Austin-Bergstrom International to Joe Foss Field AUS → FSD
805 nautical miles (926 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 003°, about 359° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now AUS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) 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: 4 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 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 407 to 706 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 AUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (CLL, DAL, SPS, OKC, ICT, SLN, GRI, OMA, FSD). 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 | 200° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 19 °C | 146 kt | 5 h 31 min | 2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | −23 kt | 16 °C | 143 kt | 5 h 38 min | 2:18 am CDT (07:18 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −16 kt | 14 °C | 136 kt | 5 h 55 min | 2:35 am CDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −13 kt | 10 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 03 min | 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 6 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 09 min | 2:49 am CDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −10 kt | 2 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 12 min | 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −10 kt | -3 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 12 min | 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 24 kt | −10 kt | -6 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 12 min | 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 27 kt | −13 kt | -16 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 03 min | 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 37 kt | −6 kt | -30 °C | 126 kt | 6 h 23 min | 3:03 am CDT (08:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 41 kt | −5 kt | -40 °C | 125 kt | 6 h 26 min | 3:06 am CDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 41 kt | +1 kt | -51 °C | 119 kt | 6 h 46 min | 3:26 am CDT (08:26 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th 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; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLL | used from 0 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| DAL | used from 99 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -52° |
| SPS | used from 199 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 180/26 | 200/25 16° | 220/19 13° | 220/20 9° | 230/26 -5° | 230/34 -15° | 260/37 -28° | 270/42 -39° | 280/40 -51° |
| OKC | used from 248 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/29 16° | 230/22 14° | 240/17 9° | 240/28 -6° | 250/35 -15° | 270/42 -29° | 270/43 -39° | 280/38 -51° |
| ICT | used from 398 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 190/34 | 210/34 18° | 240/28 13° | 260/23 7° | 250/23 -6° | 240/29 -17° | 260/40 -30° | 260/47 -40° | 270/42 -51° |
| SLN | used from 497 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GRI | used from 596 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| OMA | used from 646 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| FSD | used from 745 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS Austin, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 541 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| GTU Georgetown, TX | 30 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 789 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| FTW Fort Worth, TX | 159 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 710 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| AFW Fort Worth, TX | 169 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 723 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| OUN Norman, OK | 308 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,181 ft | 00:45 UTC |
| SWO Stillwater, OK | 358 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,000 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 447 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 537 nm out, 19 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| CEK Crete, NE | 626 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,499 ft | ||||
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 646 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 735 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,499 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for AUS, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/5849 Austin, TX, Friday, October 2, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZHU
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 6 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 159 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at AUS 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FSD is before sunrise there (7:37 am CDT (12:37 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: Austin-Bergstrom International, Joe Foss Field.