Des Moines International to Miami International DSM → MIA
1,154 nautical miles (1,328 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 141°, about 140° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots; MIA 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: 344 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 first 159 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). Near the route, 527 nm along 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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, COU, STL, CGI, BNA, HSV, BHM, CSG, TLH, PIE, MLB, MIA). 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 | 280° at 14 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 8 h 53 min | 1:13 pm EDT (17:13 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 8 h 45 min | 1:05 pm EDT (17:05 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | −14 kt | 14 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 37 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 8 h 33 min | 12:53 pm EDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 8 °C | 133 kt | 8 h 41 min | 1:01 pm EDT (17:01 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | −13 kt | 3 °C | 133 kt | 8 h 41 min | 1:01 pm EDT (17:01 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −14 kt | -1 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 37 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | −14 kt | -5 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 37 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 19 kt | −14 kt | -6 °C | 134 kt | 8 h 37 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 23 kt | −18 kt | -18 °C | 138 kt | 8 h 22 min | 12:42 pm EDT (16:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 29 kt | −26 kt | -32 °C | 146 kt | 7 h 54 min | 12:14 pm EDT (16:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 32 kt | −29 kt | -41 °C | 149 kt | 7 h 45 min | 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 30 kt | −27 kt | -51 °C | 147 kt | 7 h 51 min | 12:11 pm EDT (16:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 50 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| COU | used from 149 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| STL | used from 199 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| CGI | used from 249 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| BNA | used from 398 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| HSV | used from 448 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BHM | used from 547 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| CSG | used from 647 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| TLH | used from 746 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
| PIE | used from 896 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -52° |
| MLB | used from 995 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/6 | 230/12 17° | 240/13 12° | 240/14 7° | 240/20 -5° | 240/24 -16° | 210/21 -32° | 190/33 -41° | 200/36 -52° |
| MIA | used from 1095 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 150/7 | 140/5 17° | 160/5 14° | L/V 9° | 230/8 -5° | 230/8 -17° | 150/11 -32° | 150/25 -41° | 180/29 -51° |
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 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC) |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 60 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,023 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SUS St Louis, MO | 219 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 463 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 318 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 20:53 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 348 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 527 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| AUO Auburn, AL | 667 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 776 ft | 05:21 UTC | |
| ABY Albany, GA | 756 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 196 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| CTY Cross City, FL | 876 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 42 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| BOW Bartow, FL | 1005 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 124 ft | 08:15 UTC |
| FXE Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1134 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MIA Miami, FL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,023 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MIA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MIA
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 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
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 22 nm from the route, 985 nm along the route · security · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at MIA 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 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, Miami International.