Denver International to Meadows Field DEN → BFL
733 nautical miles (843 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 253°, about 245° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 11:57 am PDT (18:57 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots; BFL is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 8 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: 1,450 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 W22W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 6:55 am MDT (12:55 UTC). Over the route from 356 to 505 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121055 MKCW WST 121055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22W VALID UNTIL 1255Z AZ UT NV FROM 40W DTA-40WNW HVE-20SSE BCE-50NE LAS-70ENE BTY-40W DTA AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 406 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 178 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 89 to 485 nm out.
- 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 route from 139 to 178 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 554 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 188 to 663 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 693 to 723 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 DEN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 17 nm northwest, 4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 30 nm along the route, 17 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- PC12 at 5,000 ft, 14 nm north, 5:23 am MDT (11:23 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 188 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 1123/FL050/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD/IC NEG/RM DURD. ZDVWC-
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 11:23 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GJT, BCE, LAS, WJF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 29 min | 11:57 am PDT (18:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +23 kt | 1 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 33 min | 12:01 pm PDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | +26 kt | -2 °C | 94 kt | 7 h 48 min | 12:16 pm PDT (19:16 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 37 kt | +31 kt | -6 °C | 89 kt | 8 h 14 min | 12:42 pm PDT (19:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 44 kt | +36 kt | -10 °C | 84 kt | 8 h 44 min | 1:12 pm PDT (20:12 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 49 kt | +41 kt | -13 °C | 79 kt | 9 h 17 min | 1:45 pm PDT (20:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 59 kt | +52 kt | -22 °C | 68 kt | 10 h 47 min | 3:15 pm PDT (22:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 69 kt | +63 kt | -30 °C | 57 kt | 12 h 52 min | 5:20 pm PDT (00:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 70 kt | +65 kt | -37 °C | 55 kt | 13 h 20 min | 5:48 pm PDT (00:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 66 kt | +61 kt | -45 °C | 59 kt | 12 h 25 min | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GJT | used from 99 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| BCE | used from 297 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| LAS | used from 446 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| WJF | used from 644 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/26 4° | 210/28 2° | 230/23 -4° | 240/28 -13° | 220/47 -23° | 220/57 -30° | 220/65 -37° | 220/59 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
| BJC Denver, CO | 20 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,673 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | 109 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 188 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 15 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,861 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CNY Moab, UT | 248 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 12,000 ft | 4,579 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HVE Hanksville, UT | 297 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,453 ft | 11:10 UTC |
| CDC Cedar City, UT | 416 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 5,622 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SGU St George, UT | 446 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,883 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| IYK Inyokern, CA | 673 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,457 ft | ||||
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 509 ft | 3:54 am PDT (10:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:57 am PDT (18:57 UTC)
Wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BFL
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 545 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC on the route, 693 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at BFL 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm PDT (01:49 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: Denver International, Meadows Field.