Sacramento International to San Diego International SMF → SAN
417 nautical miles (480 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 148°, about 135° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 10:33 pm PDT (05:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 11,043 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 30 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 288 to 318 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
- SR22 at 10,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 5-10 knots zlawc. 238 nm along the route, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAT UA /OV FLW115010/TM 2326/FL100/TP SR22/RM MTN WAVE /- 5-10 KTS /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAT
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (115°) of FLW
- Time
- 23:26 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Remarks
- mountain wave 5-10 knots zlawc
- C172 at 5,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 4:15 pm PDT (23:15 UTC): remarks: tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25. 288 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2315/FL050/TP C172/RM TOPS 050 ON DEP RWY25
- Report
- a routine report filed through OXR
- Where
- over KOXR
- Time
- 23:15 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25
- B739 at 33,000 ft, 19 nm northeast, 4:01 pm PDT (23:01 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 10 knots zlawc. 298 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDB UA /OV PMD/TM 2301/FL330/TP B739/RM MTN WAVE /- 10 KT /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDB
- Where
- over PMD
- Time
- 23:01 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Remarks
- mountain wave 10 knots zlawc
- B739 at 4,000 ft, 8 nm southwest, 5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. 308 nm along the route, 8 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUR UA /OV BUR/TM 0032/FL040/TP B739/SK OVC040
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUR
- Where
- over BUR
- Time
- 00:32 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft
- B739 at 33,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 10 knots zlawc. 308 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRA UA /OV VCV242015/TM 2302/FL330/TP B739/RM MTN WAVE /- 10 KT /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRA
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (242°) of VCV
- Time
- 23:02 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Remarks
- mountain wave 10 knots zlawc
- SLG4 at 3,000 ft, 9 nm northeast, 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC): scattered clouds above 4,000 ft. 328 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
EMT UA /OV EMT070006/TM 0133/FL030/TP SLG4/SK SCT040
- Report
- a routine report filed through EMT
- Where
- 6 nm east (070°) of EMT
- Time
- 01:33 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SLG4
- Sky
- scattered clouds from 4,000 ft
- A21B at 4,000 ft, 18 nm west, 5:11 pm PDT (00:11 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L. 328 nm along the route, 18 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV LAX/TM 0011/FL040/TP A21B/SK BKN-BASE040/RM DURD RY25L
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over LAX
- Time
- 00:11 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21B
- Sky
- BKN-BASE040
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 25L
- B739 at 3,400 ft, 11 nm southwest, 4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC): overcast above 5,400 ft, remarks: bases 3,500 ft. 328 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
KLAX UA /OV 10 E LAX/TM 2355/FL034/TP B739/SK OVC054/RM BASES 035
- Report
- a routine report filed through KLAX
- Where
- 10 east lax
- Time
- 23:55 UTC
- Height
- at 3,400 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- overcast from 5,400 ft
- Remarks
- bases 3,500 ft
- B737 at 6,400 ft, 9 nm southwest, 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC): a broken layer from 3,300 ft to 6,400 ft. 338 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGB UA /OV LGB/TM 0130/FL064/TP B737/SK BKN033-TOP064
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGB
- Where
- over LGB
- Time
- 01:30 UTC
- Height
- at 6,400 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops 6,400 ft
- A21N at 2,000 ft, 9 nm northeast, 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 UTC): remarks: ils 25L haze below the ceiling. 338 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV LAX070030/TM 0106/FL020/TP A21N/SK TOPS068 BASES040/RM ILS 25L - HZ BELOW THE CEILING
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- 30 nm east (070°) of LAX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- TOPS068 BASES040
- Remarks
- ils 25L haze below the ceiling
- E75S at 5,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 338 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGB UA /OV LGB180003/TM 0000/FL050/TP E75S/SK OVC43-TOP050
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGB
- Where
- 3 nm south (180°) of LGB
- Time
- 00:00 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Sky
- OVC43-TOP050
- A20N at 5,300 ft, 4 nm south, 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): a broken layer from 4,300 ft to 5,300 ft. 348 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SNA UA /OV SNA/TM 0100/FL053/TP A20N/SK BKN043-TOP053
- Report
- a routine report filed through SNA
- Where
- over SNA
- Time
- 01:00 UTC
- Height
- at 5,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A20N
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,300 ft, tops 5,300 ft
- C172 climbing, 12 nm northeast, 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 6,200 ft. At the destination end, 12 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SEE UA /OV 090003/TM 0120/FLDURC/TP C172/SK OVC030-TOP062
- Report
- a routine report filed through SEE
- Where
- wind from 090° at 3 knots
- Time
- 01:20 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- C172
- Sky
- overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 6,200 ft
- E75L at 2,800 ft, 0 nm northwest, 6:05 pm PDT (01:05 UTC): a broken layer from 2,800 ft to 5,500 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0105/FL28/TP E75L/SK BKN028/TOP055
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 01:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,800 ft; TOP055
5 more routine reports are on the map.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (SAC, FAT, WJF, ONT, SAN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 220° at 7 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 3 h 34 min | 10:33 pm PDT (05:33 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 13 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 39 min | 10:38 pm PDT (05:38 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 38 min | 10:37 pm PDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 36 min | 10:35 pm PDT (05:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +5 kt | -2 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 38 min | 10:37 pm PDT (05:37 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +6 kt | -6 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 39 min | 10:38 pm PDT (05:38 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +6 kt | -9 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 39 min | 10:38 pm PDT (05:38 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +7 kt | -12 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 41 min | 10:40 pm PDT (05:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | +7 kt | -13 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 41 min | 10:40 pm PDT (05:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 39 kt | +7 kt | -22 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 41 min | 10:40 pm PDT (05:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 45 kt | +10 kt | -28 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 47 min | 10:46 pm PDT (05:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 45 kt | +14 kt | -34 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 56 min | 10:55 pm PDT (05:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 46 kt | +12 kt | -44 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:51 pm PDT (05:51 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 13 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| FAT | used from 99 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 180/7 | 170/9 7° | 200/20 3° | 210/27 -3° | 240/27 -14° | 230/38 -24° | 220/57 -27° | 230/42 -33° | 230/41 -44° |
| WJF | used from 199 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 220/30 8° | 240/28 5° | 230/34 -2° | 220/34 -13° | 220/48 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 210/48 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |
| ONT | used from 298 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 230/11 | 200/17 6° | 230/27 4° | 230/32 -2° | 210/39 -12° | 220/51 -20° | 220/48 -29° | 210/51 -34° | 210/52 -44° |
| SAN | used from 397 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 200/10 | 240/19 9° | 240/27 5° | 230/22 -1° | 220/40 -10° | 220/49 -19° | 220/54 -29° | 220/61 -35° | 220/56 -44° |
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 | ||||
| RIU Rancho Murieta, CA | 20 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | no report just now | 144 ft | ||||
| MOD Modesto, CA | 70 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 99 ft | ||||
| MER Atwater, CA | 89 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 190 ft | ||||
| FAT Fresno, CA | 149 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 335 ft | ||||
| HJO Hanford, CA | 169 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | no report just now | 239 ft | ||||
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 228 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 509 ft | ||||
| WJF Lancaster, CA | 288 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,350 ft | ||||
| EMT El Monte, CA | 328 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 295 ft | ||||
| FUL Fullerton, CA | 338 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 96 ft | ||||
| CRQ Carlsbad, CA | 397 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 330 ft | ||||
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | no report just now | 16 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,350 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:33 pm PDT (05:33 UTC)
SAN 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
- 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 1 nm from the route, 348 nm along the route · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is after sunset there (6:20 pm PDT (01:20 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, San Diego International.