Denver International to Columbia Regional DEN → COU
581 nautical miles (669 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 092°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29; COU is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 612 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 89 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 89 to 562 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
- B738 at 23,000 ft, 28 nm west, 8:34 pm MDT (02:34 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. At the departure end, 28 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0234/FL230/TP B738/TB MOD /RM DURC ZDVWC-05
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of DVV
- Time
- 02:34 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-05
- A320 descending, 3 nm south, 9:19 pm MDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 03:19 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 8:29 pm MDT (02:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 02:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
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 (DEN, GLD, SLN, MKC, COU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | −23 kt | 143 kt | 4 h 04 min | 4:39 am CDT (09:39 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 40 kt | −29 kt | 149 kt | 3 h 54 min | 4:29 am CDT (09:29 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | −25 kt | 16 °C | 145 kt | 4 h | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | −21 kt | 13 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 07 min | 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −16 kt | 8 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 16 min | 4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −16 kt | 4 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 16 min | 4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −18 kt | -1 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 13 min | 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -6 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 09 min | 4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -7 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 09 min | 4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 32 kt | −25 kt | -20 °C | 145 kt | 4 h | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 55 kt | −49 kt | -30 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 26 min | 4:01 am CDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 57 kt | −53 kt | -37 °C | 173 kt | 3 h 22 min | 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | −53 kt | -48 °C | 173 kt | 3 h 22 min | 3:57 am CDT (08:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 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 49 nm out; 69 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° | |
| SLN | used from 246 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 394 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 542 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
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 Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC) |
| RYA Wray, CO | 108 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,677 ft | ||||
| SYF St Francis, KS | 128 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 187 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 246 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| CYW Clay Center, KS | 345 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,208 ft | ||||
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 374 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 424 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MKC Kansas City, MO | 473 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| VER Boonville, MO | 562 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 715 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:57 am CDT (08:57 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for COU
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 25 knots, gusting to 37
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 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, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COU is before sunrise there (7:15 am CDT (12:15 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, Columbia Regional.