Plan a flight · Mon 2:03 am PDT (09:03 UTC)

Sacramento International to Indianapolis International SMF → IND

1,633 nautical miles (1,879 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 077°, about 064° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots; IND is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 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: 18 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 W17W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am PDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 309 to 378 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120755
MKCW WST 120755
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17W
VALID UNTIL 0955Z
AZ UT NV
FROM 20WNW BVL-30N BCE-60SSW BCE-50NNE LAS-60NNW ELY-20WNW BVL
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL300.

AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 139 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 179 to 707 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 727 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 289 to 617 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 458 to 816 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 567 to 776 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 627 to 786 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 926 to 1404 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, fog). Over the last 30 nm of the route.

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

A35K at 32,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
```
Report
a routine report filed through OAK
Where
24 nm north (348°) of OAK
Time
08:39 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A35K
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
fdcs zoa
B737 at 18,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 12:24 am PDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 767 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
Time
07:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
FL180-130
B737 descending, 44 nm south, 1:10 am PDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 786 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
B737 descending, 44 nm south, 12:10 am PDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 786 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B738 descending, 44 nm south, 11:15 pm PDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 786 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 16 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, GJT, DEN, BFF, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND). 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	250° at 21 kt	−19 kt	23 °C	139 kt	11 h 45 min	4:48 pm EDT (20:48 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−18 kt	11 °C	138 kt	11 h 50 min	4:53 pm EDT (20:53 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−18 kt	6 °C	138 kt	11 h 50 min	4:53 pm EDT (20:53 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−20 kt	2 °C	140 kt	11 h 40 min	4:43 pm EDT (20:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	−22 kt	-2 °C	142 kt	11 h 30 min	4:33 pm EDT (20:33 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−23 kt	-6 °C	143 kt	11 h 25 min	4:28 pm EDT (20:28 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 28 kt	−25 kt	-11 °C	145 kt	11 h 16 min	4:19 pm EDT (20:19 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 29 kt	−25 kt	-11 °C	145 kt	11 h 16 min	4:19 pm EDT (20:19 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 36 kt	−32 kt	-22 °C	152 kt	10 h 45 min	3:48 pm EDT (19:48 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 48 kt	−44 kt	-32 °C	164 kt	9 h 57 min	3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 53 kt	−52 kt	-37 °C	172 kt	9 h 30 min	2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 51 kt	−51 kt	-46 °C	171 kt	9 h 33 min	2:36 pm EDT (18:36 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 26 nm from the line	L/V	L/V 4°	340/9 -4°	340/22 -8°	360/71 -12°	360/82 -23°	350/58 -37°	310/30 -40°	270/25 -44°
RNO	used from 50 nm out; 34 nm from the line		010/6	270/12 -3°	220/26 -10°	280/13 -19°	350/44 -24°	320/30 -32°	260/22 -36°	240/24 -42°
BAM	used from 199 nm out; 68 nm from the line			280/9 -2°	260/18 -8°	190/47 -19°	200/50 -29°	210/56 -29°	220/54 -34°	220/45 -42°
ELY	used from 249 nm out; 50 nm from the line			210/34 1°	220/40 -4°	220/39 -17°	210/51 -24°	220/65 -30°	220/60 -37°	220/56 -44°
SLC	used from 398 nm out; 56 nm from the line		200/16	210/23 4°	220/34 -3°	210/40 -16°	220/66 -23°	220/64 -31°	220/57 -36°	220/50 -43°
RKS	used from 548 nm out; 80 nm from the line			250/9	230/21 -1°	210/43 -14°	220/59 -23°	220/55 -32°	220/53 -35°	220/48 -44°
GJT	used from 597 nm out; 75 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°
DEN	used from 697 nm out; 77 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
BFF	used from 846 nm out; 84 nm from the line		280/28	260/39 11°	240/34 5°	210/38 -11°	210/52 -22°	230/61 -31°	230/61 -36°	240/56 -45°
GLD	used from 896 nm out; 74 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
GRI	used from 995 nm out; 62 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
OMA	used from 1145 nm out; 50 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
DSM	used from 1244 nm out; 70 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
BRL	used from 1344 nm out; 49 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
SPI	used from 1443 nm out; 17 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
IND	used from 1543 nm out; 65 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -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-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC)
TRK Truckee, CA	70 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,904 ft	08:35 UTC
TMT Austin, NV	209 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	5,735 ft	08:55 UTC
PVU Provo, UT	468 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet	from the east (090°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	4,496 ft	08:56 UTC
VEL Vernal, UT	567 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet Weather: light rain	from the west (260°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	4,000 ft	5,274 ft	08:53 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	776 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,020 ft	08:56 UTC
HEQ Holyoke, CO	896 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	9 mi	none	3,729 ft	08:55 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	1075 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	08:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	1145 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	08:54 UTC
EOK Keokuk, IA	1394 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	reported, no category	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	671 ft	08:55 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	1543 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	754 ft	08:53 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	3 mi	none	796 ft	4:54 am EDT (08:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,904 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At IND when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for IND

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, shallow fog, overcast at 200 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, shallow fog, a few clouds at 200 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 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 14 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC), at IND 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:37 pm EDT (23:37 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, Indianapolis International.