Plan a flight · Sun 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC)

Denver International to Des Moines International DEN → DSM

511 nautical miles (588 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 075°, about 067° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:23 pm CDT (03:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 9 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: 4,640 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 36,000 ft. Over the first 108 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 20 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 DEN.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

urgent E545 at 6,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 3:49 pm MDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. At the departure end, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV APA350002/TM 2149/FL060/TP E545/RM LLWS +/- 5 KT FAP RWY 17L
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
2 nm north (350°) of APA
Time
21:49 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E545
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 38 nm south, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
A21N at 32,000 ft, 14 nm north, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 39 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 3 nm north, 5:31 pm MDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 49 nm along the route, 3 nm north 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
A321 descending, 3 nm south, 6:26 pm MDT (00:26 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 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
00:26 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
B737 at 14,000 ft, 28 nm south, 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, 28 nm south 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
B737 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2327/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 6,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no turbulence on final runway 17R
B737 descending, 3 nm south, 4:29 pm MDT (22:29 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 2229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
E75L at 10,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 5:45 pm MDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm north (350°) of DEN
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
light from the surface to 17,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 15,000 ft, 7 nm south, 3:37 pm MDT (21:37 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. At the departure end, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN080020/TM 2137/FL150/TP B737/TB CONS LGT OCNL CHOP 150-180/RM DURC ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
20 nm east (080°) of DEN
Time
21:37 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous light occasional chop from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zdvwc
A320 at 8,000 ft, 10 nm south, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 29 nm along the route, 10 nm south 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
B738 at 35,000 ft, 14 nm north, 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. 39 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
ZDVWC-07
B789 at 40,000 ft, 23 nm north, 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 157 nm along the route, 23 nm north 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

3 more routine reports are on the map.

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 5 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM). 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 29 kt	−20 kt	19 °C	140 kt	3 h 39 min	11:10 pm CDT (04:10 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	−19 kt	16 °C	139 kt	3 h 41 min	11:12 pm CDT (04:12 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	−19 kt	12 °C	139 kt	3 h 41 min	11:12 pm CDT (04:12 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	−19 kt	7 °C	139 kt	3 h 41 min	11:12 pm CDT (04:12 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−21 kt	3 °C	141 kt	3 h 37 min	11:08 pm CDT (04:08 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	−25 kt	-2 °C	145 kt	3 h 31 min	11:02 pm CDT (04:02 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 29 kt	−29 kt	-6 °C	149 kt	3 h 26 min	10:57 pm CDT (03:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 30 kt	−30 kt	-7 °C	150 kt	3 h 24 min	10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-19 °C	153 kt	3 h 20 min	10:51 pm CDT (03:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 43 kt	−42 kt	-32 °C	162 kt	3 h 09 min	10:40 pm CDT (03:40 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 54 kt	−53 kt	-40 °C	173 kt	2 h 57 min	10:28 pm CDT (03:28 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 58 kt	−58 kt	-50 °C	178 kt	2 h 52 min	10:23 pm CDT (03:23 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
DEN	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°
GLD	used from 98 nm out; 62 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 196 nm out; 77 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 344 nm out; 41 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 442 nm out; 44 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°

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 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	22,000 ft	5,433 ft	5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC)
FMM Fort Morgan, CO	49 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	4,595 ft	00:15 UTC
AKO Akron, CO	69 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	23:53 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	147 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the east (080°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	23:53 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	187 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	23:53 UTC
LXN Lexington, NE	236 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,412 ft	00:15 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	295 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	23:53 UTC
AUH Aurora, NE	314 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,803 ft	00:15 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	363 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	23:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	413 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	23:52 UTC
GFZ Greenfield, IA	471 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				1,363 ft
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	6:54 pm CDT (23:54 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 DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:23 pm CDT (03:23 UTC)

Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for DEN, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet and more above
From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet
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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at DSM 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DSM is after sunset there (6:40 pm CDT (23:40 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Denver International, Des Moines International.