Plan a flight · Mon 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC)

Cherry Capital Airport to Sacramento International TVC → SMF

1,640 nautical miles (1,887 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 7:40 pm PDT (02:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TVC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 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: 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 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 first 20 nm of 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 420 to 800 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 790 to 940 nm out.
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 830 to 960 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 900 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 930 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 960 to 1420 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1000 to 1390 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, 1130 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 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 destination end.

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 TVC.

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

A35K at 32,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 4:39 am EDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the destination end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
```
Report
a routine report filed through OAK
Where
24 nm north (348°) of OAK
Time
08:39 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A35K
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
fdcs zoa
BE9L at 17,000 ft, 19 nm northwest, 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC): light rime icing from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 0 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 920 nm along the route, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UA /OV DDY250025/TM 0942/FL170/TP BE9L/TA 00/IC LGT RIME 150-170/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CPR
Where
25 nm west (250°) of DDY
Time
09:42 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
light rime from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft
Remarks
zdvwc

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 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 (TVC, GRB, LSE, MSP, FSD, PIR, RAP, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, BAM, RNO, SAC). 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	240° at 16 kt	+15 kt	16 °C	105 kt	15 h 37 min	7:40 pm PDT (02:40 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+16 kt	16 °C	104 kt	15 h 46 min	7:49 pm PDT (02:49 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 18 kt	+17 kt	9 °C	103 kt	15 h 55 min	7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	+20 kt	4 °C	100 kt	16 h 24 min	8:27 pm PDT (03:27 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+24 kt	0 °C	96 kt	17 h 05 min	9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+24 kt	-5 °C	96 kt	17 h 05 min	9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+24 kt	-10 °C	96 kt	17 h 05 min	9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 26 kt	+24 kt	-13 °C	96 kt	17 h 05 min	9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 33 kt	+31 kt	-23 °C	89 kt	18 h 26 min	10:29 pm PDT (05:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 39 kt	+38 kt	-33 °C	82 kt	20 h	12:03 am PDT (07:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 43 kt	+43 kt	-38 °C	77 kt	21 h 18 min	1:21 am PDT (08:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 45 kt	+46 kt	-45 °C	74 kt	22 h 10 min	2:13 am PDT (09:13 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
TVC	used from 0 nm out; 25 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°
GRB	used from 50 nm out; 37 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°
LSE	used from 200 nm out; 48 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°
MSP	used from 300 nm out; 24 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°
FSD	used from 400 nm out; 69 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°
PIR	used from 550 nm out; 64 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°
RAP	used from 700 nm out; 46 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°
BFF	used from 850 nm out; 112 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°
LND	used from 900 nm out; 86 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°
RKS	used from 1050 nm out; 51 nm from the line			250/9	230/21 -1°	210/43 -14°	220/59 -23°	220/55 -32°	220/53 -35°	220/48 -44°
SLC	used from 1100 nm out; 72 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°
BAM	used from 1300 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°
RNO	used from 1450 nm out; 69 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°
SAC	used from 1600 nm out; 24 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°

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
TVC Traverse City, MI	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 24,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	24,000 ft	623 ft	6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC)
GRB Green Bay, WI	110 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	695 ft	10:53 UTC
CWA Mosinee, WI	170 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 16,000 feet, overcast at 18,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	16,000 ft	1,277 ft	10:50 UTC
FCM Minneapolis, MN	330 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	906 ft	10:53 UTC
MDS Madison, SD	500 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	1,718 ft	10:55 UTC
HSR Hot Springs, SD	770 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				3,150 ft
CPR Casper, WY	910 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	5,344 ft	10:53 UTC
EMM Kemmerer, WY	1100 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,900 feet, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	7,288 ft	10:55 UTC
OGD Ogden, UT	1180 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	4,472 ft	10:53 UTC
EKO Elko, NV	1340 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet	from the east (100°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	5,139 ft	10:56 UTC
TRK Truckee, CA	1560 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,904 ft	10:55 UTC
SMF Sacramento, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC)

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 SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:40 pm PDT (02:40 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SMF

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
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for TVC, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 16,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 8,000 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 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at TVC 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is after sunset there (6:32 pm PDT (01:32 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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Cherry Capital Airport, Sacramento International.