Appleton International to Portland International ATW → PDX
1,440 nautical miles (1,657 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 287° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 2:21 pm PDT (21:21 UTC). Right now ATW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; PDX 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: 94 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
- SIGMET C14C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 560 to 580 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120755 MKCC WST 120755 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14C VALID UNTIL 0955Z SD ND FROM 50SE DIK-50ENE DPR-40ENE RAP-50NNW RAP-50SE DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 110 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 310 to 1070 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). Near the route, 660 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 680 to 820 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 820 to 1280 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 860 to 1250 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 1010 to 1430 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 ATW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E73L descending, 31 nm south, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 960 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
- Report
- a routine report filed through BZN
- Where
- over BZN
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E73L
- Remarks
- breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
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 (GRB, LSE, MSP, AXN, ABR, PIR, DIK, MLS, BIL, GTF, DLN, LWS, YKM, PDX). 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 | 260° at 7 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 12 h 38 min | 2:21 pm PDT (21:21 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 10 kt | +8 kt | 7 °C | 112 kt | 12 h 51 min | 2:34 pm PDT (21:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 12 kt | +10 kt | 4 °C | 110 kt | 13 h 05 min | 2:48 pm PDT (21:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 14 kt | +11 kt | 1 °C | 109 kt | 13 h 13 min | 2:56 pm PDT (21:56 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | +12 kt | -2 °C | 108 kt | 13 h 20 min | 3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | +12 kt | -6 °C | 108 kt | 13 h 20 min | 3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 14 kt | +11 kt | -10 °C | 109 kt | 13 h 13 min | 2:56 pm PDT (21:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 14 kt | +10 kt | -14 °C | 110 kt | 13 h 05 min | 2:48 pm PDT (21:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 24 kt | +18 kt | -25 °C | 102 kt | 14 h 07 min | 3:50 pm PDT (22:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 28 kt | +23 kt | -35 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 51 min | 4:34 pm PDT (23:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 37 kt | +32 kt | -40 °C | 88 kt | 16 h 22 min | 6:05 pm PDT (01:05 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 48 kt | +43 kt | -45 °C | 77 kt | 18 h 42 min | 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRB | used from 0 nm out; 41 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 50 nm out; 61 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 150 nm out; 31 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° |
| AXN | used from 250 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| ABR | used from 350 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| PIR | used from 500 nm out; 94 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° | |
| DIK | used from 550 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| MLS | used from 650 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 800 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| GTF | used from 950 nm out; 72 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 1000 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| LWS | used from 1100 nm out; 80 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| YKM | used from 1300 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| PDX | used from 1400 nm out; 20 nm from the line | L/V | 340/8 0° | 360/12 -6° | 010/30 -7° | 360/62 -15° | 360/67 -26° | 360/68 -40° | 350/61 -48° | 340/26 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATW Appleton, WI | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 918 ft | 3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC) |
| EAU Eau Claire, WI | 130 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 913 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| MIC Minneapolis, MN | 210 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BBB Benson, MN | 310 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | none | 1,039 ft | 08:40 UTC |
| ASY Ashley, ND | 470 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,034 ft | ||||
| HEI Hettinger, ND | 610 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 10 knots | 1.75 mi | 300 ft | 2,705 ft | 08:30 UTC |
| RPX Roundup, MT | 850 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| HLN Helena, MT | 990 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 4 mi | 4,800 ft | 3,877 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 1080 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 feet, a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 3,635 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| ALW Walla Walla, WA | 1260 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 1,194 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| CZK Cascade Locks, OR | 1410 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 151 ft | ||||
| PDX Portland, OR | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 30 ft | 12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PDX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:21 pm PDT (21:21 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for PDX
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ATW, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 210 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at ATW 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at PDX 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 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: Appleton International, Portland International.
