Denver International to Seattle-Tacoma International DEN → SEA
888 nautical miles (1,022 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 307°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:13 am PDT (18:13 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) 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: 13,321 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 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 220 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 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 709 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 80 to 170 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 519 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 140 to 150 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 369 to 649 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 539 to 709 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 569 to 858 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
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 2:10 am MDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 08:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the departure end, 15 nm southwest 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
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 9 forecast points nearest it (DEN, RKS, LND, PIH, DLN, BOI, LWS, YKM, SEA). 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 | 250° at 4 kt | +2 kt | -1 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 32 min | 11:28 am PDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 7 kt | +1 kt | -3 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 28 min | 11:24 am PDT (18:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 10 kt | +1 kt | -5 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 28 min | 11:24 am PDT (18:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | 0 | -9 °C | 120 kt | 7 h 24 min | 11:20 am PDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 16 kt | −1 kt | -13 °C | 121 kt | 7 h 20 min | 11:16 am PDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 18 kt | −2 kt | -16 °C | 122 kt | 7 h 17 min | 11:13 am PDT (18:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 27 kt | +4 kt | -26 °C | 116 kt | 7 h 39 min | 11:35 am PDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 32 kt | +6 kt | -34 °C | 114 kt | 7 h 47 min | 11:43 am PDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 38 kt | +9 kt | -37 °C | 111 kt | 8 h | 11:56 am PDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 41 kt | +9 kt | -43 °C | 111 kt | 8 h | 11:56 am PDT (18:56 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 100 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 250 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| PIH | used from 349 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 449 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| BOI | used from 549 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 320/11 1° | 280/8 -5° | 220/14 -11° | 200/60 -19° | 190/66 -31° | 210/46 -32° | 220/50 -33° | 220/43 -39° | |
| LWS | used from 599 nm out; 56 nm from the line | L/V | 340/5 -3° | L/V -6° | 040/7 -10° | 100/23 -22° | 180/30 -31° | 190/11 -34° | 200/11 -36° | 220/23 -40° |
| YKM | used from 749 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| SEA | used from 848 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -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, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,673 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 150 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet | from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 6,548 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 299 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,993 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | 399 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,700 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 4,743 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| LLJ Challis, ID | 509 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,900 feet | from the north (360°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 5,075 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| MYL Mc Call, ID | 589 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 5,024 ft | 10:51 UTC |
| ALW Walla Walla, WA | 709 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,194 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| PSC Pasco, WA | 739 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 410 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| ELN Ellensburg, WA | 809 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 1,763 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SEA Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 432 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:13 am PDT (18:13 UTC)
Wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for SEA
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at SEA 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.