John Wayne/Orange County to Reno/Tahoe International SNA → RNO
361 nautical miles (416 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 346°, about 334° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:37 am PDT (08:37 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SNA is VFR, wind calm; RNO is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 9 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: 490 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 137 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 29 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
- B737 at 13,000 ft, 19 nm southwest, 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SLI UA /OV SLI180020/TM 0330/FL130/TP B737/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through SLI
- Where
- 20 nm south (180°) of SLI
- Time
- 03:30 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- B737 at 3,500 ft, 12 nm west, 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC): a broken layer above 3,500 ft. At the departure end, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGB UA /OV LGB/TM 0325/FL035/TP B737/SK BKN035
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGB
- Where
- over LGB
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,500 ft
- B38M at 3,000 ft, 23 nm east, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 8,000 ft, remarks: BASE030. 20 nm along the route, 23 nm east 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, 26 nm east, 9:59 pm PDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. 20 nm along the route, 26 nm east 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, 30 nm east, 9:15 pm PDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. 20 nm along the route, 30 nm east 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
- E75L at 3,600 ft, 15 nm southwest, 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC): overcast above 6,600 ft, remarks: bases 3,600 ft. 20 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
KLAX UA /OV 10 E LAX/TM 0330/FL036/TP E75L/SK OVC066/RM BASES 036
- Report
- a routine report filed through KLAX
- Where
- 10 east lax
- Time
- 03:30 UTC
- Height
- at 3,600 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- overcast from 6,600 ft
- Remarks
- bases 3,600 ft
- GLF5 at 3,500 ft, 22 nm west, 9:54 pm PDT (04:54 UTC): overcast above 3,600 ft. 39 nm along the route, 22 nm west 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
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even 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 (ONT, WJF, FAT, BIH, RNO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 190° at 9 kt | −9 kt | 6 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 48 min | 1:58 am PDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 200° at 11 kt | −10 kt | 6 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 47 min | 1:57 am PDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 14 kt | −10 kt | 3 °C | 130 kt | 2 h 47 min | 1:57 am PDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 19 kt | −13 kt | -2 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 43 min | 1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 23 kt | −18 kt | -6 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 37 min | 1:47 am PDT (08:47 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | −19 kt | -9 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 36 min | 1:46 am PDT (08:46 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | −21 kt | -13 °C | 141 kt | 2 h 34 min | 1:44 am PDT (08:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 31 kt | −22 kt | -15 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 33 min | 1:43 am PDT (08:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 39 kt | −25 kt | -23 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 29 min | 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 45 kt | −25 kt | -29 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 29 min | 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 47 kt | −26 kt | -35 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 28 min | 1:38 am PDT (08:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 48 kt | −27 kt | -43 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 27 min | 1:37 am PDT (08:37 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; 19 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° |
| WJF | used from 49 nm out; 7 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| FAT | used from 147 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 130/16 | 160/20 5° | 190/28 -1° | 210/25 -5° | 220/27 -15° | 230/21 -26° | 220/42 -29° | 220/44 -35° | 220/44 -44° |
| BIH | used from 195 nm out; 31 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 293 nm out; 44 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° |
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: a few clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 55 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 29 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 295 ft | 02:45 UTC |
| WJF Lancaster, CA | 68 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,350 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| MHV Mojave, CA | 88 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 2,801 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| PTV Porterville, CA | 156 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 443 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA | 244 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 7,134 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CXP Carson City, NV | 342 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the east (080°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,704 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 10:55 pm PDT (05:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,134 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:37 am PDT (08:37 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RNO
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
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 on the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 127 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 254 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SNA 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC), at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RNO is before sunrise there (7:05 am PDT (14:05 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: John Wayne/Orange County, Reno/Tahoe International.