Flight planning: Detroit Lakes/Wething Field DTL / KDTL
What a pilot looks at before a flight from or to Detroit Lakes/Wething Field in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, in plain English: right now marginal VFR: flyable but watch the ceiling and visibility, Wind calm. The warnings, reports and winds below come from the government's aviation weather service and the restrictions from the FAA, refreshed every few minutes. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools.
the observation as issued, and in English
METAR KDTL 122255Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM -RA OVC013 12/12 A2972 RMK AO2 RAB2159 P0009 T01190119
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KDTL
- the station, KDTL
- 122255Z
- observed 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC)
- AUTO
- fully automated report, nobody checked it
- 00000KT
- wind calm
- 9SM
- visibility 9 miles
- -RA
- light rain
- OVC013
- overcast at 1,300 feet
- 12/12
- temperature 12 °C (54 °F), dew point 12 °C (54 °F)
- A2972
- altimeter setting 29.72 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- RAB2159
- rain began 4:59 pm CDT (21:59 UTC)
- P0009
- 0.09 inches of precipitation in the last hour
- T01190119
- temperature 11.9 °C (53 °F), dew point 11.9 °C (53 °F)
Warnings in force SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area covers this field
- SIGMET C40C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 25 knots, until 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC).
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 122255 MKCC WST 122255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 40C VALID UNTIL 0055Z WI MN ND FROM 30NE GFK-50N DLH-50NW EAU-40WSW FAR-30NE GFK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24025KT. TOPS TO FL370.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist).
Turbulence No turbulence warning in force over this field. 1 pilot report of turbulence within 100 nautical miles in the last three hours: light chop turbulence, at 34,000 ft, 34 nm south, 3:18 pm CDT (20:18 UTC). The government's turbulence forecast map ↗
Icing No icing warning in force over this field. 1 pilot report of icing within 100 nautical miles in the last three hours: light rime icing, at 22,000 ft, 98 nm northwest, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC). The freezing level is about 14,000 ft (from the winds-aloft temperatures), so icing is possible in cloud above that. The government's icing forecast map ↗
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft (thunderstorms, severe turbulence or icing, volcanic ash); an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments (moderate turbulence or icing, low cloud, strong surface wind, mountains hidden in cloud). An area is counted when it covers this field's position.
Pilot reports within 100 nautical miles, last three hours, nearest first
- CRJ9 at 34,000 ft, 34 nm south, 3:18 pm CDT (20:18 UTC): light chop turbulence.
as filed, and in English
FFM UA /OV FFM/TM 2018/FL340/TP CRJ9/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FFM
- Where
- over FFM
- Time
- 20:18 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop
- SF50 at 1,400 ft, 39 nm west, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 9,000 ft.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2240/FL014/TP SF50/SK OVC014-TOP090
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 22:40 UTC
- Height
- at 1,400 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Sky
- overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 9,000 ft
- B190 at 1,400 ft, 39 nm west, 4:20 pm CDT (21:20 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 6,800 ft, rain.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2120/FL014/TP B190/SK OVC014-TOP068/WX RA
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 21:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,400 ft
- Aircraft
- B190
- Sky
- overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 6,800 ft
- Weather
- rain
- E75L at 900 ft, 39 nm west, 3:57 pm CDT (20:57 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2057/FL009/TP E75L/SK OVC013
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 20:57 UTC
- Height
- at 900 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft
- M600 at 1,800 ft, 39 nm west, 3:07 pm CDT (20:07 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft, remarks: during the descent.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2007/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 20:07 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- M600
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- P32R at 8,000 ft, 46 nm southwest, 4:14 pm CDT (21:14 UTC): no icing, 13 °C.
as filed, and in English
BWP UA /OV BWP/TM 2114/FL080/TP P32R/SK BASE014-TOP080/TA 13/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWP
- Where
- over BWP
- Time
- 21:14 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P32R
- Sky
- BASE014-TOP080
- Temperature
- 13 °C
- Icing
- none
- C56X at 40,000 ft, 50 nm south, 3:40 pm CDT (20:40 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, -44 °C, remarks: during the climb.
as filed, and in English
Y63 UA /OV Y63/TM 2040/FL400/TP C56X/SK TOP 300/TA M44/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through Y63
- Where
- over Y63
- Time
- 20:40 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- top 30,000 ft
- Temperature
- −44 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
- CRJ7 at 4,000 ft, 57 nm northeast, 3:54 pm CDT (20:54 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 8 °C, remarks: during the climb.
as filed, and in English
BJI UA /OV BJI/TM 2054/FL040/TP CRJ7/SK BASE 020 TOP 048/TA 8/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through BJI
- Where
- over BJI
- Time
- 20:54 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- base 2,000 ft top 4,800 ft
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
- E145 at 30,000 ft, 76 nm east, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): no turbulence, no icing.
as filed, and in English
BRD UA /OV BRD/TM 2244/FL300/TP E145/SK TOP 300/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BRD
- Where
- over BRD
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- top 30,000 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- P32R at 11,000 ft, 76 nm east, 4:42 pm CDT (21:42 UTC): small hail, 6 °C.
as filed, and in English
BRD UA /OV BRD/TM 2142/FL110/TP P32R/WX GS/TA 06
- Report
- a routine report filed through BRD
- Where
- over BRD
- Time
- 21:42 UTC
- Height
- at 11,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P32R
- Weather
- small hail
- Temperature
- 6 °C
- CRJ7 at 1,500 ft, 85 nm northwest, 4:04 pm CDT (21:04 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft, remarks: during the climb.
as filed, and in English
GFK UA /OV GFK090001/TM 2104/FL015/TP CRJ7/SK OVC015/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GFK
- Where
- 1 nm east (090°) of GFK
- Time
- 21:04 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- SF50 at 22,000 ft, 98 nm northwest, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light rime icing, -17 °C.
as filed, and in English
GFK UA /OV GFK270015/TM 2201/FL220/TP SF50/TA M17/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through GFK
- Where
- 15 nm west (270°) of GFK
- Time
- 22:01 UTC
- Height
- at 22,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Temperature
- −17 °C
- Icing
- light rime
What pilots in the air told air traffic control or Flight Service: turbulence, icing, cloud tops and bases, temperature, wind, and whatever they remarked on (wind shear on final, a smooth ride). An urgent report is one of severe turbulence or icing, wind shear, or similar. Open "as filed, and in English" for the coded report and its translation line by line.
Winds and temperatures aloft forecast point AXN, 61 nm south of the field · for use 20:00–03:00 UTC
| Height | Wind from | Speed | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 ft | light and variable | ||
| 6,000 ft | 230° (southwest) | 25 knots | 9 °C |
| 9,000 ft | 240° (southwest) | 33 knots | 10 °C |
| 12,000 ft | 250° (west) | 31 knots | 5 °C |
| 18,000 ft | 230° (southwest) | 37 knots | -11 °C |
| 24,000 ft | 230° (southwest) | 36 knots | -23 °C |
| 30,000 ft | 250° (west) | 44 knots | -35 °C |
| 34,000 ft | 250° (west) | 56 knots | -39 °C |
| 39,000 ft | 260° (west) | 58 knots | -44 °C |
Based on data from the 12th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 13th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; the lowest rows are left out where the ground is already that high.
Temporary flight restrictions within 50 nautical miles, from the FAA's list
No temporary flight restriction within 50 nautical miles right now.
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times.
Notices to air missions closed runways and taxiways, lights and aids out of service, procedures not authorized, obstructions, airspace
3 in force now.
Navigation aids 1
- Navigation aid VOR/DME out of service until Wed 16 Dec, 2:00 pm CST (20:00 UTC), estimated · DTL 07/001
as issued
!DTL 07/001 DTL NAV VOR/DME U/S 2607021157-2612162000EST
Procedures and charts 1
- Instrument approach procedure Detroit LAKES/WETHING FLD, Detroit Lakes, MN. VOR runway 32, amendment 2... Duwiz FIX minimums: south-32 minimum descent altitude 1840/HAT 468 all Cats, category C/D visibility 1 1/8. circling category A minimum descent altitude 1840/HAA 444. from Mon 25 Aug 2025, 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) until Mon 30 Aug 2027, 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) (estimated) until Mon 30 Aug 2027, 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC), estimated · DTL 5/2833
as issued
!FDC 5/2833 DTL IAP DETROIT LAKES/WETHING FLD, DETROIT LAKES, MN. VOR RWY 32, AMDT 2... DUWIZ FIX MINIMUMS: S-32 MDA 1840/HAT 468 ALL CATS, CAT C/D VIS 1 1/8. CIRCLING CAT A MDA 1840/HAA 444. 2508251607-2708301607EST
Obstructions 1
- Obstruction tower lights (ASR 1020181) 46°52′N 96°05′W (9.0 nautical miles WNW DTL) 1771.7FT (421.9FT above ground level) out of service until Thu 4 Feb, 1:33 pm CST (19:33 UTC) · DTL 10/002
as issued
!DTL 10/002 DTL OBST TOWER LGT (ASR 1020181) 465218.20N0960520.30W (9.0NM WNW DTL) 1771.7FT (421.9FT AGL) U/S 2610071933-2702041933
From the FAA's notice service (NOTAMs), the site's copy refreshed every few minutes; last checked 2 minutes ago. Times are local to the field. This is for planning; the legal briefing comes from Flight Service or the FAA's own tools.
Radar and forecast charts government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
The radar pictures come from the National Weather Service (the nearest radar, then the region); the aviation forecast charts from the Aviation Weather Center's Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (clouds and visibility; surface wind, weather and thunderstorms with the AIRMET boxes); the surface analysis and the 12- and 24-hour forecast charts from the Weather Prediction Center. They are public-domain government images shown as they are published. The turbulence and icing forecasts are drawn live on the Aviation Weather Center's site: turbulence ↗ · icing ↗.
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, and the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Back to Detroit Lakes/Wething Field, where the current observation and the forecast for the field are.