Plan a flight · Mon 2:59 am EDT (06:59 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to St. Louis Downtown Airport DTW → CPS

380 nautical miles (437 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 237°, about 244° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 5:14 am CDT (10:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 4 knots; CPS is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 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: 2 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 205 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 DTW.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A333 descending, 0 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
05:44 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A333
Sky
tops 2,500 ft
B739 descending, 0 nm south, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
bases 1,100 ft
B738 at 1,700 ft, 20 nm southeast, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 39 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
B738 at 1,800 ft, 20 nm southeast, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 39 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
05:18 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 1,300 ft, 20 nm southeast, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 39 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 7 nm north, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 117 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over OLK
Time
04:31 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
LJ45
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
B38M at 29,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 234 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
over RBS
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft

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 4 forecast points nearest it (FWA, IND, SPI, STL). 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	280° at 16 kt	+12 kt		108 kt	3 h 31 min	5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	+10 kt	15 °C	110 kt	3 h 27 min	5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	+9 kt	11 °C	111 kt	3 h 25 min	5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC)
10,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	+5 kt	7 °C	115 kt	3 h 18 min	5:17 am CDT (10:17 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	+3 kt	3 °C	117 kt	3 h 15 min	5:14 am CDT (10:14 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	+7 kt	-1 °C	113 kt	3 h 22 min	5:21 am CDT (10:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	+10 kt	-4 °C	110 kt	3 h 27 min	5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 24 kt	+13 kt	-7 °C	107 kt	3 h 33 min	5:32 am CDT (10:32 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 31 kt	+11 kt	-19 °C	109 kt	3 h 29 min	5:28 am CDT (10:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 39 kt	+5 kt	-34 °C	115 kt	3 h 18 min	5:17 am CDT (10:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 55 kt	+9 kt	-43 °C	111 kt	3 h 25 min	5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 57 kt	+9 kt	-51 °C	111 kt	3 h 25 min	5:24 am CDT (10:24 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
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 87 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°
IND	used from 146 nm out; 55 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
SPI	used from 244 nm out; 68 nm from the line	220/21	250/23 16°	260/27 9°	270/14 6°	270/23 -7°	270/31 -19°	270/28 -33°	290/48 -42°	300/55 -52°
STL	used from 341 nm out; 26 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	645 ft	2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC)
TOL Toledo, OH	39 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	683 ft	06:52 UTC
USE Wauseon, OH	49 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	7 mi	none	780 ft	06:55 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	107 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	2.5 mi	none	814 ft	06:54 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	156 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	06:55 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	195 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	06:54 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	253 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	754 ft	06:53 UTC
MTO Mattoon/Charleston, IL	273 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	722 ft	06:53 UTC
VLA Vandalia, IL	331 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				537 ft
ALN Alton/St Louis, IL	361 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	06:35 UTC
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL	destination	VFR	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	412 ft	1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 814 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:14 am CDT (10:14 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CPS

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for DTW, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer 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 DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CPS is before sunrise there (7:06 am CDT (12:06 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, St. Louis Downtown Airport.