Joslin Fld/Magic Valley Regional to Sacramento International TWF → SMF
395 nautical miles (455 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 237°, about 224° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:18 am PDT (18:18 UTC). Right now TWF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots; SMF is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 168 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 138 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 257 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 TWF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B739 at 27,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 6:56 am MDT (12:56 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 40 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TWF UA /OV TWF247042/TM 1256/FL270/TP B739/TB MOD CHOP/ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TWF
- Where
- 42 nm southwest (247°) of TWF
- Time
- 12:56 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- moderate chop/zlc
- B738 at 31,000 ft, 11 nm north, 8:20 am MDT (14:20 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 326 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
STS UA /OV SWR320025/TM 1420/FL310/TP B738/TB CONS MOD/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through STS
- Where
- 25 nm northwest (320°) of SWR
- Time
- 14:20 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- Remarks
- entered by zoa fdcs
- E75L at 33,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 8:27 am MDT (14:27 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 218 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
STS UA /OV FMG012082/TM 1427/FL330/TP E75L/TB LGT/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through STS
- Where
- 82 nm north (012°) of FMG
- Time
- 14:27 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- entered by zoa fdcs
- B738 at 14,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 6:38 am MDT (12:38 UTC): light icing, -2 °C. 297 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RNO UA /OV RNO130020/TM 1238/FL140/TP B738/TA M02/IC LGT RM
- Report
- a routine report filed through RNO
- Where
- 20 nm southeast (130°) of RNO
- Time
- 12:38 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Icing
- light remarks
- B38M at 11,000 ft, 28 nm southeast, 6:30 am MDT (12:30 UTC): light rime icing, -1 °C, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft rno dept southeast bound entered by zoa fdcs. 297 nm along the route, 28 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RNO UA /OV 3917N11935W/TM 1230/FL110/TP B38M/SK UNKN/TA M01/IC LGT RIME/RM 110-140 RNO DEPT SE BOUND ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through RNO
- Where
- 3917N11935W
- Time
- 12:30 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- unknown
- Temperature
- −1 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft rno dept southeast bound entered by zoa fdcs
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (BOI, 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 | 350° at 2 kt | −1 kt | 1 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 16 min | 11:18 am PDT (18:18 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 4 kt | 0 | 1 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 18 min | 11:20 am PDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 8 kt | +5 kt | -4 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 26 min | 11:28 am PDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 11 kt | +8 kt | -7 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 32 min | 11:34 am PDT (18:34 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +11 kt | -11 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 37 min | 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 13 kt | +10 kt | -14 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 35 min | 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 13 kt | +10 kt | -16 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 35 min | 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 13 kt | +9 kt | -18 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 34 min | 11:36 am PDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 21 kt | +11 kt | -27 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 37 min | 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 21 kt | +13 kt | -34 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 41 min | 11:43 am PDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 22 kt | +21 kt | -38 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 59 min | 12:01 pm PDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -42 °C | 95 kt | 4 h 09 min | 12:11 pm PDT (19:11 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOI | used from 0 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 360/9 1° | L/V -5° | 180/10 -12° | 200/58 -21° | 180/62 -31° | 200/41 -31° | 210/34 -32° | 200/29 -41° | |
| BAM | used from 49 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 270/8 -4° | 260/21 -11° | 190/44 -21° | 200/54 -28° | 210/38 -31° | 220/38 -35° | 210/35 -41° | ||
| RNO | used from 198 nm out; 77 nm from the line | L/V | 280/12 -4° | 260/15 -10° | 340/47 -17° | 340/75 -25° | 330/47 -37° | 280/20 -40° | 240/24 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 346 nm out; 30 nm from the line | L/V | 320/8 4° | 330/12 -3° | 350/25 -6° | 350/63 -12° | 340/65 -24° | 340/60 -40° | 340/45 -45° | 290/24 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TWF Twin Falls, ID | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,153 ft | 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC) |
| WMC Winnemucca, NV | 178 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 4,307 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| LOL Lovelock, NV | 237 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 3,907 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| RNO Reno, NV | 297 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| TRK Truckee, CA | 316 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,904 ft | 14:47 UTC |
| AUN Auburn, CA | 366 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,538 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 7:53 am PDT (14:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,904 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, 11:18 am PDT (18:18 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SMF
- 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
- From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for TWF, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 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 7 nm from the route, 376 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at TWF 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 UTC), at SMF 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 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: Joslin Fld/Magic Valley Regional, Sacramento International.