Detroit Metro Wayne County to EL Paso International DTW → ELP
1,262 nautical miles (1,453 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 248°, about 255° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19. 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
- SIGMET W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1243 to 1252 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W VALID UNTIL 0155Z TX NM AZ FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 30 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (FWA, JOT, SPI, COU, MKC, TUL, ICT, OKC, GAG, AMA, LBB, ROW, ELP). 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 | 200° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 19 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 01 min | 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | +15 kt | 16 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 01 min | 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 12 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 15 min | 6:42 am MDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +17 kt | 9 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 15 min | 6:42 am MDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 12 h 08 min | 6:35 am MDT (12:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 15 min | 6:42 am MDT (12:42 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +18 kt | -4 °C | 102 kt | 12 h 22 min | 6:49 am MDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 20 kt | +19 kt | -7 °C | 101 kt | 12 h 30 min | 6:57 am MDT (12:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 26 kt | +23 kt | -18 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 01 min | 7:28 am MDT (13:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 38 kt | +33 kt | -31 °C | 87 kt | 14 h 30 min | 8:57 am MDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 43 kt | +35 kt | -41 °C | 85 kt | 14 h 51 min | 9:18 am MDT (15:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 47 kt | +34 kt | -50 °C | 86 kt | 14 h 40 min | 9:07 am MDT (15:07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWA | used from 0 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| JOT | used from 149 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| SPI | used from 249 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| COU | used from 398 nm out; 33 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° |
| MKC | used from 497 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| TUL | used from 596 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 200/27 | 210/28 15° | 240/24 13° | 250/19 8° | 250/28 -6° | 260/25 -16° | 270/34 -30° | 280/41 -39° | 280/41 -52° |
| ICT | used from 646 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 190/34 | 210/34 18° | 240/28 13° | 260/23 7° | 250/23 -6° | 240/29 -17° | 260/40 -30° | 260/47 -40° | 270/42 -51° |
| OKC | used from 746 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/29 16° | 230/22 14° | 240/17 9° | 240/28 -6° | 250/35 -15° | 270/42 -29° | 270/43 -39° | 280/38 -51° |
| GAG | used from 795 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 190/34 19° | 240/27 14° | 240/26 8° | 240/24 -6° | 240/29 -16° | 250/50 -28° | 250/50 -39° | 260/46 -50° | |
| AMA | used from 895 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 190/28 | 220/26 14° | 230/27 7° | 250/24 -6° | 250/32 -16° | 240/51 -28° | 250/52 -38° | 250/51 -50° | |
| LBB | used from 994 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 180/26 20° | 210/21 13° | 230/21 7° | 250/25 -5° | 250/34 -16° | 250/52 -28° | 260/47 -38° | 260/49 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 1044 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 180/23 | 190/24 15° | 210/27 7° | 230/35 -6° | 240/53 -17° | 240/62 -27° | 250/64 -38° | 260/60 -50° | |
| ELP | used from 1193 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/15 | 200/16 15° | 200/17 6° | 220/40 -6° | 240/53 -16° | 230/62 -27° | 240/63 -38° | 250/59 -49° |
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 | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 3 mi | 900 ft | 645 ft | 7:53 pm EDT (23:53 UTC) |
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 20 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 839 ft | 23:53 UTC | |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 129 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | 268 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 457 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| CNU Chanute, KS | 616 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,002 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| WDG Enid, OK | 755 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,167 ft | 23:50 UTC |
| ELK Elk City, OK | 855 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 8 mi | none | 2,012 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| PVW Plainview, TX | 984 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,374 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 1133 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,671 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| ATS Artesia, NM | 1143 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,544 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 5:51 pm MDT (23:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,961 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:28 am MDT (12:28 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DTW, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, 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 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 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
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 437 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ELP is before sunrise there (7:06 am MDT (13:06 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
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, EL Paso International.