Plan a flight · Mon 3:38 am CDT (08:38 UTC)

Des Moines International to Rifle Garfield County DSM → RIL

652 nautical miles (751 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 263° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots; RIL is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) 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: 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

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 366 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 208 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the last 198 nm of the route.
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 last 138 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 69 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 49 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

B737 at 18,000 ft, 32 nm north, 2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 514 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
Time
07:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
FL180-130
B737 descending, 18 nm southeast, 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 514 nm along the route, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
B737 descending, 18 nm southeast, 2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 514 nm along the route, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B738 descending, 18 nm southeast, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 514 nm along the route, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
A20N at 25,000 ft, 17 nm south, 1:19 am CDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 553 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 47 nm south, 1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 563 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
B738 at 23,000 ft, 38 nm south, 1:23 am CDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 563 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
E170 at 4,800 ft, 44 nm southwest, 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. At the destination end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
06:31 UTC
Height
at 4,800 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc

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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT). 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	240° at 37 kt	+35 kt	23 °C	85 kt	7 h 40 min	10:18 am MDT (16:18 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 33 kt	+31 kt	21 °C	89 kt	7 h 20 min	9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 25 kt	+24 kt	13 °C	96 kt	6 h 48 min	9:26 am MDT (15:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+22 kt	9 °C	98 kt	6 h 39 min	9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+22 kt	5 °C	98 kt	6 h 39 min	9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+26 kt	0 °C	94 kt	6 h 56 min	9:34 am MDT (15:34 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 35 kt	+31 kt	-5 °C	89 kt	7 h 20 min	9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 38 kt	+34 kt	-9 °C	86 kt	7 h 35 min	10:13 am MDT (16:13 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 46 kt	+42 kt	-21 °C	78 kt	8 h 22 min	11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 59 kt	+57 kt	-31 °C	63 kt	10 h 21 min	12:59 pm MDT (18:59 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 69 kt	+69 kt	-36 °C	51 kt	12 h 47 min	3:25 pm MDT (21:25 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 66 kt	+66 kt	-47 °C	54 kt	12 h 04 min	2:42 pm MDT (20:42 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°
OMA	used from 49 nm out; 27 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
GRI	used from 148 nm out; 40 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
GLD	used from 296 nm out; 95 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
DEN	used from 445 nm out; 44 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
GJT	used from 593 nm out; 78 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°

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)
AIO Atlantic, IA	59 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,164 ft	08:15 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	99 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	07:52 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	148 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	07:54 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	208 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	07:53 UTC
CZD Cozad, NE	287 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	no report just now				2,503 ft
IML Imperial, NE	366 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	07:53 UTC
HEQ Holyoke, CO	395 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	3,729 ft	08:15 UTC
DEN Denver, CO	514 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 20 knots	10+ mi	none	5,433 ft	07:53 UTC
BJC Denver, CO	534 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (260°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	08:15 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	613 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	6,547 ft	07:56 UTC
RIL Rifle, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	5,536 ft	1:53 am MDT (07:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,547 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIL

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 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

6/8911 DENVER, CO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 524 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at RIL 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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 southern Rockies · 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, Rifle Garfield County.