Denver International to Williston Basin International DEN → XWA
506 nautical miles (582 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 004°, about 356° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 23 knots, gusting to 29; XWA is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 11 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: 2,710 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 8C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 169 to 258 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8C VALID UNTIL 0655Z NE SD WY FROM 50WNW RAP-20SSW RAP-60NW BFF-40ENE DDY-50WNW RAP DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 278 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 198 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 route from 179 to 327 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 last 248 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
- 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
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 50 nm west, 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 40 nm along the route, 50 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (DEN, BFF, RAP, DIK). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 170° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 9 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 32 min | 4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 180° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 9 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 29 min | 4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 32 kt | −30 kt | 10 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 22 min | 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 37 kt | −32 kt | 8 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 20 min | 4:01 am CDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −33 kt | 3 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 18 min | 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −31 kt | -2 °C | 151 kt | 3 h 21 min | 4:02 am CDT (09:02 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −30 kt | -6 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 22 min | 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | −28 kt | -9 °C | 148 kt | 3 h 25 min | 4:06 am CDT (09:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 42 kt | −32 kt | -21 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 20 min | 4:01 am CDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 39 kt | −27 kt | -35 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 27 min | 4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 49 kt | −26 kt | -39 °C | 146 kt | 3 h 28 min | 4:09 am CDT (09:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 58 kt | −25 kt | -47 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 29 min | 4:10 am CDT (09:10 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° | ||
| BFF | used from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 198 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| DIK | used from 347 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° |
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) |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 30 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 79 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 139 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 16,000 feet | from the east (080°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 05:24 UTC |
| LSK Lusk, WY | 179 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,966 ft | ||||
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 238 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the east (100°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,177 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 298 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| BHK Baker, MT | 387 nm out, 12 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the east (090°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 2,980 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| SDY Sidney, MT | 476 nm out, 16 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (040°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,985 ft | 05:22 UTC |
| XWA Williston, ND | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 600 ft | 2,356 ft | 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,159 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At XWA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for XWA
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- 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 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at XWA 7:10 pm CDT (00:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:41 pm CDT (00:41 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at XWA is before sunrise there (8:09 am CDT (13:09 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, Williston Basin International.