Sacramento International to Minot International SMF → MOT
1,050 nautical miles (1,208 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 050°, about 037° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; MOT is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 10 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: 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
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 370 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 280 to 820 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 330 to 720 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 last 590 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 830 to 960 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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BAM, BOI, PIH, DLN, BIL, MLS, DIK, MOT). 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 | 110° at 6 kt | +4 kt | 4 °C | 116 kt | 9 h 03 min | 12:20 pm CDT (17:20 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 180° at 5 kt | −2 kt | 1 °C | 122 kt | 8 h 36 min | 11:53 am CDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 12 kt | −11 kt | -1 °C | 131 kt | 8 h 01 min | 11:18 am CDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -3 °C | 142 kt | 7 h 24 min | 10:41 am CDT (15:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −28 kt | -6 °C | 148 kt | 7 h 06 min | 10:23 am CDT (15:23 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -10 °C | 153 kt | 6 h 52 min | 10:09 am CDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −37 kt | -13 °C | 157 kt | 6 h 41 min | 9:58 am CDT (14:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | −38 kt | -14 °C | 158 kt | 6 h 39 min | 9:56 am CDT (14:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 46 kt | −42 kt | -24 °C | 162 kt | 6 h 29 min | 9:46 am CDT (14:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 51 kt | −49 kt | -33 °C | 169 kt | 6 h 13 min | 9:30 am CDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 59 kt | −58 kt | -37 °C | 178 kt | 5 h 54 min | 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | −58 kt | -44 °C | 178 kt | 5 h 54 min | 9:11 am CDT (14:11 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; 31 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; 27 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 200 nm out; 48 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° | ||
| BOI | used from 300 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 300/7 2° | 280/5 -4° | 210/16 -9° | 210/60 -20° | 210/75 -29° | 210/63 -32° | 220/64 -32° | 220/54 -39° | |
| PIH | used from 400 nm out; 68 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 550 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 090/6 -6° | 240/22 -4° | 210/34 -16° | 210/62 -25° | 210/66 -34° | 210/82 -36° | 220/77 -42° | ||
| BIL | used from 600 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 800 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| DIK | used from 900 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| MOT | used from 1000 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/14 5° | 200/20 4° | 230/33 1° | 250/39 -11° | 250/50 -21° | 240/61 -37° | 250/56 -45° | 260/68 -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 Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 80 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| LOL Lovelock, NV | 160 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 3,907 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| WMC Winnemucca, NV | 220 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,307 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | 400 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots | 9 mi | 3,900 ft | 4,153 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | 520 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | from the north (360°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 4,743 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 590 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 6,649 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 720 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 3,662 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MLS Miles City, MT | 830 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 2,634 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GDV Glendive, MT | 890 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: rain | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 2,458 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| MOT Minot, ND | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: rain | from the north (350°) at 10 knots | 7 mi | 800 ft | 1,715 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,649 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MOT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC)
Wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for MOT
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 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 6 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 MOT 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm CDT (00:31 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, Minot International.