Dodge City Regional to Sheridan County DDC → SHR
526 nautical miles (605 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 325°, about 317° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:52 am MDT (09:52 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DDC is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21; SHR is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 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 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 first 248 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 328 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 228 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 last 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 69 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 0 nm of the route.
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 DDC.
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 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 (GCK, GLD, BFF, RAP, LND, BIL). 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 | 210° at 31 kt | −15 kt | 18 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 54 min | 3:52 am MDT (09:52 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | −14 kt | 17 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 56 min | 3:54 am MDT (09:54 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | −9 kt | 12 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 05 min | 4:03 am MDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 31 kt | −7 kt | 10 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 09 min | 4:07 am MDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −7 kt | 5 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 09 min | 4:07 am MDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −5 kt | 0 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 12 min | 4:10 am MDT (10:10 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | −4 kt | -5 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 15 min | 4:13 am MDT (10:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 31 kt | −3 kt | -8 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 17 min | 4:15 am MDT (10:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 37 kt | −4 kt | -21 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 15 min | 4:13 am MDT (10:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 51 kt | −3 kt | -31 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 17 min | 4:15 am MDT (10:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 56 kt | +7 kt | -36 °C | 113 kt | 4 h 39 min | 4:37 am MDT (10:37 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 57 kt | +15 kt | -46 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 01 min | 4:59 am MDT (10:59 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| GLD | used from 99 nm out; 11 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° | |
| BFF | used from 198 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 397 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| LND | used from 447 nm out; 134 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| BIL | used from 496 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDC Dodge City, KS | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 9 mi | none | 2,595 ft | 12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC) |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 30 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| TQK Scott City, KS | 60 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 22 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | none | 2,968 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 149 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| RYA Wray, CO | 179 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,677 ft | ||||
| SNY Sidney, NE | 248 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 19:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 298 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 347 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| DGW Douglas, WY | 387 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,932 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| BYG Buffalo, WY | 496 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 7 mi | 300 ft | 4,970 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SHR Sheridan, WY | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 4,021 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,970 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SHR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:52 am MDT (09:52 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, a few clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for SHR
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, a few clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light drizzle, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,600 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, fog nearby, a few clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet and more above
The forecast for DDC, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 22 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 DDC 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC), at SHR 6:28 pm MDT (00:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm MDT (00:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SHR is before sunrise there (7:19 am MDT (13:19 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: Dodge City Regional, Sheridan County.