Plan a flight · Sun 7:40 pm PDT (02:40 UTC)

Sacramento International to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport SMF → MSP

1,316 nautical miles (1,514 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 064°, about 051° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 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: 1,192 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 W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 249 to 369 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
NV
FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```

SIGMET 8W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 688 to 827 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO MT WY
FROM 40N SHR-60WNW RAP-20ENE CYS-30SW CYS-10NW BOY-40N SHR
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.

AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 40 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 698 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 169 to 917 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 249 to 698 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 478 to 807 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 538 to 767 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 618 to 1027 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 618 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1186 nm along 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

urgent CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 6:04 pm PDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear dept runway 03 gain/loss unknown. 738 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UUA /OV CPR035002/TM 0104/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB CONT MOD TURB/RM LLWS DEPT RY03 GAIN/LOSS UNKN
```
Report
an urgent report filed through CPR
Where
2 nm northeast (035°) of CPR
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
continuous moderate turbulence
Remarks
low-level wind shear dept runway 03 gain/loss unknown
B38M descending, 4 nm east, 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent runway 35L rno. 90 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV KRNO167009/TM 0128/FLUNKN/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM DURD RY35L RNO
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
9 nm south (167°) of KRNO
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
during the descent runway 35L rno
CRJ2 at 9,000 ft, 13 nm south, 5:35 pm PDT (00:35 UTC): light chop turbulence, vmc, remarks: occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft. 718 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UA /OV CPR215015/TM 0035/FL090/TP CRJ2/WX VMC/TB LGT CHOP/RM OCNL MOD TURB AT 150
```
Report
a routine report filed through CPR
Where
15 nm southwest (215°) of CPR
Time
00:35 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Weather
visual conditions
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft
BE20 at 15,000 ft, 46 nm north, 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC): -5 °C, remarks: clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31. 837 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CUT UA /OV ECS340020/TM 0156/FL150/TP BE20/TA M05/IC T RIME 150-180/RM CLR OUT AT 220 ZDVWC-31
```
Report
a routine report filed through CUT
Where
20 nm north (340°) of ECS
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
T rime from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
Remarks
clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31
B763 at 32,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 6:29 pm PDT (01:29 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 967 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RAP UA /OV RAP084081/TM 0129/FL320/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RAP
Where
81 nm east (084°) of RAP
Time
01:29 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 18 nm south, 5:20 pm PDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 1156 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft

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 12 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BAM, SLC, RKS, LND, BFF, RAP, PIR, FSD, AXN, MSP). 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 13 kt	−7 kt	15 °C	127 kt	10 h 22 min	8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC)
7,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	−10 kt	9 °C	130 kt	10 h 07 min	7:47 am CDT (12:47 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	−14 kt	6 °C	134 kt	9 h 49 min	7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	−19 kt	1 °C	139 kt	9 h 28 min	7:08 am CDT (12:08 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	−22 kt	-3 °C	142 kt	9 h 16 min	6:56 am CDT (11:56 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	−24 kt	-7 °C	144 kt	9 h 08 min	6:48 am CDT (11:48 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	−26 kt	-11 °C	146 kt	9 h 01 min	6:41 am CDT (11:41 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 30 kt	−26 kt	-12 °C	146 kt	9 h 01 min	6:41 am CDT (11:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 34 kt	−29 kt	-23 °C	149 kt	8 h 50 min	6:30 am CDT (11:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 45 kt	−41 kt	-32 °C	161 kt	8 h 10 min	5:50 am CDT (10:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 52 kt	−50 kt	-37 °C	170 kt	7 h 44 min	5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 52 kt	−52 kt	-45 °C	172 kt	7 h 39 min	5:19 am CDT (10:19 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; 28 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; 24 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 149 nm out; 73 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°
SLC	used from 349 nm out; 100 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 548 nm out; 55 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 598 nm out; 20 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 747 nm out; 119 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°
RAP	used from 797 nm out; 73 nm from the line		180/23 12°	200/38 13°	210/38 6°	220/28 -10°	230/34 -21°	230/37 -36°	250/52 -38°	250/59 -46°
PIR	used from 947 nm out; 45 nm from the line		170/22 19°	190/25 13°	210/32 6°	240/23 -9°	250/32 -21°	250/38 -36°	260/44 -40°	260/52 -47°
FSD	used from 1096 nm out; 66 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°
AXN	used from 1196 nm out; 71 nm from the line	100/14	250/21 14°	240/24 12°	240/31 5°	260/36 -10°	260/40 -21°	250/42 -36°	260/48 -45°	260/53 -50°
MSP	used from 1246 nm out; 45 nm from the line	230/26	240/30 17°	240/24 12°	250/22 5°	250/35 -10°	260/36 -21°	250/41 -36°	250/49 -45°	260/58 -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 Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	6:53 pm PDT (01:53 UTC)
TRK Truckee, CA	80 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	5,904 ft	02:15 UTC
FLX Fallon, NV	140 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				3,966 ft
EKO Elko, NV	299 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,600 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	10,000 ft	5,139 ft	01:56 UTC
LGU Logan, UT	478 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	4,456 ft	01:51 UTC
EMM Kemmerer, WY	538 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet	from the west (280°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	5,500 ft	7,288 ft	02:35 UTC
CPR Casper, WY	728 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	5,344 ft	01:53 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	897 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the east (090°) at 7 knots	2.5 mi	300 ft	3,203 ft	01:52 UTC
PHP Philip, SD	957 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist	from the east-northeast (070°) at 7 knots	6 mi	1,400 ft	2,209 ft	02:34 UTC
HON Huron, SD	1096 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the north (360°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	1,288 ft	01:55 UTC
GYL Glencoe, MN	1276 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	992 ft	02:35 UTC
MSP Minneapolis, MN	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	841 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,288 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC)

Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSP

From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet

The forecast for SMF, the departure

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.