Plan a flight · Sun 8:10 pm MDT (02:10 UTC)

City Of Colorado Springs Municipal to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field COS → MSN

742 nautical miles (854 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 065°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 55-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:24 am CDT (06:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now COS is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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

SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm MDT (03:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO NM
FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN
AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 59 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 69 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 158 to 613 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

UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 5:31 pm MDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 79 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 34 nm north, 6:18 pm MDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 208 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E55P at 38,000 ft, 25 nm northwest, 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV FQF200040/TM 0123/FL380/TP E55P/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm south (200°) of FQF
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-05
GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 20 nm north, 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS340020/TM 0048/FL400/TP GLF6/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
20 nm north (340°) of COS
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
B737 at 25,000 ft, 11 nm west, 6:29 pm MDT (00:29 UTC): light rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-29. At the departure end, 11 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK242015/TM 0029/FL250/TP B737/SK TOP280/TA 00/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC ZDVWC-29
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm southwest (242°) of BRK
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
TOP280
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-29
A21N at 31,000 ft, 33 nm southeast, 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC): remarks: mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29. At the departure end, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB/TM 0024/FL310/TP A21N/RM MTN WAVE +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
over PUB
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Remarks
mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
CL35 at 43,000 ft, 47 nm southwest, 6:21 pm MDT (00:21 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-300FT zdvwc. At the departure end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0021/FL430/TP CL35/RM MTW +/-300FT ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (250°) of PUB
Time
00:21 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Remarks
mtw +/-300FT zdvwc
B737 at 14,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. At the departure end, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm south (170°) of DEN
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
A320 at 8,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 59 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm east (080°) of DEN
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B789 at 40,000 ft, 50 nm northwest, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 188 nm along the route, 50 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 198 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
E295 at 37,000 ft, 46 nm east, 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop

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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, MCW, DBQ). 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	210° at 27 kt	−23 kt	19 °C	143 kt	5 h 11 min	2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	−22 kt	15 °C	142 kt	5 h 14 min	2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	−21 kt	12 °C	141 kt	5 h 16 min	2:26 am CDT (07:26 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	−19 kt	7 °C	139 kt	5 h 20 min	2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	−21 kt	3 °C	141 kt	5 h 16 min	2:26 am CDT (07:26 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	−23 kt	-2 °C	143 kt	5 h 11 min	2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-6 °C	146 kt	5 h 05 min	2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 27 kt	−27 kt	-7 °C	147 kt	5 h 03 min	2:13 am CDT (07:13 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 30 kt	−31 kt	-19 °C	151 kt	4 h 55 min	2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 40 kt	−41 kt	-32 °C	161 kt	4 h 37 min	1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 48 kt	−48 kt	-41 °C	168 kt	4 h 25 min	1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 59 kt	−55 kt	-51 °C	175 kt	4 h 14 min	1:24 am CDT (06:24 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
PUB	used from 0 nm out; 43 nm from the line			210/24 16°	210/28 8°	230/43 -8°	240/42 -21°	240/77 -30°	240/72 -36°	250/51 -47°
GLD	used from 49 nm out; 72 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
GRI	used from 247 nm out; 50 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 396 nm out; 20 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°
DSM	used from 495 nm out; 38 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
MCW	used from 544 nm out; 52 nm from the line	200/35	240/33 18°	250/20 10°	260/10 6°	270/18 -8°	260/28 -19°	280/30 -34°	290/49 -43°	280/70 -54°
DBQ	used from 594 nm out; 59 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -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
COS Colorado Springs, CO	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 17,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	17,000 ft	6,187 ft	7:54 pm MDT (01:54 UTC)
LIC Limon, CO	59 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	5,374 ft	01:55 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	148 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	01:55 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	208 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	01:53 UTC
EAR Kearney, NE	287 nm out, 0 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	2,131 ft	01:56 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	327 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	01:53 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	435 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	01:52 UTC
EFW Jefferson, IA	515 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	no report just now				1,047 ft
BNW Boone, IA	534 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,160 ft	01:55 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	604 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	01:54 UTC
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	703 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
MSN Madison, WI	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 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 MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:24 am CDT (06:24 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSN

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.