Plan a flight · Sun 10:05 pm CDT (03:05 UTC)

Des Moines International to Philadelphia International DSM → PHL

843 nautical miles (970 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 090° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; PHL is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 10 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: 674 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 20 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). Over the last 416 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 238 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 605 to 754 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 13,000 ft. Over the last 59 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

A320 at 34,000 ft, 19 nm south, 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 426 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
B38M at 29,000 ft, 48 nm south, 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 615 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through MPG
Where
30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
Time
00:55 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B752 at 30,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 9:26 pm CDT (02:26 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. 714 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HGR UA /OV THS010020/TM 0226/FL300/TP B752/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through HGR
Where
20 nm north (010°) of THS
Time
02:26 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
zob
UAL1558 at 30,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC): moderate turbulence, -36 °C, wind 240° at 50 knots. 724 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1558 4014N 07742W 0222 F300 MS36 240/050KT TB MODERATE SK CLEAR IC NONE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E145 at 12,000 ft, 4 nm north, 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 UTC): moderate turbulence. 793 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNS UA /OV LRP/TM 0043/FL120/TP E145/TB CONS MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNS
Where
over LRP
Time
00:43 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Turbulence
continuous moderate
A21N at 18,000 ft, 17 nm north, 7:38 pm CDT (00:38 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. At the destination end, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTW UA /OV PTW/TM 0038/FL180/TP A21N/TB MOD CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTW
Where
over PTW
Time
00:38 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
E75L at 20,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 7:41 pm CDT (00:41 UTC): moderate turbulence above 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILG UA /OV DQO/TM 0041/FL200/TP E75L/TB MOD 200
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILG
Where
over DQO
Time
00:41 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 20,000 ft
BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 41 nm south, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate turbulence above 17,000 ft, -9 °C. At the destination end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DOV UA /OV ENO/TM 0018/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M09/TB MOD 170
```
Report
a routine report filed through DOV
Where
over ENO
Time
00:18 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Temperature
−9 °C
Turbulence
moderate at 17,000 ft
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 9 nm north, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 89 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A321 at 32,000 ft, 33 nm north, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 188 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
B39M at 35,000 ft, 12 nm north, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 278 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
A321 at 21,000 ft, 45 nm south, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 436 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
PA44 descending, 34 nm north, 9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. 446 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
PA44
Sky
BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
Weather
fog
C525 descending, 34 nm north, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 446 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
01:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C525
Sky
TOPS035 BKN010
Weather
2SM

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 10 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT, FWA, CMH, CLE, AGC, PSB, ACY). 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	270° at 14 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	6 h 17 min	5:22 am EDT (09:22 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 14 kt	−14 kt	13 °C	134 kt	6 h 17 min	5:22 am EDT (09:22 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−13 kt	12 °C	133 kt	6 h 20 min	5:25 am EDT (09:25 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	−11 kt	8 °C	131 kt	6 h 26 min	5:31 am EDT (09:31 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 11 kt	−10 kt	5 °C	130 kt	6 h 29 min	5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	−12 kt	1 °C	132 kt	6 h 23 min	5:28 am EDT (09:28 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−15 kt	-3 °C	135 kt	6 h 15 min	5:20 am EDT (09:20 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−18 kt	-8 °C	138 kt	6 h 07 min	5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 20 kt	−18 kt	-9 °C	138 kt	6 h 07 min	5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-20 °C	145 kt	5 h 49 min	4:54 am EDT (08:54 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 32 kt	−29 kt	-35 °C	149 kt	5 h 39 min	4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 44 kt	−42 kt	-42 °C	162 kt	5 h 12 min	4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 47 kt	−44 kt	-50 °C	164 kt	5 h 08 min	4:13 am EDT (08:13 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; 59 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°
DBQ	used from 149 nm out; 71 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
JOT	used from 198 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
FWA	used from 297 nm out; 62 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CMH	used from 446 nm out; 60 nm from the line	330/15	340/22 14°	340/24 9°	340/23 4°	340/35 -9°	340/49 -20°	340/58 -37°	330/70 -42°	340/55 -47°
CLE	used from 496 nm out; 36 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -49°
AGC	used from 595 nm out; 15 nm from the line	350/14	330/20 11°	340/18 8°	330/17 3°	340/22 -11°	340/31 -22°	330/33 -36°	300/34 -41°	300/35 -47°
PSB	used from 694 nm out; 36 nm from the line		360/13 13°	330/14 7°	300/11 3°	290/12 -11°	240/23 -23°	270/25 -36°	250/34 -40°	250/45 -48°
ACY	used from 793 nm out; 63 nm from the line	220/19	220/18 14°	210/36 9°	210/35 5°	220/36 -8°	240/49 -21°	220/90 -31°	230/103 -40°	230/81 -50°

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)
PEA Pella, IA	30 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	885 ft	02:55 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	139 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	02:52 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	248 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	02:55 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	278 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	02:50 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	387 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	8 mi	none	814 ft	02:54 UTC
OWX Ottawa, OH	436 nm out, 1 nm east of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots	4 mi	400 ft	763 ft	02:55 UTC
MFD Mansfield, OH	506 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	6 mi	300 ft	1,297 ft	02:52 UTC
JST Johnstown, PA	674 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	2,284 ft	02:54 UTC
AOO Altoona, PA	704 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the north (010°) at 5 knots	2 mi	200 ft	1,503 ft	02:53 UTC
LNS Lancaster, PA	793 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 9 knots	9 mi	700 ft	402 ft	02:53 UTC
PHL Philadelphia, PA	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 10 knots	4 mi	400 ft	35 ft	10:59 pm EDT (02:59 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,284 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR

The whole forecast for PHL

From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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

6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 575 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 585 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHL is before sunrise there (7:07 am EDT (11:07 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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, Philadelphia International.