Buffalo Niagara International to Joe Foss Field BUF → FSD
787 nautical miles (906 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 279°, about 290° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 11:16 am CDT (16:16 UTC). Right now BUF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 249 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 309 to 687 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 BUF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, MKG, GRB, LSE, MCW, 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 | 260° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 102 kt | 7 h 43 min | 11:25 am CDT (16:25 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 15 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:16 am CDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:16 am CDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 7 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 48 min | 11:30 am CDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 3 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 02 min | 11:44 am CDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | +23 kt | -1 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 07 min | 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 23 kt | +24 kt | -6 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 12 min | 11:54 am CDT (16:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -9 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 12 min | 11:54 am CDT (16:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 28 kt | +28 kt | -21 °C | 92 kt | 8 h 33 min | 12:15 pm CDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -36 °C | 86 kt | 9 h 09 min | 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -43 °C | 77 kt | 10 h 13 min | 1:55 pm CDT (18:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 58 kt | +56 kt | -50 °C | 64 kt | 12 h 18 min | 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 300/11 | 330/15 11° | 340/26 8° | 330/28 2° | 340/31 -10° | 340/32 -21° | 340/52 -37° | 340/59 -46° | 330/66 -53° |
| CLE | used from 100 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
| MKG | used from 199 nm out; 107 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| GRB | used from 398 nm out; 52 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 448 nm out; 76 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° |
| MCW | used from 598 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| FSD | used from 697 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Buffalo, NY | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,900 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 726 ft | 4:28 am EDT (08:28 UTC) |
| CYSN St Catharines, | 20 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the east (080°) at 6 knots | 15 mi | 5,000 ft | 321 ft | 01:00 UTC |
| HYX Saginaw, MI | 229 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 601 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | 239 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | none | 668 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 329 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| OSH Oshkosh, WI | 428 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 808 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 548 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 598 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| FRM Fairmont, MN | 687 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,161 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| OTG Worthington, MN | 737 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,574 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,574 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, 11:16 am CDT (16:16 UTC)
Wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-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 at 7 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-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet
The forecast for BUF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 12,000 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 BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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: Buffalo Niagara International, Joe Foss Field.