Watertown Regional to Denver International ATY → DEN
450 nautical miles (518 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 230°, about 224° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 1:37 pm MDT (19:37 UTC). Right now ATY is low IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 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: 729 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 SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 313 nm of the route.
- 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 route from 186 to 245 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 last 98 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 ATY.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent C172 at 6,700 ft, 19 nm southwest, 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. At the destination end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- over KAPA
- Time
- 12:54 UTC
- Height
- at 6,700 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
- B738 descending, 7 nm southeast, 10:20 am CDT (15:20 UTC): moderate turbulence from 12,000 ft to 18,000 ft. 421 nm along the route, 7 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 30NE DEN/TM 1520/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 180-120
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30NE den
- Time
- 15:20 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 18,000 ft to 12,000 ft
- B38M at 12,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft. At the destination end, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN090025/TM 1407/FL120/TP B38M/TB MOD/RM 110-120
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm east (090°) of DEN
- Time
- 14:07 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- from 11,000 ft to 12,000 ft
- C172 at 7,500 ft, 20 nm south, 10:27 am CDT (15:27 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA100008/TM 1527/FL075/TP C172/TB CONT MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 8 nm east (100°) of APA
- Time
- 15:27 UTC
- Height
- at 7,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- B737 at 21,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 9:05 am CDT (14:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. At the destination end, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN310025/TM 1405/FL210/TP B737/TB MOD TURB/RM MTN WAVE +30KTS 250-150 DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm northwest (310°) of DEN
- Time
- 14:05 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate turbulence
- Remarks
- mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
- B738 descending, 37 nm northwest, 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40NW den
- Time
- 13:01 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
- B738 descending, 41 nm southwest, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 40SW den
- Time
- 12:55 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- BE20 at 8,000 ft, 36 nm northwest, 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: durd-zdvwc 31. 294 nm along the route, 36 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
AIA UA /OV KAIA/TM 1315/FL080/TP BE20/SK TOP 045 BASE 002/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD-ZDVWC- 31
- Report
- a routine report filed through AIA
- Where
- over KAIA
- Time
- 13:15 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- top 4,500 ft base 200 ft
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- durd-zdvwc 31
- C56X at 6,000 ft, 46 nm southeast, 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC): clear from 6,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: ZDVWC-19. 343 nm along the route, 46 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
HEQ UA /OV HEQ/TM 1437/FL060/TP C56X/SK SKC/RM -ZDVWC-19
- Report
- a routine report filed through HEQ
- Where
- over HEQ
- Time
- 14:37 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- clear
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-19
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 12 nm northwest, 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: from the surface to 18,000 ft. At the destination end, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN350020/TM 1350/FL180/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM SFC-180
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 20 nm north (350°) of DEN
- Time
- 13:50 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- from the surface to 18,000 ft
- E75L climbing, 3 nm south, 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zimmr sid. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV W DEN/TM 1437/FLDURC/TP E75L/TB CONT LGT CHOP / MOD 120/RM ZIMMR SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- west den
- Time
- 14:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop moderate at 12,000 ft
- Remarks
- zimmr sid
- B737 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 9:32 am CDT (14:32 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 1432/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 14:32 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no turbulence on final runway 17R
- C172 at 7,800 ft, 24 nm south, 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UA /OV APA150006/TM 1357/FL078/TP C172/TB LGT-MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through APA
- Where
- 6 nm southeast (150°) of APA
- Time
- 13:57 UTC
- Height
- at 7,800 ft
- Aircraft
- C172
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 3 nm south, 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV 5N/TM 1330/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 5N
- Time
- 13:30 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
1 more routine reports are on the map.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (ABR, PIR, ONL, BFF, DEN). 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 | 300° at 11 kt | +4 kt | 15 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 53 min | 1:37 pm MDT (19:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +7 kt | 13 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 59 min | 1:43 pm MDT (19:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 12 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 12 min | 1:56 pm MDT (19:56 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 7 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 27 min | 2:11 pm MDT (20:11 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +25 kt | 3 °C | 95 kt | 4 h 44 min | 2:28 pm MDT (20:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +29 kt | -2 °C | 91 kt | 4 h 57 min | 2:41 pm MDT (20:41 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -7 °C | 86 kt | 5 h 14 min | 2:58 pm MDT (20:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | +37 kt | -11 °C | 83 kt | 5 h 25 min | 3:09 pm MDT (21:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 51 kt | +50 kt | -22 °C | 70 kt | 6 h 26 min | 4:10 pm MDT (22:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 59 kt | +56 kt | -32 °C | 64 kt | 7 h 02 min | 4:46 pm MDT (22:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 72 kt | +69 kt | -37 °C | 51 kt | 8 h 49 min | 6:33 pm MDT (00:33 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 72 kt | +70 kt | -45 °C | 50 kt | 9 h | 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABR | used from 0 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 020/9 | 230/5 12° | 190/14 11° | 200/25 5° | 230/37 -11° | 230/50 -23° | 240/39 -34° | 240/49 -38° | 240/55 -46° |
| PIR | used from 98 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 300/15 10° | 270/10 10° | 220/18 4° | 220/36 -11° | 230/43 -21° | 240/48 -33° | 240/51 -37° | 240/55 -44° | |
| ONL | used from 147 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 270/16 17° | 250/25 13° | 230/34 7° | 230/46 -9° | 240/57 -22° | 250/72 -31° | 250/87 -36° | 250/75 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 245 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 310/15 | 280/27 8° | 250/27 2° | 230/30 -12° | 240/52 -22° | 250/66 -32° | 240/78 -37° | 240/76 -43° | |
| DEN | used from 392 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 230/7 11° | 230/13 4° | 230/40 -9° | 230/48 -20° | 240/66 -32° | 240/88 -38° | 230/100 -47° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATY Watertown, SD | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,749 ft | 10:19 am CDT (15:19 UTC) |
| HON Huron, SD | 59 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 1,288 ft | 15:15 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 147 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 800 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,032 ft | 15:38 UTC |
| VTN Valentine, NE | 196 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 500 ft | 2,595 ft | 14:52 UTC |
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 313 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| SNY Sidney, NE | 343 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 19:53 UTC |
| FMM Fort Morgan, CO | 401 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,595 ft | 15:35 UTC |
| GXY Greeley, CO | 421 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Weather: haze | calm | 4 mi | none | 4,696 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:37 pm MDT (19:37 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for DEN
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for ATY, the departure
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, overcast at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility 1½ miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 400 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at ATY 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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: Watertown Regional, Denver International.