Sacramento International to Cherry Capital Airport SMF → TVC
1,640 nautical miles (1,887 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 066°, about 053° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC). 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
- SIGMET W25W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the west at 45 knots, until 7:55 am PDT (14:55 UTC). Over the route from 440 to 500 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121255 MKCW WST 121255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 25W VALID UNTIL 1455Z WY UT ID FROM PIH-40W BPI-30SE SLC-40E BVL-PIH AREA TS MOV FROM 26045KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 180 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 220 to 680 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 250 to 740 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, 510 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 680 to 810 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 700 to 850 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 710 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 740 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). Over the route from 840 to 1220 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 last 20 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
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 14 forecast points nearest it (SAC, RNO, BAM, SLC, RKS, LND, BFF, RAP, PIR, FSD, MSP, LSE, GRB, TVC). 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 | 240° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 15 °C | 136 kt | 12 h 04 min | 9:11 pm EDT (01:11 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −16 kt | 10 °C | 136 kt | 12 h 04 min | 9:11 pm EDT (01:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 6 °C | 138 kt | 11 h 53 min | 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 1 °C | 142 kt | 11 h 33 min | 8:40 pm EDT (00:40 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -3 °C | 143 kt | 11 h 28 min | 8:35 pm EDT (00:35 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −24 kt | -7 °C | 144 kt | 11 h 23 min | 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −24 kt | -12 °C | 144 kt | 11 h 23 min | 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | −24 kt | -13 °C | 144 kt | 11 h 23 min | 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 34 kt | −32 kt | -23 °C | 152 kt | 10 h 47 min | 7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | −39 kt | -33 °C | 159 kt | 10 h 19 min | 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -38 °C | 164 kt | 10 h | 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 45 kt | −47 kt | -45 °C | 167 kt | 9 h 49 min | 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
| RNO | used from 50 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 010/6 | 270/12 -3° | 220/26 -10° | 280/13 -19° | 350/44 -24° | 320/30 -32° | 260/22 -36° | 240/24 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 150 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 280/9 -2° | 260/18 -8° | 190/47 -19° | 200/50 -29° | 210/56 -29° | 220/54 -34° | 220/45 -42° | ||
| SLC | used from 350 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 200/16 | 210/23 4° | 220/34 -3° | 210/40 -16° | 220/66 -23° | 220/64 -31° | 220/57 -36° | 220/50 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 550 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 600 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| BFF | used from 750 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| RAP | used from 800 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 950 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| FSD | used from 1100 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| MSP | used from 1250 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| LSE | used from 1350 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| GRB | used from 1450 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
| TVC | used from 1600 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 270/31 | 280/23 15° | 260/22 8° | 260/29 4° | 280/29 -11° | 280/42 -21° | 270/42 -36° | 270/54 -47° | 290/67 -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 | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| TRK Truckee, CA | 80 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,904 ft | ||||
| EKO Elko, NV | 300 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 5,139 ft | ||||
| OGD Ogden, UT | 460 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,472 ft | ||||
| EMM Kemmerer, WY | 540 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 7,288 ft | ||||
| CPR Casper, WY | 730 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,344 ft | ||||
| HSR Hot Springs, SD | 870 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,150 ft | ||||
| MDS Madison, SD | 1140 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,718 ft | ||||
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 1310 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 906 ft | ||||
| CWA Mosinee, WI | 1470 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,277 ft | ||||
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 1530 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 695 ft | ||||
| TVC Traverse City, MI | destination | no report just now | 623 ft |
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 TVC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC)
TVC 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 11 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 TVC 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 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, Cherry Capital Airport.