Plan a flight · Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC)

Dallas-Fort Worth International to Rifle Garfield County DFW → RIL

652 nautical miles (751 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 311°, about 307° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:10 am MDT (12:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DFW is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 knots; RIL is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 3W: 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 297 to 405 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 257 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 425 to 474 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 188 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 158 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 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 DFW.

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

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 11:30 pm CDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 613 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
PC12 at 26,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 1:27 am CDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 554 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
40 nm east (090°) of HBU
Time
06:27 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-12
E170 at 22,500 ft, 39 nm northeast, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 554 nm along the route, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 37 nm northeast, 1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 563 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
B738 at 23,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 1:23 am CDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 573 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
E170 at 4,800 ft, 44 nm southwest, 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. At the destination end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
06:31 UTC
Height
at 4,800 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc

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 7 forecast points nearest it (DAL, SPS, AMA, TCC, PUB, ALS, GJT). 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	210° at 35 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	5 h 10 min	6:10 am MDT (12:10 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 32 kt	−2 kt	16 °C	122 kt	5 h 21 min	6:21 am MDT (12:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+3 kt	12 °C	117 kt	5 h 34 min	6:34 am MDT (12:34 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	+6 kt	9 °C	114 kt	5 h 43 min	6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	+8 kt	5 °C	112 kt	5 h 49 min	6:49 am MDT (12:49 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+6 kt	1 °C	114 kt	5 h 43 min	6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	+5 kt	-3 °C	115 kt	5 h 40 min	6:40 am MDT (12:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 32 kt	+4 kt	-6 °C	116 kt	5 h 37 min	6:37 am MDT (12:37 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 40 kt	+11 kt	-19 °C	109 kt	5 h 59 min	6:59 am MDT (12:59 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 59 kt	+25 kt	-28 °C	95 kt	6 h 52 min	7:52 am MDT (13:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 55 kt	+29 kt	-36 °C	91 kt	7 h 10 min	8:10 am MDT (14:10 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 47 kt	+28 kt	-48 °C	92 kt	7 h 05 min	8:05 am MDT (14:05 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
DAL	used from 0 nm out; 34 nm from the line	190/29	220/23 17°	220/17 13°	250/18 8°	230/18 -5°	240/18 -15°	270/34 -29°	280/33 -39°	300/36 -51°
SPS	used from 49 nm out; 24 nm from the line	200/39	220/28 17°	230/27 12°	240/15 9°	250/15 -4°	250/24 -15°	260/45 -28°	270/43 -39°	280/45 -51°
AMA	used from 198 nm out; 60 nm from the line		210/38	230/29 14°	240/29 7°	220/27 -5°	240/37 -18°	240/66 -28°	250/59 -37°	260/47 -49°
TCC	used from 346 nm out; 102 nm from the line		210/42	230/33 14°	230/32 6°	220/35 -6°	230/49 -19°	240/72 -27°	250/62 -36°	250/52 -48°
PUB	used from 395 nm out; 71 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
ALS	used from 544 nm out; 80 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
GJT	used from 593 nm out; 66 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -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
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	departure	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	606 ft	1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC)
DTO Denton, TX	20 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	642 ft	06:53 UTC
SPS Wichita Falls, TX	99 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,019 ft	06:52 UTC
AXS Altus, OK	158 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	1,433 ft	06:35 UTC
PPA Pampa, TX	257 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	none	3,245 ft	06:30 UTC
BGD Borger, TX	277 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	3,055 ft	06:51 UTC
CAO Clayton, NM	366 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 18 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	4,969 ft	06:55 UTC
TAD Trinidad, CO	445 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	5,761 ft	06:54 UTC
ANK Salida, CO	554 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	7,523 ft	06:55 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	613 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet	variable at 3 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	7,837 ft	06:53 UTC
RIL Rifle, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	5,536 ft	12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:10 am MDT (12:10 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIL

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet

The forecast for DFW, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

9/2934 DALLAS, TX 11 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC), at RIL 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 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 Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern 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: Dallas-Fort Worth International, Rifle Garfield County.