Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport to John Wayne/Orange County TCL → SNA
1,511 nautical miles (1,738 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 279°, about 279° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 2:46 pm PDT (21:46 UTC). Right now TCL is marginal VFR, wind calm; SNA is VFR, wind calm. 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
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 855 to 1202 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 1063 to 1461 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 1163 to 1262 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), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 1193 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 1411 to 1501 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 TCL.
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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (BHM, JAN, LIT, FSM, DAL, SPS, LBB, TCC, ROW, ABQ, PHX, PRC, BLH, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +11 kt | 18 °C | 109 kt | 13 h 52 min | 2:46 pm PDT (21:46 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +13 kt | 14 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 07 min | 3:01 pm PDT (22:01 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 14 h 32 min | 3:26 pm PDT (22:26 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +16 kt | 8 °C | 104 kt | 14 h 32 min | 3:26 pm PDT (22:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 4 °C | 104 kt | 14 h 32 min | 3:26 pm PDT (22:26 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +18 kt | 0 °C | 102 kt | 14 h 49 min | 3:43 pm PDT (22:43 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +21 kt | -4 °C | 99 kt | 15 h 16 min | 4:10 pm PDT (23:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 15 h 35 min | 4:29 pm PDT (23:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 39 kt | +34 kt | -18 °C | 86 kt | 17 h 34 min | 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 53 kt | +49 kt | -28 °C | 71 kt | 21 h 17 min | 10:11 pm PDT (05:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 53 kt | +52 kt | -37 °C | 68 kt | 22 h 13 min | 11:07 pm PDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 45 kt | +46 kt | -49 °C | 74 kt | 20 h 25 min | 9:19 pm PDT (04:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM | used from 0 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| JAN | used from 50 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| LIT | used from 149 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| FSM | used from 298 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| DAL | used from 398 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
| SPS | used from 447 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 200/39 | 220/28 17° | 230/27 12° | 240/15 9° | 250/15 -4° | 250/24 -15° | 260/45 -28° | 270/43 -39° | 280/45 -51° |
| LBB | used from 646 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 200/36 18° | 220/19 15° | 240/20 8° | 230/24 -4° | 240/37 -16° | 250/57 -28° | 250/51 -38° | 270/47 -50° | |
| TCC | used from 745 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 210/42 | 230/33 14° | 230/32 6° | 220/35 -6° | 230/49 -19° | 240/72 -27° | 250/62 -36° | 250/52 -48° | |
| ROW | used from 845 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| ABQ | used from 894 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| PHX | used from 1093 nm out; 112 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| PRC | used from 1193 nm out; 35 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° | ||
| BLH | used from 1292 nm out; 43 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° |
| ONT | used from 1441 nm out; 35 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | departure | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 169 ft | 2:45 am CDT (07:45 UTC) |
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 129 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 162 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GLH Greenville, MS | 169 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 130 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| HHW Hugo, OK | 398 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 572 ft | 07:30 UTC |
| ADM Ardmore, OK | 477 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | none | 776 ft | 07:35 UTC | |
| CDS Childress, TX | 636 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,953 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CVN Clovis, NM | 775 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,215 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| BRG Belen, NM | 964 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,199 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| PAN Payson, AZ | 1183 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 3,300 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 5,160 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| BLH Blythe, CA | 1352 nm out, 22 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 399 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | 1441 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 476 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | 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) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,199 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, 2:46 pm PDT (21:46 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SNA
- 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
The forecast for TCL, the departure
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 1 mile, mist, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 924 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 1431 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at TCL 6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 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: Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport, John Wayne/Orange County.