Sacramento International to Dallas Love Field SMF → DAL
1,251 nautical miles (1,440 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 099°, about 086° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 38-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; DAL is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 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: 1,311 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 69 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 208 to 566 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 248 to 864 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 288 to 477 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 457 to 516 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). Near the route, 467 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 526 to 844 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
- PC12 at 17,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 189 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest 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
- PC12 at 16,400 ft, 48 nm north, 8:15 pm PDT (03:15 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, clear from 16,400 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 645 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO230013/TM 0315/FL164/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 160/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- 13 nm southwest (230°) of DRO
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 16,400 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop below 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-36
- B738 at 36,000 ft, 32 nm south, 8:11 pm PDT (03:11 UTC): -40 °C, wind 245° at 69 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 834 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SXU UA /OV ACH146017 /TM 0311 /FL360 /TP B738 /TA M40 /WV 24569KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through SXU
- Where
- 17 nm southeast (146°) of ACH
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −40 °C
- Wind
- from 245° at 69 knots
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
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 12 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, ELY, BCE, FMN, ABQ, TCC, AMA, LBB, SPS, DAL). 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 | 210° at 22 kt | −3 kt | 18 °C | 123 kt | 10 h 10 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −7 kt | 10 °C | 127 kt | 9 h 51 min | 10:48 am CDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −9 kt | 8 °C | 129 kt | 9 h 42 min | 10:39 am CDT (15:39 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −10 kt | 3 °C | 130 kt | 9 h 37 min | 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −11 kt | -1 °C | 131 kt | 9 h 33 min | 10:30 am CDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | −12 kt | -5 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 29 min | 10:26 am CDT (15:26 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | −12 kt | -9 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 29 min | 10:26 am CDT (15:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 32 kt | −12 kt | -10 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 29 min | 10:26 am CDT (15:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | −22 kt | -21 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 49 min | 9:46 am CDT (14:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 57 kt | −35 kt | -28 °C | 155 kt | 8 h 04 min | 9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 57 kt | −38 kt | -36 °C | 158 kt | 7 h 55 min | 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 47 kt | −33 kt | -46 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 11 min | 9:08 am CDT (14:08 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; 21 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; 61 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 99 nm out; 66 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 248 nm out; 99 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 347 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 546 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| ABQ | used from 695 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| TCC | used from 794 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| AMA | used from 943 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 210/38 | 230/29 14° | 240/29 7° | 220/27 -5° | 240/37 -18° | 240/66 -28° | 250/59 -37° | 260/47 -49° | |
| LBB | used from 993 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 200/36 18° | 220/19 15° | 240/20 8° | 230/24 -4° | 240/37 -16° | 250/57 -28° | 250/51 -38° | 270/47 -50° | |
| SPS | used from 1092 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/39 | 220/28 17° | 230/27 12° | 240/15 9° | 250/15 -4° | 250/24 -15° | 260/45 -28° | 270/43 -39° | 280/45 -51° |
| DAL | used from 1191 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
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) |
| MHR Sacramento, CA | 20 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 98 ft | 04:35 UTC |
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 218 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,300 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms | from the north (360°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 5,430 ft | 05:41 UTC |
| PGA Page, AZ | 496 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,316 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 764 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,348 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| TCC Tucumcari, NM | 884 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,064 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CDS Childress, TX | 1052 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,953 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| AFW Fort Worth, TX | 1221 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 723 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DAL Dallas, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 486 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DAL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:52 am CDT (13:52 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for DAL
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at DAL 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 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, Dallas Love Field.