Plan a flight · Sun 5:47 pm MDT (23:47 UTC)

Denver International to Southwest Wyoming Regional DEN → RKS

225 nautical miles (259 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 299°, about 291° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22; RKS is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 10 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: 1,461 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 W66W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 38,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm MDT (00:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 112255
MKCW WST 112255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 66W
VALID UNTIL 0055Z
CO WY UT
FROM 10NW OCS-60W CHE-50ESE MTU-50N MTU-10NW OCS
AREA TS MOV FROM 21040KT. TOPS TO FL380.
```
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the whole route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 147 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 127 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 166 to 215 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

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
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
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 20 nm northeast, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 39 nm along the route, 20 nm northeast 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
A319 at 22,000 ft, 19 nm northeast, 3:42 pm MDT (21:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 59 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BJC UA /OV BJC322047/TM 2142/FL220/TP A319/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through BJC
Where
47 nm northwest (322°) of BJC
Time
21:42 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
A21N at 33,000 ft, 22 nm south, 4:35 pm MDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave +25-30KTS. 127 nm along the route, 22 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HDN UA /OV CHE/TM 2235/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD/RM MTN WAVE +25-30KTS
```
Report
a routine report filed through HDN
Where
over CHE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mountain wave +25-30KTS
A320 at 8,000 ft, 31 nm east, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 31 nm east 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, 46 nm northeast, 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. At the departure end, 46 nm northeast 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
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
B737 at 15,000 ft, 21 nm east, 3:37 pm MDT (21:37 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. At the departure end, 21 nm east 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
CRJ2 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 3:31 pm MDT (21:31 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2131/FL065/TP CRJ2/TB LGT CHOP ON FINAL RWY16L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
21:31 UTC
Height
at 6,500 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
light chop on final runway 16L
E75L at 13,000 ft, 12 nm south, 3:07 pm MDT (21:07 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: below 17,000 ft. At the departure end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN200010/TM 2107/FL130/TP E75L/TB LT OCNL MOD/RM BLO 170
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
10 nm south (200°) of DEN
Time
21:07 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
lt occasional moderate
Remarks
below 17,000 ft
B38M at 15,000 ft, 23 nm southeast, 3:04 pm MDT (21:04 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN130020/TM 2104/FL150/TP B38M/TB LT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
20 nm southeast (130°) of DEN
Time
21:04 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
lt chop
B730 at 37,000 ft, 34 nm southwest, 3:11 pm MDT (21:11 UTC): remarks: mtw +15/-10KT ZDVWC-30. 10 nm along the route, 34 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK310040/TM 2111/FL370/TP B730/RM MTW +15/-10KT ZDVWC-30
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
40 nm northwest (310°) of BRK
Time
21:11 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B730
Remarks
mtw +15/-10KT ZDVWC-30

9 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 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 2 forecast points nearest it (DEN, RKS). 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	190° at 38 kt	−11 kt	16 °C	131 kt	1 h 43 min	7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC)
10,500 ft	200° at 44 kt	−5 kt	12 °C	125 kt	1 h 48 min	7:35 pm MDT (01:35 UTC)
12,500 ft	210° at 50 kt	+3 kt	4 °C	117 kt	1 h 55 min	7:42 pm MDT (01:42 UTC)
14,500 ft	210° at 50 kt	+6 kt	-1 °C	114 kt	1 h 58 min	7:45 pm MDT (01:45 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 49 kt	+9 kt	-5 °C	111 kt	2 h 02 min	7:49 pm MDT (01:49 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 48 kt	+11 kt	-9 °C	109 kt	2 h 04 min	7:51 pm MDT (01:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 51 kt	+9 kt	-21 °C	111 kt	2 h 02 min	7:49 pm MDT (01:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 49 kt	+14 kt	-33 °C	106 kt	2 h 07 min	7:54 pm MDT (01:54 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 63 kt	+32 kt	-37 °C	88 kt	2 h 33 min	8:20 pm MDT (02:20 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 70 kt	+41 kt	-46 °C	79 kt	2 h 51 min	8:38 pm MDT (02:38 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°
RKS	used from 98 nm out; 103 nm from the line			190/43	210/65 3°	210/57 -9°	210/56 -21°	210/47 -33°	230/63 -37°	240/77 -46°

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, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	22,000 ft	5,433 ft	4:53 pm MDT (22:53 UTC)
BJC Denver, CO	20 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	22:45 UTC
GNB Granby, CO	59 nm out, 15 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	10,000 ft	8,207 ft	23:35 UTC
SBS Steamboat Springs, CO	108 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	10,000 ft	6,882 ft	23:35 UTC
DWX Dixon, WY	147 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29	10+ mi	none	6,548 ft	23:35 UTC
RKS Rock Springs, WY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	6,764 ft	5:26 pm MDT (23:26 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 8,207 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RKS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:30 pm MDT (01:30 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RKS

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 30 knots, gusting to 45, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet

The forecast for DEN, the departure

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 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 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, 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 RKS 6:40 pm MDT (00:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm MDT (01:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RKS is after sunset there (6:41 pm MDT (00:41 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, 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, Southwest Wyoming Regional.