Des Moines International to Nantucket Memorial DSM → ACK
1,060 nautical miles (1,220 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 083°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; ACK is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25. 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
- SIGMET E27E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC). Over the last 40 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120755 MKCE WST 120755 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 27E VALID UNTIL 0955Z MA RI NY AND MA RI DE NJ NY MD CT CSTL WTRS FROM 60NE ACK-90ESE ACK-200SSE HTO-160SE SIE-HTO-60NE ACK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL350. REF INTL SIGMET LIMA SERIES.
- 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 first 180 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the last 680 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 650 to 860 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 250 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: 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 10 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 DSM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 25 nm south, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 440 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 13 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE, BUF, PSB, AVP, JFK, BDL, ACK). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 7 h 58 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | −11 kt | 12 °C | 131 kt | 8 h 05 min | 1:04 pm EDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 12 °C | 132 kt | 8 h 02 min | 1:01 pm EDT (17:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 8 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 58 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 4 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 48 min | 12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | −18 kt | 0 °C | 138 kt | 7 h 41 min | 12:40 pm EDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | −20 kt | -4 °C | 140 kt | 7 h 34 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 24 kt | −21 kt | -8 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 31 min | 12:30 pm EDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 7 h 28 min | 12:27 pm EDT (16:27 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 28 kt | −27 kt | -21 °C | 147 kt | 7 h 13 min | 12:12 pm EDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 36 kt | −34 kt | -36 °C | 154 kt | 6 h 53 min | 11:52 am EDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 47 kt | −44 kt | -43 °C | 164 kt | 6 h 28 min | 11:27 am EDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 52 kt | −48 kt | -51 °C | 168 kt | 6 h 19 min | 11:18 am EDT (15:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| BRL | used from 50 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DBQ | used from 100 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| JOT | used from 200 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| MKG | used from 300 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| FWA | used from 350 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| CLE | used from 450 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
| BUF | used from 600 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 300/11 | 330/15 11° | 340/26 8° | 330/28 2° | 340/31 -10° | 340/32 -21° | 340/52 -37° | 340/59 -46° | 330/66 -53° |
| PSB | used from 700 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 020/21 12° | 360/28 7° | 360/29 1° | 350/33 -10° | 350/42 -22° | 350/49 -37° | 340/63 -43° | 350/39 -52° | |
| AVP | used from 750 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 010/20 | 020/24 11° | 360/19 8° | 350/23 2° | 320/24 -11° | 330/25 -22° | 330/27 -37° | 310/28 -42° | 290/30 -50° |
| JFK | used from 850 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 020/25 | 290/9 12° | 300/12 7° | 320/14 3° | 290/17 -10° | 240/27 -21° | 240/44 -36° | 240/53 -41° | 240/51 -50° |
| BDL | used from 900 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 020/15 | 010/19 10° | 340/10 7° | 300/17 3° | 280/23 -10° | 250/35 -22° | 250/44 -38° | 250/55 -42° | 250/57 -51° |
| ACK | used from 1000 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 340/16 | 270/32 14° | 260/37 9° | 260/30 4° | 250/41 -9° | 250/49 -21° | 240/92 -34° | 240/107 -42° | 240/94 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM Des Moines, IA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC) |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 90 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 140 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 240 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 758 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 330 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 798 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| DTW Detroit, MI | 460 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 645 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ERI Erie, PA | 600 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| BFD Bradford, PA | 670 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,143 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ELM Elmira/Corning, NY | 750 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 955 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| POU Poughkeepsie, NY | 890 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 163 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| MVY Vineyard Haven, MA | 1030 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 15 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 66 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ACK Nantucket, MA | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25 | 8 mi | 300 ft | 46 ft | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,143 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ACK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for ACK
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 13 knots, gusting to 18, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for DSM, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 580 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 580 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/7153 North Sicuate, RI, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 990 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZBW
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at ACK 6:04 pm EDT (22:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 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: Des Moines International, Nantucket Memorial.