Plan a flight · Mon 7:11 am CDT (12:11 UTC)

Des Moines International to St. Pete-Clearwater International DSM → PIE

979 nautical miles (1,127 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 143°, about 142° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:18 pm EDT (18:18 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 knots; PIE is VFR, wind from the north (010°) 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: 366 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 2W: 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 170 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the route from 600 to 650 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 809 to 939 nm out.

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

CRJ9 at 1,200 ft, 26 nm southwest, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): light haze. 660 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MGM UA /OV MGM 2E/TM 1145/FL012/TP CRJ9/WX -HZ
```
Report
a routine report filed through MGM
Where
mgm 2E
Time
11:45 UTC
Height
at 1,200 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Weather
light haze
E55P at 1,000 ft, 4 nm north, 6:04 am CDT (11:04 UTC): clear, remarks: fog. 809 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH/TM 1104/FL010/TP E55P/SK CLR/RM FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
over TLH
Time
11:04 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
clear
Remarks
fog
E170 at 2,000 ft, 4 nm north, 5:05 am CDT (10:05 UTC): clear, remarks: ground fog. 809 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH/TM 1005/FL20/TP E170/SK CLR/RM GROUND FOG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
over TLH
Time
10:05 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Remarks
ground fog
B739 at 34,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. 839 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV SZW120050/TM 1053/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
50 nm southeast (120°) of SZW
Time
10:53 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
E55P at 25,000 ft, 9 nm west, 5:45 am CDT (10:45 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 859 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH165050/TM 1045/FL250/TP E55P/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
50 nm south (165°) of TLH
Time
10:45 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate chop
B737 at 21,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC): no chop turbulence from 12,000 ft to 21,000 ft, clear from 21,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 929 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CGC UA /OV CGC/TM 1107/FL210/TP B737/SK SKC/TB NEG CHOP 120-210
```
Report
a routine report filed through CGC
Where
over CGC
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no chop from 12,000 ft to 21,000 ft

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 12 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, COU, STL, CGI, MEM, HSV, BHM, MGM, CSG, TLH, PIE). 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 18 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	7 h 18 min	3:29 pm EDT (19:29 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	7 h 22 min	3:33 pm EDT (19:33 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	−12 kt	14 °C	132 kt	7 h 25 min	3:36 pm EDT (19:36 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 12 kt	−11 kt	10 °C	131 kt	7 h 28 min	3:39 pm EDT (19:39 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	−10 kt	7 °C	130 kt	7 h 32 min	3:43 pm EDT (19:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−11 kt	3 °C	131 kt	7 h 28 min	3:39 pm EDT (19:39 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−14 kt	-2 °C	134 kt	7 h 18 min	3:29 pm EDT (19:29 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	−17 kt	-5 °C	137 kt	7 h 09 min	3:20 pm EDT (19:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 21 kt	−18 kt	-6 °C	138 kt	7 h 06 min	3:17 pm EDT (19:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 24 kt	−20 kt	-18 °C	140 kt	7 h	3:11 pm EDT (19:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 36 kt	−34 kt	-32 °C	154 kt	6 h 21 min	2:32 pm EDT (18:32 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 42 kt	−40 kt	-40 °C	160 kt	6 h 07 min	2:18 pm EDT (18:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 37 kt	−36 kt	-51 °C	156 kt	6 h 17 min	2:28 pm EDT (18:28 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; 72 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°
COU	used from 100 nm out; 63 nm from the line	250/36	260/14 16°	250/5 12°	260/12 6°	260/24 -7°	260/35 -19°	280/58 -31°	280/62 -40°	290/60 -49°
STL	used from 200 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/26	240/21 15°	240/22 11°	250/23 6°	270/28 -7°	260/30 -19°	280/52 -31°	280/57 -40°	300/57 -49°
CGI	used from 250 nm out; 46 nm from the line	260/22	250/15 15°	250/13 11°	250/16 6°	270/29 -7°	280/30 -18°	290/40 -31°	290/55 -40°	300/51 -51°
MEM	used from 400 nm out; 86 nm from the line	250/19	260/19 17°	270/20 12°	270/16 6°	270/21 -6°	290/27 -17°	300/37 -30°	300/49 -40°	310/40 -51°
HSV	used from 450 nm out; 60 nm from the line	300/20	310/14 16°	310/18 10°	310/15 4°	320/19 -5°	290/16 -18°	320/36 -32°	320/47 -41°	330/42 -50°
BHM	used from 550 nm out; 6 nm from the line	310/19	310/15 16°	320/19 11°	330/15 5°	330/23 -5°	320/14 -18°	320/36 -32°	330/44 -40°	340/36 -51°
MGM	used from 600 nm out; 40 nm from the line	320/19	330/16 17°	340/21 11°	330/11 5°	330/27 -6°	330/21 -17°	330/37 -32°	340/44 -40°	360/30 -52°
CSG	used from 699 nm out; 60 nm from the line	330/27	340/28 16°	350/28 11°	330/17 6°	340/25 -6°	350/33 -18°	330/46 -32°	340/45 -41°	350/31 -52°
TLH	used from 749 nm out; 32 nm from the line	340/23	350/26 17°	350/21 11°	300/13 6°	320/25 -6°	340/35 -16°	350/44 -32°	360/51 -42°	350/33 -52°
PIE	used from 899 nm out; 55 nm from the line	360/10	340/12 18°	330/9 13°	290/12 8°	260/21 -7°	280/18 -18°	250/20 -33°	250/26 -41°	250/20 -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: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC)
TVK Centerville, IA	60 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	12,000 ft	1,023 ft	11:55 UTC
IRK Kirksville, MO	100 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	966 ft	11:55 UTC
SUS St Louis, MO	220 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Weather: shallow fog	calm	10+ mi	none	463 ft	11:54 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO	320 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	341 ft	11:53 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	420 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	11:53 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	580 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	8 mi	none	650 ft	11:53 UTC
AUO Auburn, AL	660 nm out, 25 nm east of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	776 ft	05:21 UTC
DHN Dothan, AL	729 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	400 ft	23:55 UTC
TLH Tallahassee, FL	809 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	83 ft	11:53 UTC
CDK Cedar Key, FL	909 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				11 ft
PIE St Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	destination	VFR	from the north (010°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	10 ft	7:53 am EDT (11:53 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 PIE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:18 pm EDT (18:18 UTC)

Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for PIE

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for DSM, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 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 PIE 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 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 lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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, St. Pete-Clearwater International.