St. Louis Downtown Airport to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport CPS → MSP
403 nautical miles (464 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 341°, about 341° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CPS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) 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: 30 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 256 to 334 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 CPS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 34,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
- Time
- 23:25 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- 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 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 (STL, SPI, BRL, DBQ, MCW, 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 | 220° at 22 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 3 h 07 min | 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −2 kt | 16 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 18 min | 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −1 kt | 11 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 20 min | 12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +2 kt | 8 °C | 118 kt | 3 h 25 min | 12:13 am CDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +5 kt | 4 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 30 min | 12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | +6 kt | 0 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 32 min | 12:20 am CDT (05:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | +8 kt | -5 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 36 min | 12:24 am CDT (05:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 18 kt | +9 kt | -8 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 38 min | 12:26 am CDT (05:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 24 kt | +14 kt | -19 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 48 min | 12:36 am CDT (05:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 39 kt | +32 kt | -34 °C | 88 kt | 4 h 35 min | 1:23 am CDT (06:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 53 kt | +46 kt | -44 °C | 74 kt | 5 h 27 min | 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 68 kt | +50 kt | -53 °C | 70 kt | 5 h 45 min | 2:33 am CDT (07:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | used from 0 nm out; 13 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| SPI | used from 49 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| BRL | used from 98 nm out; 17 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| DBQ | used from 197 nm out; 52 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° |
| MCW | used from 246 nm out; 56 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° |
| MSP | used from 344 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 200/28 | 240/30 19° | 240/24 12° | 240/17 5° | 270/24 -10° | 270/33 -20° | 280/48 -35° | 290/55 -45° | 280/84 -54° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 412 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 20 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| PPQ Pittsfield, IL | 69 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 709 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| MQB Macomb, IL | 118 nm out, 17 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 705 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| BRL Burlington, IA | 138 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 698 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| IOW Iowa City, IA | 197 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 683 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 216 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 256 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| CJJ Cresco, IA | 305 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,279 ft | ||||
| RST Rochester, MN | 334 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 8 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| SYN Stanton, MN | 374 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 920 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 841 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 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, 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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 CPS, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.