Sacramento International to EL Paso International SMF → ELP
851 nautical miles (980 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 114°, about 101° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the north (010°) 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: 3 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, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 69 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 228 to 287 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 267 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 297 to 653 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 327 to 396 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 396 to 643 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 416 to 614 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), from 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 535 to 544 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, 40 nm northeast, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 178 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast 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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 10:15 pm PDT (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. 544 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm north (339°) of PXR
- Time
- 05:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent through clouds
- B737 at 19,000 ft, 7 nm north, 10:45 pm PDT (05:45 UTC): light turbulence. 356 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAS UA /OV LAS050012/TM 0545/FL190/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAS
- Where
- 12 nm northeast (050°) of LAS
- Time
- 05:45 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B737 at 14,500 ft, 14 nm southwest, 10:30 pm PDT (05:30 UTC): light turbulence. 356 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAS UA /OV LAS155012/TM 0530/FL145/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAS
- Where
- 12 nm southeast (155°) of LAS
- Time
- 05:30 UTC
- Height
- at 14,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B38M at 14,000 ft, 24 nm north, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): light rime icing, 6 °C. 376 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAS UA /OV LAS059040/TM 0547/FL140/TP B38M/TA 06/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAS
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (059°) of LAS
- Time
- 05:47 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Temperature
- 6 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- B737 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 9:58 pm PDT (04:58 UTC): scattered clouds, -30 °C, wind 225° at 77 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 772 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DMN UA /OV CUS286023 /TM 0458 /FL320 /TP B737 /SK FEW-SCT /TA M30 /WV 22577KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DMN
- Where
- 23 nm west (286°) of CUS
- Time
- 04:58 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- few-sct
- Temperature
- −30 °C
- Wind
- from 225° at 77 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 7 forecast points nearest it (SAC, BIH, LAS, PRC, PHX, TUS, ELP). 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 | 220° at 10 kt | −2 kt | 11 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 59 min | 8:31 am MDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 14 kt | −1 kt | 7 °C | 121 kt | 7 h 02 min | 8:34 am MDT (14:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | +1 kt | 4 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:41 am MDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 200° at 20 kt | +2 kt | 1 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 13 min | 8:45 am MDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +1 kt | -3 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 09 min | 8:41 am MDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | −2 kt | -7 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 59 min | 8:31 am MDT (14:31 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −5 kt | -11 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 48 min | 8:20 am MDT (14:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 39 kt | −6 kt | -12 °C | 126 kt | 6 h 45 min | 8:17 am MDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 47 kt | −9 kt | -21 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 36 min | 8:08 am MDT (14:08 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 59 kt | −16 kt | -28 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 15 min | 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 62 kt | −21 kt | -35 °C | 141 kt | 6 h 02 min | 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 56 kt | −15 kt | -45 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 18 min | 7:50 am MDT (13:50 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; 18 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° |
| BIH | used from 99 nm out; 49 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° | |
| LAS | used from 247 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -44° | |
| PRC | used from 445 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| PHX | used from 594 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| TUS | used from 643 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° | |
| ELP | used from 742 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° |
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 broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 26 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC) |
| MHR Sacramento, CA | 20 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 98 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA | 148 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 7,134 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| VGT Las Vegas, NV | 337 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 2,205 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LAS Las Vegas, NV | 346 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 2,183 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 505 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 5,045 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| PAN Payson, AZ | 564 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 5,160 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SVC Silver City, NM | 752 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,445 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| DNA Santa Teresa, NM | 832 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 4,112 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 12:51 am MDT (06:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,134 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, 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
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, 119 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 317 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, 346 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 396 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC), at ELP 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 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, EL Paso International.