Sacramento International to Lake Charles Regional SMF → LCH
1,489 nautical miles (1,714 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 102°, about 089° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 32-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC). 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: 1 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 W22W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 5:55 am PDT (12:55 UTC). Over the route from 320 to 400 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121055 MKCW WST 121055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22W VALID UNTIL 1255Z AZ UT NV FROM 40W DTA-40WNW HVE-20SSE BCE-50NE LAS-70ENE BTY-40W DTA AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 100 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 230 to 520 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 280 to 400 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 320 to 540 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). Near the route, 430 nm along the route.
- 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 440 to 809 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 650 nm along the route.
- 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 1059 to 1109 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
Not fetched just now.
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 13 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BIH, LAS, BCE, FMN, ABQ, TCC, LBB, ABI, DAL, CLL, LCH). 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 | 200° at 17 kt | +1 kt | 16 °C | 119 kt | 12 h 31 min | 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 15 kt | −2 kt | 12 °C | 122 kt | 12 h 12 min | 6:39 pm CDT (23:39 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | −4 kt | 8 °C | 124 kt | 12 h | 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 19 kt | −5 kt | 3 °C | 125 kt | 11 h 55 min | 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | −7 kt | -1 °C | 127 kt | 11 h 43 min | 6:10 pm CDT (23:10 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −10 kt | -5 °C | 130 kt | 11 h 27 min | 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 31 kt | −13 kt | -9 °C | 133 kt | 11 h 12 min | 5:39 pm CDT (22:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 32 kt | −13 kt | -10 °C | 133 kt | 11 h 12 min | 5:39 pm CDT (22:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 40 kt | −25 kt | -19 °C | 145 kt | 10 h 16 min | 4:43 pm CDT (21:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 50 kt | −31 kt | -29 °C | 151 kt | 9 h 52 min | 4:19 pm CDT (21:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 49 kt | −32 kt | -37 °C | 152 kt | 9 h 48 min | 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 44 kt | −32 kt | -47 °C | 152 kt | 9 h 48 min | 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 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; 21 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; 65 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° | |
| BIH | used from 100 nm out; 61 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 0° | 140/7 -7° | 210/31 -16° | 230/34 -26° | 220/43 -30° | 220/52 -36° | 220/46 -43° | |
| LAS | used from 250 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| BCE | used from 350 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 550 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| ABQ | used from 700 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| TCC | used from 849 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| LBB | used from 949 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 220/25 21° | 230/20 15° | 220/20 7° | 230/36 -6° | 240/50 -15° | 240/59 -28° | 260/52 -37° | 260/45 -50° | |
| ABI | used from 1049 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 200/30 19° | 220/12 16° | 220/11 9° | 230/15 -5° | 250/26 -15° | 250/39 -28° | 270/36 -38° | 280/30 -51° | |
| DAL | used from 1199 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 190/30 | 200/28 18° | 220/18 13° | 250/13 8° | 240/24 -6° | 270/20 -14° | 270/35 -29° | 290/34 -39° | 310/41 -51° |
| CLL | used from 1299 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 180/24 | 170/21 19° | 180/10 14° | 230/7 8° | 230/16 -6° | 260/20 -13° | 290/23 -29° | 320/21 -39° | 340/35 -51° |
| LCH | used from 1399 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 170/21 | 160/23 18° | 170/13 13° | 170/6 8° | 300/12 -7° | 280/16 -14° | 320/27 -30° | 330/23 -41° | 340/38 -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 | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| MHR Sacramento, CA | 20 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 98 ft | ||||
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 220 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,430 ft | ||||
| AZC Colorado City, AZ | 420 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,873 ft | ||||
| PGA Page, AZ | 490 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,316 ft | ||||
| AEG Albuquerque, NM | 740 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,837 ft | ||||
| ABQ Albuquerque, NM | 750 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,354 ft | ||||
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 999 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,282 ft | ||||
| ABI Abilene, TX | 1129 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,790 ft | ||||
| CNW Waco, TX | 1269 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 470 ft | ||||
| DKR Crockett, TX | 1359 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 348 ft | ||||
| LCH Lake Charles, LA | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LCH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC)
LCH 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
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC), at LCH 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 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, Lake Charles Regional.