Plan a flight · Sun 7:37 pm CDT (00:37 UTC)

Des Moines International to Southwest Florida International DSM → RSW

1,076 nautical miles (1,238 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 143°, about 142° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:59 am EDT (07:59 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 9 knots; RSW 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: 104 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 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 478 to 647 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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 23 nm southwest, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 478 nm along the route, 23 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through TUP
Where
41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
BE40
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
zme
B763 at 29,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 5:15 pm CDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 488 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSL
Where
20 nm west (270°) of MSL
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZME31
B737 at 31,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 339 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAH UA /OV CNG360015/TM 0013/FL310/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME25
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAH
Where
15 nm north (360°) of CNG
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME25
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 27 nm southwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 388 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B38M at 25,000 ft, 11 nm east, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 408 nm along the route, 11 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
B737 at 38,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 647 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
E170 at 20,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 5:02 pm CDT (22:02 UTC): light chop turbulence. 916 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CTY UA /OV CTY180040/TM 2202/FL200/TP E170/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CTY
Where
40 nm south (180°) of CTY
Time
22:02 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light chop
H60 at 1,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 4:45 pm CDT (21:45 UTC): clear from 1,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 956 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BKV UA /OV BKV045007 /TM 2145 /FL010 /TP H60 /SK SKC /WX FV99SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through BKV
Where
7 nm northeast (045°) of BKV
Time
21:45 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
H60
Sky
clear
Weather
flight visibility 99 miles
B38M at 27,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. 986 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ330018/TM 2200/FL270/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
18 nm northwest (330°) of SRQ
Time
22:00 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
MD11 at 35,000 ft, 5 nm north, 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC): no turbulence. 1016 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ080015/TM 2318/FL350/TP MD11/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
15 nm east (080°) of SRQ
Time
23:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
MD11
Turbulence
none
PAY1 at 12,000 ft, 29 nm northeast, 5:59 pm CDT (22:59 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RSW UA /OV RSW030035/TM 2259/FL120/TP PAY1/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through RSW
Where
35 nm northeast (030°) of RSW
Time
22:59 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
PAY1
Turbulence
none
GLF6 at 17,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the destination end, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RSW UA /OV LBV180002/TM 2300/FL170/TP GLF6/SK SKC/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through RSW
Where
2 nm south (180°) of LBV
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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	280° at 11 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	8 h 28 min	5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−15 kt		135 kt	7 h 58 min	4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	−18 kt	14 °C	138 kt	7 h 48 min	4:25 am EDT (08:25 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 22 kt	−19 kt	11 °C	139 kt	7 h 44 min	4:21 am EDT (08:21 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−20 kt	7 °C	140 kt	7 h 41 min	4:18 am EDT (08:18 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−20 kt	3 °C	140 kt	7 h 41 min	4:18 am EDT (08:18 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 22 kt	−19 kt	-1 °C	139 kt	7 h 44 min	4:21 am EDT (08:21 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	−19 kt	-6 °C	139 kt	7 h 44 min	4:21 am EDT (08:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 22 kt	−18 kt	-7 °C	138 kt	7 h 48 min	4:25 am EDT (08:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 22 kt	−17 kt	-17 °C	137 kt	7 h 51 min	4:28 am EDT (08:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 29 kt	−23 kt	-33 °C	143 kt	7 h 31 min	4:08 am EDT (08:08 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 32 kt	−26 kt	-41 °C	146 kt	7 h 22 min	3:59 am EDT (07:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 30 kt	−24 kt	-51 °C	144 kt	7 h 28 min	4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
BRL	used from 50 nm out; 72 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
COU	used from 100 nm out; 63 nm from the line	210/16	220/19 15°	240/33 10°	250/29 7°	280/21 -6°	280/19 -18°	300/34 -31°	300/40 -42°	300/60 -52°
STL	used from 199 nm out; 25 nm from the line	210/13	260/16 17°	270/21 10°	280/24 5°	310/20 -7°	320/22 -18°	320/44 -33°	320/59 -43°	310/69 -51°
CGI	used from 249 nm out; 47 nm from the line	250/10	290/12 17°	290/18 11°	300/22 5°	320/25 -8°	330/30 -18°	320/53 -33°	320/66 -42°	320/56 -50°
MEM	used from 398 nm out; 86 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
HSV	used from 448 nm out; 61 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°
BHM	used from 548 nm out; 8 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
MGM	used from 598 nm out; 42 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
CSG	used from 697 nm out; 58 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
TLH	used from 747 nm out; 35 nm from the line	300/17	340/32 17°	320/27 13°	300/27 8°	280/23 -7°	250/37 -17°	230/44 -33°	220/53 -41°	220/48 -51°
PIE	used from 896 nm out; 58 nm from the line	310/7	270/12 17°	270/14 13°	260/14 8°	240/22 -5°	230/24 -16°	220/26 -31°	200/31 -41°	180/33 -53°

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 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)
TVK Centerville, IA	60 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,023 ft	00:15 UTC
MYJ Mexico, MO	169 nm out, 17 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	822 ft	23:35 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO	319 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	341 ft	20:53 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	418 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	23:53 UTC
MSL Muscle Shoals, AL	498 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	550 ft	23:53 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	578 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	650 ft	23:53 UTC
DHN Dothan, AL	727 nm out, 18 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	807 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	83 ft	23:53 UTC
CDK Cedar Key, FL	906 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				11 ft
PGD Punta Gorda, FL	1046 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (090°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	25 ft	23:53 UTC
RSW Fort Myers, FL	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	29 ft	7:53 pm EDT (23:53 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 RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:59 am EDT (07:59 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RSW

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RSW is before sunrise there (7:24 am EDT (11:24 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, Southwest Florida International.