Des Moines International to Salt Lake City International DSM → SLC
828 nautical miles (952 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 9:55 am MDT (15:55 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 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: 6 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 339 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). Near the route, 369 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 449 to 788 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 369 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 route from 479 to 658 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 259 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 239 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 598 to 608 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
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 50 nm south, 2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 518 nm along the route, 50 nm south 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
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 8 forecast points nearest it (DSM, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF, DEN, RKS, SLC). 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 | 210° at 27 kt | +14 kt | 20 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 49 min | 9:55 am MDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +15 kt | 19 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 53 min | 9:59 am MDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +18 kt | 13 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 07 min | 10:13 am MDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +19 kt | 9 °C | 101 kt | 8 h 12 min | 10:18 am MDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +20 kt | 4 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 17 min | 10:23 am MDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +22 kt | -1 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 27 min | 10:33 am MDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 32 min | 10:38 am MDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | +24 kt | -9 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 38 min | 10:44 am MDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 38 kt | +29 kt | -21 °C | 91 kt | 9 h 06 min | 11:12 am MDT (17:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 46 kt | +37 kt | -32 °C | 83 kt | 9 h 59 min | 12:05 pm MDT (18:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 54 kt | +50 kt | -37 °C | 70 kt | 11 h 50 min | 1:56 pm MDT (19:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 56 kt | +54 kt | -46 °C | 66 kt | 12 h 33 min | 2:39 pm MDT (20:39 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; 31 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° |
| GRI | used from 150 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 249 nm out; 71 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° | |
| BFF | used from 349 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 548 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 598 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 748 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° |
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) |
| HNR Harlan, IA | 80 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,230 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 100 nm out, 18 nm south 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 |
| ODX Ord, NE | 239 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,070 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 249 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 389 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| IBM Kimball, NE | 449 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,925 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 499 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 20 knots, gusting to 37 | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 588 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 19 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 7,014 ft | 07:50 UTC |
| HCR Heber, UT | 808 nm out, 22 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,200 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 5,636 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 1:54 am MDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:55 am MDT (15:55 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm MDT (01:18 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
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, Salt Lake City International.