Plan a flight · Sun 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC)

Sacramento International to Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Field SMF → ERI

1,886 nautical miles (2,171 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 070°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:01 pm EDT (18:01 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; ERI is marginal VFR, wind variable at 4 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: 2 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 100 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 709 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 230 to 709 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 359 to 828 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 509 to 878 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 609 to 778 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 609 to 699 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 878 to 1457 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 948 to 1018 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 1607 to 1777 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

B38M at 30,000 ft, 45 nm north, 10:45 pm PDT (05:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 689 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIW UA /OV BOY126080/TM 0545/FL300/TP B38M/TB CONS MOD CHOP /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIW
Where
80 nm southeast (126°) of BOY
Time
05:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop zlc
B738 at 1,700 ft, 49 nm south, 11:20 pm PDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 1727 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
B738 at 1,800 ft, 49 nm south, 10:18 pm PDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 1727 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
05:18 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 1,300 ft, 49 nm south, 9:45 pm PDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 1727 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
A333 descending, 9 nm south, 10:44 pm PDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 1747 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
05:44 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A333
Sky
tops 2,500 ft
B739 descending, 9 nm south, 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 1747 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
bases 1,100 ft

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 15 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, FSD, MCW, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE). 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	230° at 14 kt	−12 kt	20 °C	132 kt	14 h 17 min	5:12 pm EDT (21:12 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 14 kt	−13 kt	11 °C	133 kt	14 h 11 min	5:06 pm EDT (21:06 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 15 kt	−14 kt	7 °C	134 kt	14 h 04 min	4:59 pm EDT (20:59 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 16 kt	−15 kt	3 °C	135 kt	13 h 58 min	4:53 pm EDT (20:53 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	−17 kt	-1 °C	137 kt	13 h 46 min	4:41 pm EDT (20:41 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−19 kt	-5 °C	139 kt	13 h 34 min	4:29 pm EDT (20:29 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−22 kt	-10 °C	142 kt	13 h 17 min	4:12 pm EDT (20:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 22 kt	−22 kt	-11 °C	142 kt	13 h 17 min	4:12 pm EDT (20:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-22 °C	146 kt	12 h 55 min	3:50 pm EDT (19:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 34 kt	−35 kt	-32 °C	155 kt	12 h 10 min	3:05 pm EDT (19:05 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 42 kt	−46 kt	-39 °C	166 kt	11 h 22 min	2:17 pm EDT (18:17 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 46 kt	−50 kt	-47 °C	170 kt	11 h 06 min	2:01 pm EDT (18:01 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; 27 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; 28 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°
BAM	used from 150 nm out; 79 nm from the line			310/7 0°	270/19 -7°	200/38 -17°	190/49 -28°	220/69 -29°	220/63 -33°	230/48 -41°
ELY	used from 299 nm out; 61 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°
SLC	used from 349 nm out; 87 nm from the line		200/5	230/8 2°	220/20 -2°	210/40 -12°	190/53 -25°	210/62 -30°	220/69 -34°	220/64 -43°
RKS	used from 549 nm out; 29 nm from the line			200/41	220/44 1°	220/35 -11°	220/46 -24°	210/53 -27°	220/62 -35°	230/61 -44°
BFF	used from 699 nm out; 121 nm from the line		180/28	220/33 15°	210/31 7°	230/32 -9°	220/41 -21°	220/40 -33°	240/47 -36°	250/54 -46°
ONL	used from 948 nm out; 92 nm from the line		210/31 20°	230/27 13°	230/18 7°	220/19 -8°	240/26 -20°	250/44 -35°	270/52 -39°	260/57 -47°
FSD	used from 1148 nm out; 63 nm from the line	190/9	230/30 18°	240/23 13°	240/20 6°	260/22 -9°	250/31 -21°	250/43 -36°	260/49 -43°	270/53 -47°
MCW	used from 1198 nm out; 85 nm from the line	220/44	250/30 17°	230/14 12°	240/17 6°	250/22 -8°	270/29 -20°	250/34 -34°	260/52 -43°	260/59 -51°
DBQ	used from 1347 nm out; 49 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
JOT	used from 1497 nm out; 67 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
MKG	used from 1547 nm out; 56 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
FWA	used from 1697 nm out; 104 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CLE	used from 1747 nm out; 67 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -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	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)
TRK Truckee, CA	80 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,904 ft	06:35 UTC
ENV Wendover, UT	369 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-northeast (070°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	2,900 ft	4,236 ft	06:13 UTC
SLC Salt Lake City, UT	459 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 feet, a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	17,000 ft	4,230 ft	05:54 UTC
RWL Rawlins, WY	689 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	6,816 ft	13:53 UTC
GUR Guernsey, WY	798 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	4,401 ft	05:55 UTC
ONL O'Neill, NE	1068 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	from the northeast (040°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,033 ft	06:35 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	1168 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	06:52 UTC
JVL Janesville, WI	1487 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	807 ft	06:35 UTC
ENW Kenosha, WI	1537 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	06:53 UTC
DET Detroit, MI	1757 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	624 ft	05:53 UTC
ERI Erie, PA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	732 ft	8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,816 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ERI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:01 pm EDT (18:01 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ERI

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 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 13 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 ERI 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 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 northern Rockies · 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, Erie Intl/Tom Ridge Field.