt | 5 h 04 min | 4:39 am MDT (10:39 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; 43 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 200 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 400 nm out; 83 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 500 nm out; 86 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° | ||
| PUB | used from 700 nm out; 83 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° |
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 | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
| PVF Placerville, CA | 40 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | reported, no category | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,585 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA | 80 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,268 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 170 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 320 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 6,259 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FOM Fillmore, UT | 430 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,984 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| CNY Moab, UT | 550 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 4,579 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 610 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,861 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | 690 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| AEJ Buena Vista, CO | 720 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 7,950 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 6,187 ft | 10:54 pm MDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,950 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC)
Wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for COS
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, 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
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COS is before sunrise there (7:04 am MDT (13:04 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, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.