Plan a flight · Sun 10:33 pm CDT (03:33 UTC)

Des Moines International to Portland International DSM → PDX

1,275 nautical miles (1,467 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 290° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:55 am PDT (13:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; PDX is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 4 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: 114 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 1C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Near the route, 498 nm along the route.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 120255
MKCC WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1C
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
SD ND MT WY
FROM 30WSW DIK-50NW DPR-60WNW RAP-50ENE SHR-30WSW DIK
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
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 129 nm of the route.
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 359 to 896 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 428 to 677 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 538 to 787 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 578 to 727 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 598 to 1106 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 618 to 936 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 837 to 1016 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the route from 847 to 1215 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 149 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

S22T at 15,000 ft, 40 nm south, 8:47 pm CDT (01:47 UTC): moderate rime icing above 15,000 ft, -5 °C. 737 nm along the route, 40 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV DNW010020/TM 0147/FL150/TP S22T/TA M05/IC MOD RIME 150 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
20 nm north (010°) of DNW
Time
01:47 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
S22T
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
moderate rime at 15,000 ft zlc
EPIC at 31,000 ft, 49 nm northwest, 8:38 pm CDT (01:38 UTC): moderate turbulence from 30,000 ft to 31,000 ft, remarks: zse. At the destination end, 49 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AST UA /OV AST070020/TM 0138/FL310/TP EPIC/TB MOD 310-300/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through AST
Where
20 nm east (070°) of AST
Time
01:38 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
EPIC
Turbulence
moderate from 31,000 ft to 30,000 ft
Remarks
zse
B739 at 10,000 ft, 30 nm west, 8:19 pm CDT (01:19 UTC): moderate rime icing from 10,000 ft to 12,000 ft, -12 °C. At the destination end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PDX UA /OV 30W PDX/TM 0119/FL100/TP B739/TA M12/IC MOD RIME 120-100
```
Report
a routine report filed through PDX
Where
30W pdx
Time
01:19 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Temperature
−12 °C
Icing
moderate rime from 12,000 ft to 10,000 ft
B763 at 32,000 ft, 25 nm north, 8:29 pm CDT (01:29 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 359 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RAP UA /OV RAP084081/TM 0129/FL320/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RAP
Where
81 nm east (084°) of RAP
Time
01:29 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
BE20 at 15,000 ft, 14 nm north, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): -5 °C, remarks: clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31. 498 nm along the route, 14 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CUT UA /OV ECS340020/TM 0156/FL150/TP BE20/TA M05/IC T RIME 150-180/RM CLR OUT AT 220 ZDVWC-31
```
Report
a routine report filed through CUT
Where
20 nm north (340°) of ECS
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
T rime from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
Remarks
clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31
UAL1076 at 30,000 ft, 25 nm south, 9:36 pm CDT (02:36 UTC): light turbulence, wind 225° at 60 knots. 637 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1076 4405N 10749W 0236 F300 225/060KT TB CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
PC12 at 6,000 ft, 24 nm north, 7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC): overcast above 6,000 ft. 1106 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALW UA /OV ALW200015/TM 0056/FL060/TP PC12/SK OVC060
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALW
Where
15 nm south (200°) of ALW
Time
00:56 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 6,000 ft
C337 at 12,000 ft, 41 nm north, 8:18 pm CDT (01:18 UTC): light rime icing, -12 °C, remarks: zse. 1185 nm along the route, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM155020/TM 0118/FL120/TP C337/TA M12/IC LGT RIME/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
20 nm southeast (155°) of YKM
Time
01:18 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
C337
Temperature
−12 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
zse

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 11 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, ONL, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, PDX). 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	190° at 12 kt	−3 kt	14 °C	123 kt	10 h 22 min	6:55 am PDT (13:55 UTC)
6,500 ft	190° at 10 kt	−2 kt	9 °C	122 kt	10 h 27 min	7:00 am PDT (14:00 UTC)
8,500 ft	200° at 8 kt	0	4 °C	120 kt	10 h 38 min	7:11 am PDT (14:11 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 12 kt	+4 kt	1 °C	116 kt	10 h 59 min	7:32 am PDT (14:32 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 16 kt	+7 kt	-2 °C	113 kt	11 h 17 min	7:50 am PDT (14:50 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	+7 kt	-6 °C	113 kt	11 h 17 min	7:50 am PDT (14:50 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	+8 kt	-10 °C	112 kt	11 h 23 min	7:56 am PDT (14:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 18 kt	+9 kt	-13 °C	111 kt	11 h 29 min	8:02 am PDT (15:02 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 21 kt	+11 kt	-23 °C	109 kt	11 h 42 min	8:15 am PDT (15:15 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 30 kt	+20 kt	-35 °C	100 kt	12 h 45 min	9:18 am PDT (16:18 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 41 kt	+33 kt	-39 °C	87 kt	14 h 39 min	11:12 am PDT (18:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 48 kt	+39 kt	-44 °C	81 kt	15 h 44 min	12:17 pm PDT (19:17 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°
OMA	used from 50 nm out; 50 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
ONL	used from 149 nm out; 59 nm from the line		210/31 20°	230/27 13°	230/18 7°	220/19 -8°	240/26 -20°	250/44 -35°	270/52 -39°	260/57 -47°
PIR	used from 299 nm out; 70 nm from the line		170/22 19°	190/25 13°	210/32 6°	240/23 -9°	250/32 -21°	250/38 -36°	260/44 -40°	260/52 -47°
RAP	used from 349 nm out; 69 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°
MLS	used from 548 nm out; 130 nm from the line		150/23 2°	190/29 4°	210/44 2°	220/32 -10°	210/36 -21°	200/48 -37°	230/63 -40°	240/71 -47°
BIL	used from 598 nm out; 98 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
DLN	used from 747 nm out; 80 nm from the line			090/6 -6°	240/22 -4°	210/34 -16°	210/62 -25°	210/66 -34°	210/82 -36°	220/77 -42°
LWS	used from 946 nm out; 93 nm from the line	070/10	080/12 -2°	030/12 -6°	080/7 -10°	170/34 -21°	160/46 -32°	200/33 -35°	220/22 -35°	230/18 -38°
YKM	used from 1096 nm out; 93 nm from the line	070/10	040/15 -1°	020/27 -8°	030/25 -13°	020/48 -20°	010/83 -27°	010/77 -37°	010/49 -40°	350/14 -41°
PDX	used from 1195 nm out; 55 nm from the line	L/V	030/7 1°	020/12 -6°	020/29 -9°	010/69 -16°	010/81 -25°	360/83 -40°	360/67 -46°	320/29 -42°

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 broken layer at 23,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	23,000 ft	957 ft	9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC)
DNS Denison, IA	80 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	1,274 ft	03:15 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	129 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	02:52 UTC
SUO Rosebud, SD	339 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots	4 mi	300 ft	2,724 ft	03:15 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	438 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots	1.75 mi	300 ft	3,203 ft	03:03 UTC
BYG Buffalo, WY	598 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east-southeast (110°) at 5 knots	0.75 mi	300 ft	4,970 ft	03:16 UTC
GEY Greybull, WY	657 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	1,200 ft	3,941 ft	03:05 UTC
DLN Dillon, MT	847 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the east (080°) at 4 knots	1.25 mi	1,200 ft	5,244 ft	03:10 UTC
SMN Salmon, ID	906 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet	from the north (010°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	4,044 ft	03:19 UTC
PDT Pendleton, OR	1116 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	1,494 ft	02:53 UTC
DLS The Dalles, OR	1215 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	246 ft	02:53 UTC
PDX Portland, OR	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the east (100°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	30 ft	7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,244 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PDX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:55 am PDT (13:55 UTC)

Wind from the east at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for PDX

From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the east at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet

The forecast for DSM, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 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 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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 DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PDX is before sunrise there (7:22 am PDT (14:22 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · 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: Des Moines International, Portland International.