Plan a flight · Sun 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC)

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 (39,000 ft, a 31-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:41 am CDT (10:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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

AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 270 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 260 to 510 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 260 to 520 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 270 to 710 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 280 to 840 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 410 to 500 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 580 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 690 to 840 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

E75L at 18,000 ft, 30 nm south, 4:24 pm PDT (23:24 UTC): moderate turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,000 ft, remarks: mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed entered by zoa fdcs. 160 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOL UA /OV BIH300011/TM 2324/FL 180/TP E75L/TB MOD 180-220/RM MTN WAVE /-10 ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOL
Where
11 nm northwest (300°) of BIH
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate from 18,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed entered by zoa fdcs
UAL493 at 24,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 400 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL493 3648N 11330W 2254 F240 TB MODERATE SK IN CLOUDS IC LIGHT
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B38M at 37,000 ft, 33 nm southwest, 3:25 pm PDT (22:25 UTC): -41 °C, wind 215° at 61 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 240 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TPH UA /OV BTY308020 /TM 2225 /FL370 /TP B38M /TA M41 /WV 21561KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through TPH
Where
20 nm northwest (308°) of BTY
Time
22:25 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
−41 °C
Wind
from 215° at 61 knots
Remarks
produced by skypath
B737 at 24,000 ft, 16 nm south, 4:29 pm PDT (23:29 UTC): light rime icing, -21 °C, remarks: during the descent during the descent choww arv zlawc. 380 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDC UA /OV MMM120015/TM 2329/FL240/TP B737/TA M21/IC LGT RIME/RM DURD DURD CHOWW ARV /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDC
Where
15 nm southeast (120°) of MMM
Time
23:29 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Temperature
−21 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the descent during the descent choww arv zlawc
B38M at 27,000 ft, 6 nm south, 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC): light rime icing, -27 °C, remarks: during the descent. 390 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDC UA /OV MMM085025/TM 0003/FL270/TP B38M/TA M27/IC LGT RIME/RM DURD AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDC
Where
25 nm east (085°) of MMM
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
−27 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the descent
B38M at 23,000 ft, 39 nm southwest, 4:04 pm PDT (23:04 UTC): light rime icing from 23,000 ft to 25,000 ft, -25 °C, remarks: zlawc. 400 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV BLD064047/TM 2304/FL230/TP B38M/TA M25/IC LGT RIME 230-250/RM ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
47 nm northeast (064°) of BLD
Time
23:04 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
−25 °C
Icing
light rime from 23,000 ft to 25,000 ft
Remarks
zlawc
GLF4 at 25,000 ft, 36 nm north, 5:30 pm PDT (00:30 UTC): overcast up to 24,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions FL250 zlawc. 430 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUC UA /OV BCE200040/TM 0030/FL250/TP GLF4/SK OVC-TOP240/RM VMC FL250 /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUC
Where
40 nm south (200°) of BCE
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Sky
overcast, tops 24,000 ft
Remarks
visual conditions FL250 zlawc
G280 at 45,000 ft, 9 nm southwest, 4:44 pm PDT (23:44 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 570 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
INW UA /OV INW015040/TM 2344/FL450/TP G280/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through INW
Where
40 nm north (015°) of INW
Time
23:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
G280
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
zab fdcs
B737 at 14,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:15 pm PDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 730 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABQ
Where
7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light above 14,000 ft
HDJT at 18,000 ft, 28 nm north, 3:38 pm PDT (22:38 UTC): light rime icing from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb out of abq zab/fd. 730 nm along the route, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABQ UA /OV ABQ285015/TM 2238/FL180/TP HDJT/TA M09/IC LGT RIME 160-175/RM DURC OUT OF ABQ - ZAB/FD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABQ
Where
15 nm west (285°) of ABQ
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
HDJT
Temperature
−9 °C
Icing
light rime from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft
Remarks
during the climb out of abq zab/fd
B39M at 27,000 ft, 15 nm north, 5:42 pm PDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
IH340035
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
lt chop during the climb
Remarks
zhu

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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	180° at 17 kt	+7 kt	16 °C	113 kt	12 h 28 min	8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC)
7,500 ft	200° at 19 kt	+2 kt	12 °C	118 kt	11 h 56 min	8:17 am CDT (13:17 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 20 kt	−2 kt	9 °C	122 kt	11 h 33 min	7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	−6 kt	4 °C	126 kt	11 h 11 min	7:32 am CDT (12:32 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	−8 kt	0 °C	128 kt	11 h	7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	−10 kt	-4 °C	130 kt	10 h 50 min	7:11 am CDT (12:11 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	−11 kt	-8 °C	131 kt	10 h 45 min	7:06 am CDT (12:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 32 kt	−12 kt	-9 °C	132 kt	10 h 40 min	7:01 am CDT (12:01 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 36 kt	−18 kt	-19 °C	138 kt	10 h 13 min	6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 49 kt	−27 kt	-28 °C	147 kt	9 h 35 min	5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 49 kt	−30 kt	-36 °C	150 kt	9 h 24 min	5:45 am CDT (10:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 44 kt	−31 kt	-47 °C	151 kt	9 h 20 min	5:41 am CDT (10:41 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	270/5	L/V 5°	L/V -1°	240/11 -5°	250/22 -15°	270/25 -24°	260/31 -27°	240/39 -33°	240/39 -42°
BIH	used from 100 nm out; 56 nm from the line		L/V	210/14 6°	210/20 -2°	230/26 -14°	220/32 -24°	220/63 -27°	220/56 -35°	230/50 -44°
LAS	used from 250 nm out; 89 nm from the line		200/25 11°	230/22 5°	240/25 -1°	220/37 -12°	220/44 -21°	210/52 -27°	210/60 -34°	220/58 -44°
BCE	used from 400 nm out; 80 nm from the line				210/47 0°	200/50 -12°	220/31 -23°	220/56 -26°	220/58 -35°	230/58 -45°
PRC	used from 500 nm out; 103 nm from the line			200/36 6°	210/46 0°	220/60 -10°	220/75 -19°	220/66 -26°	230/70 -33°	230/59 -45°
FMN	used from 550 nm out; 113 nm from the line			220/25 13°	220/28 4°	210/51 -9°	220/59 -21°	230/78 -30°	230/77 -36°	230/66 -46°
ABQ	used from 650 nm out; 82 nm from the line			200/28 13°	210/28 5°	210/44 -7°	230/46 -20°	230/80 -28°	240/74 -35°	240/58 -47°
ROW	used from 800 nm out; 67 nm from the line		180/23	190/24 15°	210/27 7°	230/35 -6°	240/53 -17°	240/62 -27°	250/64 -38°	260/60 -50°
LBB	used from 949 nm out; 62 nm from the line		180/26 20°	210/21 13°	230/21 7°	250/25 -5°	250/34 -16°	250/52 -28°	260/47 -38°	260/49 -50°
ABI	used from 1049 nm out; 68 nm from the line		180/26 17°	220/18 12°	230/25 8°	230/28 -5°	240/29 -14°	250/35 -28°	270/37 -39°	280/37 -51°
SAT	used from 1199 nm out; 96 nm from the line	130/22	140/24 18°	170/19 13°	190/13 7°	240/15 -4°	220/14 -13°	270/11 -28°	280/10 -40°	310/18 -51°
CLL	used from 1249 nm out; 62 nm from the line	160/18	190/18 16°	200/19 12°	220/14 7°	260/18 -5°	250/20 -13°	290/29 -29°	290/31 -40°	300/22 -53°
HOU	used from 1349 nm out; 35 nm from the line	160/18	160/14 17°	180/19 12°	190/11 8°	260/12 -4°	260/14 -13°	310/26 -30°	310/30 -40°	320/21 -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	Elevation
SMF Sacramento, CA	departure	no report just now	26 ft
MHR Sacramento, CA	20 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	no report just now	98 ft
TPH Tonopah, NV	210 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line	no report just now	5,430 ft
SGU St George, UT	400 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	no report just now	2,883 ft
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ	480 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	no report just now	6,608 ft
GNT Grants, NM	690 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	no report just now	6,536 ft
BRG Belen, NM	750 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	no report just now	5,199 ft
ROW Roswell, NM	889 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower	no report just now	3,671 ft
LUV Lamesa, TX	1019 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now	2,998 ft
GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX	1249 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	no report just now	1,015 ft
GTU Georgetown, TX	1269 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	no report just now	789 ft
HOU Houston, TX	destination	no report just now	46 ft

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, 5:41 am CDT (10:41 UTC)

HOU has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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
6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · 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)). At 120 knots the arrival at HOU is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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 southern Plains · 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, William P Hobby Airport.