Sacramento International to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field SMF → MSN
1,478 nautical miles (1,701 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 069°, about 056° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:33 am CDT (14:33 UTC). Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 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: 3 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 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 719 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 230 to 709 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 369 to 829 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 509 to 879 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 609 to 699 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 619 to 779 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 route from 869 to 1019 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 889 to 1468 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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, RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, LND, BFF, ONL, FSD, MCW, LSE, DBQ). 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 | 220° at 18 kt | −12 kt | 20 °C | 132 kt | 11 h 12 min | 12:09 pm CDT (17:09 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 18 kt | −14 kt | 10 °C | 134 kt | 11 h 02 min | 11:59 am CDT (16:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −15 kt | 6 °C | 135 kt | 10 h 57 min | 11:54 am CDT (16:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −18 kt | 2 °C | 138 kt | 10 h 43 min | 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -2 °C | 140 kt | 10 h 33 min | 11:30 am CDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −21 kt | -6 °C | 141 kt | 10 h 29 min | 11:26 am CDT (16:26 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 10 h 20 min | 11:17 am CDT (16:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 28 kt | −24 kt | -11 °C | 144 kt | 10 h 16 min | 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 33 kt | −27 kt | -23 °C | 147 kt | 10 h 03 min | 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | −38 kt | -31 °C | 158 kt | 9 h 21 min | 10:18 am CDT (15:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | −48 kt | -37 °C | 168 kt | 8 h 48 min | 9:45 am CDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 52 kt | −52 kt | -45 °C | 172 kt | 8 h 36 min | 9:33 am CDT (14:33 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; 27 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 150 nm out; 78 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° | ||
| ELY | used from 300 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| SLC | used from 350 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 549 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 699 nm out; 116 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| BFF | used from 749 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 949 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 1099 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MCW | used from 1248 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| LSE | used from 1348 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| DBQ | used from 1398 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -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 | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 80 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| TMT Austin, NV | 210 nm out, 24 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,735 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ENV Wendover, UT | 369 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 4,236 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| OGD Ogden, UT | 469 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 4,472 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 599 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the west (260°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 6,764 ft | 05:39 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 799 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 1009 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 2,588 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| SXK Maurice, IA | 1178 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| AXA Algona, IA | 1258 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,216 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| OVS Boscobel, WI | 1418 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 672 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,764 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:33 am CDT (14:33 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSN
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 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 12 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 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, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.