Sacramento International to William P Hobby Airport SMF → HOU
1,409 nautical miles (1,622 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 105°, about 092° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 31-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 6 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: 725 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 W15W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am PDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 180 to 220 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120555 MKCW WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15W VALID UNTIL 0755Z UT NV FROM 60WNW BVL-10NE BVL-80E OAL-40SE OAL-20W OAL-60WNW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 70 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 240 to 830 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 300 to 450 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 320 to 570 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 440 to 490 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 460 to 720 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, 10 nm northeast, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 180 nm along the route, 10 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
- A319 at 18,000 ft, 33 nm south, 8:45 pm PDT (03:45 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -16 °C, remarks: zlawc. 360 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAS UA /OV BLD017030/TM 0345/FL180/TP A319/TA M16/IC LGT RIME 200-180/RM ZLAWC AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAS
- Where
- 30 nm north (017°) of BLD
- Time
- 03:45 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Temperature
- −16 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 20,000 ft to 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- zlawc
- B38M at 14,000 ft, 40 nm south, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): light rime icing, 6 °C. 370 nm along the route, 40 nm south 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
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 13 forecast points nearest it (SAC, BIH, LAS, BCE, PRC, FMN, ABQ, ROW, LBB, ABI, SAT, CLL, HOU). 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 | 190° at 20 kt | +5 kt | 15 °C | 115 kt | 12 h 15 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 19 kt | 0 | 11 °C | 120 kt | 11 h 44 min | 1:27 pm CDT (18:27 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | −3 kt | 8 °C | 123 kt | 11 h 27 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 11 h 16 min | 12:59 pm CDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −7 kt | 0 °C | 127 kt | 11 h 06 min | 12:49 pm CDT (17:49 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | −8 kt | -4 °C | 128 kt | 11 h | 12:43 pm CDT (17:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −10 kt | -8 °C | 130 kt | 10 h 50 min | 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 29 kt | −10 kt | -9 °C | 130 kt | 10 h 50 min | 12:33 pm CDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 38 kt | −17 kt | -19 °C | 137 kt | 10 h 17 min | 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 48 kt | −27 kt | -28 °C | 147 kt | 9 h 35 min | 11:18 am CDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 49 kt | −31 kt | -36 °C | 151 kt | 9 h 20 min | 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 40 kt | −28 kt | -47 °C | 148 kt | 9 h 31 min | 11:14 am CDT (16:14 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; 20 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 100 nm out; 56 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 250 nm out; 89 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° | |
| BCE | used from 400 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 500 nm out; 103 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 550 nm out; 113 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 650 nm out; 82 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° | ||
| ROW | used from 800 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| LBB | used from 949 nm out; 62 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° | |
| ABI | used from 1049 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/31 17° | 210/21 15° | 240/15 9° | 250/14 -4° | 250/24 -14° | 250/36 -28° | 270/35 -38° | 290/41 -50° | |
| SAT | used from 1199 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 150/26 | 180/18 19° | 180/18 14° | 200/14 9° | 230/16 -6° | 210/9 -13° | 270/8 -29° | 280/6 -39° | 340/19 -51° |
| CLL | used from 1249 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
| HOU | used from 1349 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -52° |
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) |
| MHR Sacramento, CA | 20 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 98 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 210 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,900 feet | from the north (010°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 5,430 ft | 06:28 UTC |
| SGU St George, UT | 400 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,500 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 2,883 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| GCN Grand Canyon, AZ | 480 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 6,608 ft | 06:05 UTC |
| GNT Grants, NM | 690 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,536 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| BRG Belen, NM | 750 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,199 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 889 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,671 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| LUV Lamesa, TX | 1019 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,998 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | 1249 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 1,015 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| GTU Georgetown, TX | 1269 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 19,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 19,000 ft | 789 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| HOU Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 46 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
The whole forecast for HOU
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 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
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 810 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 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, William P Hobby Airport.
