Sacramento International to John Wayne/Orange County SMF → SNA
351 nautical miles (404 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 148°, about 135° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 knots; SNA is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 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: 4,592 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 below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 293 to 322 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 49 nm of 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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 2:54 pm PDT (21:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 322 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV 20N ONT/TM 2154/FL140/TP B737/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 20N ont
- Time
- 21:54 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- C172 at 5,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 4:15 pm PDT (23:15 UTC): remarks: tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25. 293 nm along the route, 42 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, 21 nm east, 4:01 pm PDT (23:01 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 10 knots zlawc. 293 nm along the route, 21 nm east 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
- E50P at 3,200 ft, 42 nm southwest, 3:57 pm PDT (22:57 UTC): remarks: bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25. 293 nm along the route, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2257/FL032/TP E50P/RM BASES 036 ON ARR RWY25
- Report
- a routine report filed through OXR
- Where
- over KOXR
- Time
- 22:57 UTC
- Height
- at 3,200 ft
- Aircraft
- E50P
- Remarks
- bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25
- B38M at 36,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 2:43 pm PDT (21:43 UTC): clear from 36,000 ft to 60,000 ft, -40 °C, wind 205° at 55 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 293 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
EDW UA /OV EDW154007 /TM 2143 /FL360 /TP B38M /SK SKC /WX FV99SM /TA M40 /WV 20555KT /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through EDW
- Where
- 7 nm southeast (154°) of EDW
- Time
- 21:43 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- clear
- Weather
- flight visibility 99 miles
- Temperature
- −40 °C
- Wind
- from 205° at 55 knots
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
- B739 at 4,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. 312 nm along the route, 5 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, 34 nm northeast, 4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 10 knots zlawc. 312 nm along the route, 34 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
- B737 at 4,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 3:37 pm PDT (22:37 UTC): a broken layer from 4,000 ft to 5,000 ft. 322 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
KLAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 2237/FL040/TP B737/SK BKN040-TOP050
- Report
- a routine report filed through KLAX
- Where
- over KLAX
- Time
- 22:37 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
- A320 at 3,500 ft, 17 nm southwest, 3:13 pm PDT (22:13 UTC): a broken layer above 3,500 ft, remarks: during the descent RY25L. 322 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV LAX/TM 2213/FL035/TP A320/SK BKN-BASE035/RM DURD RY25L
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over LAX
- Time
- 22:13 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- BKN-BASE035
- Remarks
- during the descent RY25L
- E55P at 3,000 ft, 9 nm west, 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent RY21. 322 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
SMO UA /OV SMO030008/TM 2200/FL030/TP E55P/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY21
- Report
- a routine report filed through SMO
- Where
- 8 nm northeast (030°) of SMO
- Time
- 22:00 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E55P
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent RY21
- B739 at 3,400 ft, 10 nm southwest, 4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC): overcast above 5,400 ft, remarks: bases 3,500 ft. 332 nm along the route, 10 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
- C172 at 1,400 ft, 14 nm southwest, 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC): remarks: base 3,400 ft. 332 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOA UA /OV 4 E KTOA/TM 2253/FL014/TP C172/RM BASE 034
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOA
- Where
- 4 east KTOA
- Time
- 22:53 UTC
- Height
- at 1,400 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- base 3,400 ft
- B757 at 4,000 ft, 8 nm west, 3:38 pm PDT (22:38 UTC): remarks: reduced visibility below the ceiling ILS25L. 332 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV LAX070010/TM 2238/FL040/TP B757/SK TOPS050 BASES040/RM REDUCED VISIBILITY BELOW THE CEILING. ILS25L
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- 10 nm east (070°) of LAX
- Time
- 22:38 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B757
- Sky
- TOPS050 BASES040
- Remarks
- reduced visibility below the ceiling ILS25L
- E75S at 5,000 ft, 10 nm west, 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 10 nm west 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
2 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 4 forecast points nearest it (SAC, FAT, WJF, ONT). 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 | 210° at 6 kt | +2 kt | 118 kt | 2 h 58 min | 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 13 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:42 pm PDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:42 pm PDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 02 min | 8:39 pm PDT (03:39 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +6 kt | -2 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:42 pm PDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +6 kt | -6 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 05 min | 8:42 pm PDT (03:42 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +5 kt | -9 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 03 min | 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +5 kt | -13 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 03 min | 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | +5 kt | -14 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 03 min | 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 37 kt | +5 kt | -22 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 03 min | 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | +9 kt | -28 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 10 min | 8:47 pm PDT (03:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 43 kt | +12 kt | -33 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 15 min | 8:52 pm PDT (03:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 45 kt | +11 kt | -43 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 13 min | 8:50 pm PDT (03:50 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 98 nm out; 28 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 195 nm out; 70 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 293 nm out; 31 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° |
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 (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| RIU Rancho Murieta, CA | 20 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | no report just now | 144 ft | ||||
| MOD Modesto, CA | 68 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 99 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| MER Atwater, CA | 88 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 190 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| FAT Fresno, CA | 146 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 13,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 335 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| DLO Delano, CA | 215 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 314 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 234 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 509 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| WHP Los Angeles, CA | 302 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 1,003 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| BUR Burbank, CA | 312 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 778 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 55 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,003 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SNA
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 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
- 6/3475 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 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at SNA 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:46 pm PDT (01:46 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SNA is after sunset there (6:22 pm PDT (01:22 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, John Wayne/Orange County.





