Buffalo Niagara International to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport BUF → MSP
637 nautical miles (733 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BUF is VFR, wind calm; MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 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: 277 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). Over the route from 159 to 279 nm out.
- 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 438 to 577 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
- urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 43 nm south, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 50 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
- Report
- an urgent report filed through DKK
- Where
- 40 nm west (280°) of DKK
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- no inj/dmg zob
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 40 nm southwest, 11:25 pm EDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 16,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, TVC, GRB, LSE, MSP). 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 19 kt | +18 kt | 102 kt | 6 h 15 min | 6:28 am CDT (11:28 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 14 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 04 min | 6:17 am CDT (11:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | +12 kt | 10 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 54 min | 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 11 kt | +12 kt | 6 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 54 min | 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +13 kt | 2 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 57 min | 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | +16 kt | -2 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 08 min | 6:21 am CDT (11:21 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | +20 kt | -7 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 22 min | 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -10 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 30 min | 6:43 am CDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 29 kt | +28 kt | -21 °C | 92 kt | 6 h 55 min | 7:08 am CDT (12:08 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 38 kt | +37 kt | -36 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 40 min | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 45 kt | +43 kt | -45 °C | 77 kt | 8 h 16 min | 8:29 am CDT (13:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 61 kt | +60 kt | -53 °C | 60 kt | 10 h 37 min | 10:50 am CDT (15:50 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| CLE | used from 99 nm out; 124 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| TVC | used from 199 nm out; 97 nm from the line | 260/31 | 280/22 15° | 290/18 10° | 270/13 2° | 290/25 -10° | 300/35 -21° | 310/52 -37° | 320/59 -47° | 300/84 -54° |
| GRB | used from 348 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| LSE | used from 497 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| MSP | used from 597 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Buffalo, NY | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 726 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
| CYSN St Catharines, | 20 nm out, 10 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 |
| BAX Bad Axe, MI | 189 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 763 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MBS Saginaw, MI | 239 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 668 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GDW Gladwin, MI | 259 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | none | 774 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MBL Manistee, MI | 338 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 621 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| GRB Green Bay, WI | 418 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 695 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| CWA Mosinee, WI | 487 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,277 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| EAU Eau Claire, WI | 567 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 913 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| LUM Menomonie, WI | 577 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 895 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 17,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 841 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,277 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
The forecast for BUF, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
- 30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 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 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.