Plan a flight · Tue 3:22 am MDT (09:22 UTC)

Denver International to Kansas City International DEN → MCI

462 nautical miles (532 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 083° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 71-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots; MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 8,655 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 SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET SIERRA 9E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 39 to 187 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 last 275 nm of the route.

Turbulence No turbulence warning in force along the route. AIRMET in force: 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 275 nm of the route. 2 pilot reports of turbulence near the line in the last three hours: moderate turbulence, at 20,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 1:15 am MDT (07:15 UTC); light chop turbulence up to 23,000 ft, 31 nm west, 3:12 am MDT (09:12 UTC). The government's turbulence forecast map ↗

Icing No icing warning in force along the route. No pilot has reported icing near the line in the last three hours. The freezing level is about 14,500 ft (from the winds-aloft temperatures), so icing is possible in cloud above that. The government's icing forecast map ↗

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

B737 at 20,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 1:15 am MDT (07:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL200-115. At the departure end, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220040/TM 0715/FL200/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL200-115
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
07:15 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
FL200-115
B752 at 24,000 ft, 31 nm west, 3:12 am MDT (09:12 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. At the departure end, 31 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN279032/TM 0912/FL240/TP B752/TB LGT CHOP BLO 230/RM DURC. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
32 nm west (279°) of DEN
Time
09:12 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
light chop below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zdvwc
B737 descending, 3 nm south, 3:05 am MDT (09:05 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0905/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B737 at 7,600 ft, 3 nm south, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 6 SOUTH/TM 0724/FL076/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
6 south
Time
07:24 UTC
Height
at 7,600 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth

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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, SLN, MKC). 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	230° at 23 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	3 h 24 min	7:46 am CDT (12:46 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−18 kt	15 °C	138 kt	3 h 21 min	7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	3 h 18 min	7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−21 kt	6 °C	141 kt	3 h 17 min	7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	−25 kt	2 °C	145 kt	3 h 11 min	7:33 am CDT (12:33 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 37 kt	−29 kt	-3 °C	149 kt	3 h 06 min	7:28 am CDT (12:28 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 42 kt	−34 kt	-7 °C	154 kt	3 h	7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 43 kt	−35 kt	-8 °C	155 kt	2 h 59 min	7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 56 kt	−46 kt	-21 °C	166 kt	2 h 47 min	7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 86 kt	−71 kt	-29 °C	191 kt	2 h 25 min	6:47 am CDT (11:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 85 kt	−70 kt	-37 °C	190 kt	2 h 26 min	6:48 am CDT (11:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 81 kt	−66 kt	-49 °C	186 kt	2 h 29 min	6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC)

Based on data from the 13th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 13th 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			220/28 9°	220/38 4°	230/44 -13°	230/74 -21°	220/110 -30°	220/120 -38°	220/118 -48°
GLD	used from 49 nm out; 69 nm from the line		220/20	230/26 12°	220/28 5°	230/53 -8°	230/65 -22°	230/99 -29°	230/99 -37°	230/99 -49°
SLN	used from 246 nm out; 74 nm from the line	220/21	230/29 21°	230/27 12°	240/30 5°	250/37 -7°	250/46 -21°	250/77 -29°	250/74 -37°	250/64 -49°
MKC	used from 393 nm out; 52 nm from the line	250/26	260/24 19°	240/26 13°	250/31 5°	250/31 -7°	260/46 -20°	270/73 -28°	270/67 -37°	270/57 -49°

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	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	5,433 ft	2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC)
AKO Akron, CO	69 nm out, 21 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	300 ft	4,716 ft	08:53 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	138 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	400 ft	3,429 ft	09:15 UTC
ADT Atwood, KS	167 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	2,990 ft	09:15 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS	187 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	2,706 ft	09:15 UTC
PHG Phillipsburg, KS	246 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,910 ft	09:15 UTC
TKO Mankato, KS	295 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	no report just now				1,859 ft
CNK Concordia, KS	324 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the east-northeast (060°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,488 ft	08:55 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS	373 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (010°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,066 ft	08:52 UTC
TOP Topeka, KS	423 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the northeast (040°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	881 ft	08:53 UTC
MCI Kansas City, MO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,027 ft	3:53 am CDT (08:53 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.

The codes as issued, and in English, for every airport in the table

DEN Denver, CO

the observation and the forecast as issued, and in English

METAR KDEN 130853Z 34006KT 10SM OVC011 11/08 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP065 T01110078 50003

METAR: a routine hourly observation
KDEN: the station, KDEN
130853Z: observed 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC)
34006KT: wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots
10SM: visibility 10 miles
OVC011: overcast at 1,100 feet
11/08: temperature 11 °C (52 °F), dew point 8 °C (46 °F)
A2993: altimeter setting 29.93 inches of mercury
RMK: remarks follow
AO2: automated station with a precipitation sensor
SLP065: sea-level pressure 1006.5 hPa
T01110078: temperature 11.1 °C (52 °F), dew point 7.8 °C (46 °F)
50003: pressure in the last three hours rising, then falling, change 0.3 hPa

TAF KDEN 130830Z 1309/1412 34009KT P6SM BKN010 FM131100 02007KT P6SM BKN010 TEMPO 1311/1315 5SM BR BKN007 FM131700 05007KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040 FM132000 07011KT P6SM SCT050 SCT100 PROB30 1400/1406 -SHRA BKN050 FM140600 05009KT P6SM VCSH BKN050

TAF: a terminal aerodrome forecast: the weather expected at the airport, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours
KDEN: the station, KDEN
130830Z: issued 2:30 am MDT (08:30 UTC)
1309/1412 34009KT P6SM BKN010: valid from Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) to Wed 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
FM131100 02007KT P6SM BKN010: from Tue 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
TEMPO 1311/1315 5SM BR BKN007: at times from Tue 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC) to Tue 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet
FM131700 05007KT P6SM SCT020 BKN040: from Tue 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
FM132000 07011KT P6SM SCT050 SCT100: from Tue 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
PROB30 1400/1406 -SHRA BKN050: a 30% chance from Tue 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) to Wed 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
FM140600 05009KT P6SM VCSH BKN050: from Wed 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, vcsh, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

AKO Akron, CO