City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Joe Foss Field COS → FSD
460 nautical miles (529 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 049°, about 041° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:04 am CDT (06:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now COS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) 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: 6 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 W11W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 pm MDT (04:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120255 MKCW WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11W VALID UNTIL 0455Z CO NM FROM 20WNW PUB-10ENE CIM-50WNW ABQ-30NNE DVC-20WNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 140 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 80 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 110 to 240 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 COS.
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 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (PUB, DEN, GLD, ONL, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −37 kt | 20 °C | 157 kt | 2 h 56 min | 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −32 kt | 15 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 02 min | 1:26 am CDT (06:26 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −29 kt | 13 °C | 149 kt | 3 h 05 min | 1:29 am CDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 8 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 09 min | 1:33 am CDT (06:33 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 3 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 10 min | 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -2 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 10 min | 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -7 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -8 °C | 144 kt | 3 h 12 min | 1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 32 kt | −32 kt | -21 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 02 min | 1:26 am CDT (06:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 53 kt | −52 kt | -32 °C | 172 kt | 2 h 40 min | 1:04 am CDT (06:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 55 kt | −52 kt | -37 °C | 172 kt | 2 h 40 min | 1:04 am CDT (06:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | −51 kt | -47 °C | 171 kt | 2 h 41 min | 1:05 am CDT (06:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUB | used from 0 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| DEN | used from 50 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GLD | used from 100 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 250 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 400 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 16,000 ft | 6,187 ft | 8:54 pm MDT (02:54 UTC) |
| LIC Limon, CO | 50 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 110 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GGF Grant, NE | 180 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east (080°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,424 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| OGA Ogallala, NE | 190 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the east (080°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,279 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| LBF North Platte, NE | 230 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,777 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 310 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 350 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,033 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 410 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 9:56 pm CDT (02:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 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, 1:04 am CDT (06:04 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 COS, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 25 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 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: City Of Colorado Springs Municipal, Joe Foss Field.