Plan a flight · Mon 12:06 am PDT (07:06 UTC)

John Wayne/Orange County to Des Moines International SNA → DSM

1,239 nautical miles (1,426 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 061°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 65-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:48 am CDT (13:48 UTC). Right now SNA is VFR, wind calm; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 10 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: 216 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 15,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 150 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 500 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 200 to 520 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 220 to 789 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 270 to 340 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 290 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 480 to 789 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 560 to 699 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 last 440 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 SNA.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A321 at 31,000 ft, 9 nm north, 11:41 pm PDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 709 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:41 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
GLF5 at 3,500 ft, 45 nm northwest, 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC): overcast above 3,600 ft. At the departure end, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
VNY UA /OV VNY36006/TM 0454/FL035/TP GLF5/SK OVC036
```
Report
a routine report filed through VNY
Where
VNY36006
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Sky
overcast from 3,600 ft
B38M at 3,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 8,000 ft, remarks: BASE030. At the departure end, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV KONT080005/TM 0547/FL030/TP B38M/SK BKN029-TOP080/RM BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
5 nm east (080°) of KONT
Time
05:47 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 2,900 ft, tops 8,000 ft
Remarks
BASE030
A321 at 3,300 ft, 9 nm northwest, 9:59 pm PDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
8 nm east (078°) of ONT
Time
04:59 UTC
Height
at 3,300 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent
B38M at 4,500 ft, 8 nm north, 9:15 pm PDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT078012/TM 0415/FL045/TP B38M/SK BKN045-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
12 nm east (078°) of ONT
Time
04:15 UTC
Height
at 4,500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent
PC12 at 11,000 ft, 35 nm south, 11:58 pm PDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 540 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE117
Turbulence
continuous light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36
PC12 at 26,000 ft, 0 nm southeast, 11:27 pm PDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 629 nm along the route, 0 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
40 nm east (090°) of HBU
Time
06:27 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-12
A320 at 31,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 11:58 pm PDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 669 nm along the route, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
B738 at 23,000 ft, 47 nm north, 11:23 pm PDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 669 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 11:35 pm PDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 679 nm along the route, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
E170 at 22,500 ft, 34 nm north, 10:06 pm PDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 679 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
A21N at 33,000 ft, 9 nm north, 11:59 pm PDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 709 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc

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 (ONT, BLH, LAS, PRC, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM). 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	230° at 31 kt	−29 kt	17 °C	149 kt	8 h 19 min	10:25 am CDT (15:25 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−25 kt	11 °C	145 kt	8 h 33 min	10:39 am CDT (15:39 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	−23 kt	9 °C	143 kt	8 h 40 min	10:46 am CDT (15:46 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 27 kt	−25 kt	4 °C	145 kt	8 h 33 min	10:39 am CDT (15:39 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	−28 kt	0 °C	148 kt	8 h 22 min	10:28 am CDT (15:28 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 34 kt	−31 kt	-4 °C	151 kt	8 h 12 min	10:18 am CDT (15:18 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 38 kt	−35 kt	-9 °C	155 kt	8 h	10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 39 kt	−36 kt	-10 °C	156 kt	7 h 57 min	10:03 am CDT (15:03 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 47 kt	−44 kt	-21 °C	164 kt	7 h 33 min	9:39 am CDT (14:39 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 61 kt	−61 kt	-30 °C	181 kt	6 h 51 min	8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 65 kt	−65 kt	-36 °C	185 kt	6 h 42 min	8:48 am CDT (13:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 57 kt	−58 kt	-46 °C	178 kt	6 h 58 min	9:04 am CDT (14:04 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
ONT	used from 0 nm out; 14 nm from the line	190/8	190/19 6°	210/23 4°	210/29 -3°	210/47 -13°	210/49 -19°	220/47 -30°	220/50 -36°	220/55 -43°
BLH	used from 100 nm out; 79 nm from the line	210/13	200/21 11°	200/22 5°	210/25 -1°	210/51 -10°	220/61 -20°	220/81 -29°	220/92 -34°	220/79 -45°
LAS	used from 150 nm out; 64 nm from the line		210/21 10°	200/18 5°	200/23 -2°	210/49 -14°	210/63 -21°	220/58 -30°	220/61 -35°	210/56 -44°
PRC	used from 250 nm out; 75 nm from the line			210/25 5°	200/30 1°	220/55 -10°	220/61 -21°	220/84 -28°	230/90 -34°	230/73 -45°
BCE	used from 300 nm out; 91 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
FMN	used from 400 nm out; 93 nm from the line			220/28 9°	220/40 2°	220/53 -10°	220/62 -22°	230/79 -28°	240/91 -34°	230/71 -45°
ALS	used from 550 nm out; 74 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
PUB	used from 649 nm out; 43 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
DEN	used from 749 nm out; 74 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°
GLD	used from 799 nm out; 30 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
GRI	used from 949 nm out; 59 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
OMA	used from 1099 nm out; 19 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
DSM	used from 1199 nm out; 20 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -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
SNA Santa Ana, CA	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	55 ft	11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC)
RIV Riverside, CA	30 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a few clouds at 2,100 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	1,536 ft	06:14 UTC
IFP Bullhead City, AZ	190 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	707 ft	06:55 UTC
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ	310 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet	from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	3,800 ft	6,608 ft	06:54 UTC
BDG Blanding, UT	470 nm out, 23 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (170°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	4,100 ft	5,867 ft	06:15 UTC
CEZ Cortez, CO	500 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet	from the south (190°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	5,917 ft	06:53 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	709 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	06:54 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	849 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	06:55 UTC
ADT Atwood, KS	889 nm out, 1 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	none	2,990 ft	06:55 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	1089 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	06:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	1139 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	06:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:48 am CDT (13:48 UTC)

Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for SNA, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer 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
From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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

4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 180 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 679 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 southern Plains · 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: John Wayne/Orange County, Des Moines International.