Plan a flight · Mon 1:50 am EDT (05:50 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to Seattle Paine Field International DTW → PAE

1,667 nautical miles (1,919 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 295°, about 302° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:23 pm PDT (19:23 UTC). Right now DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 3 knots; PAE 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: 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 120 nm of the route.
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 route from 270 to 399 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 569 to 1318 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 988 to 988 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1128 to 1418 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1208 to 1388 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 190 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
B738 at 1,800 ft, 43 nm southwest, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 43 nm southwest 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
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 1,300 ft, 43 nm southwest, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 43 nm southwest 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
A320 descending, 0 nm south, 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
03:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
at 1,400 ft overcast
A321 at 16,500 ft, 43 nm southwest, 11:25 pm EDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 479 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
Time
03:25 UTC
Height
at 16,500 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
during the climb

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 15 forecast points nearest it (FWA, MKG, GRB, LSE, MSP, AXN, ABR, DIK, MLS, GGW, GTF, GPI, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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	170° at 5 kt	−3 kt	1 °C	123 kt	13 h 33 min	12:23 pm PDT (19:23 UTC)
6,500 ft	190° at 4 kt	−1 kt	8 °C	121 kt	13 h 47 min	12:37 pm PDT (19:37 UTC)
8,500 ft	210° at 6 kt	+1 kt	5 °C	119 kt	14 h 01 min	12:51 pm PDT (19:51 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 9 kt	+3 kt	1 °C	117 kt	14 h 15 min	1:05 pm PDT (20:05 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 13 kt	+6 kt	-2 °C	114 kt	14 h 37 min	1:27 pm PDT (20:27 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 16 kt	+11 kt	-6 °C	109 kt	15 h 18 min	2:08 pm PDT (21:08 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	+15 kt	-9 °C	105 kt	15 h 53 min	2:43 pm PDT (21:43 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 22 kt	+18 kt	-12 °C	102 kt	16 h 21 min	3:11 pm PDT (22:11 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 24 kt	+20 kt	-23 °C	100 kt	16 h 40 min	3:30 pm PDT (22:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 26 kt	+23 kt	-37 °C	97 kt	17 h 11 min	4:01 pm PDT (23:01 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 35 kt	+33 kt	-43 °C	87 kt	19 h 10 min	6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 49 kt	+46 kt	-48 °C	74 kt	22 h 32 min	9:22 pm PDT (04:22 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; 104 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°
MKG	used from 50 nm out; 65 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
GRB	used from 200 nm out; 46 nm from the line	250/36	270/23 16°	270/14 9°	240/18 4°	280/26 -9°	280/29 -20°	290/42 -36°	290/51 -45°	290/72 -55°
LSE	used from 300 nm out; 53 nm from the line	230/40	240/24 17°	240/13 10°	250/13 6°	280/22 -9°	250/28 -21°	250/41 -34°	260/42 -44°	270/62 -53°
MSP	used from 399 nm out; 35 nm from the line	230/26	240/30 17°	240/24 12°	250/22 5°	250/35 -10°	260/36 -21°	250/41 -36°	250/49 -45°	260/58 -52°
AXN	used from 499 nm out; 42 nm from the line	100/14	250/21 14°	240/24 12°	240/31 5°	260/36 -10°	260/40 -21°	250/42 -36°	260/48 -45°	260/53 -50°
ABR	used from 649 nm out; 43 nm from the line	070/14	250/10 17°	270/16 11°	260/28 5°	260/36 -10°	260/41 -22°	270/33 -37°	260/42 -42°	260/50 -48°
DIK	used from 749 nm out; 101 nm from the line		150/24 7°	200/38 6°	220/53 0°	230/51 -9°	230/49 -21°	240/37 -37°	240/47 -44°	250/65 -48°
MLS	used from 949 nm out; 55 nm from the line		150/23 2°	190/29 4°	210/44 2°	220/32 -10°	210/36 -21°	200/48 -37°	230/63 -40°	240/71 -47°
GGW	used from 998 nm out; 54 nm from the line		110/23 0°	130/20 -2°	170/24 -3°	230/44 -11°	220/51 -21°	210/52 -39°	220/64 -44°	240/85 -48°
GTF	used from 1148 nm out; 55 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -44°
GPI	used from 1298 nm out; 34 nm from the line		070/19 -5°	100/16 -7°	080/10 -8°	130/8 -19°	170/37 -28°	200/50 -40°	210/43 -40°	220/41 -42°
GEG	used from 1398 nm out; 57 nm from the line		080/16 -2°	050/17 -7°	080/9 -10°	190/33 -21°	180/31 -32°	L/V -35°	L/V -37°	270/8 -40°
YKM	used from 1548 nm out; 87 nm from the line	070/10	040/15 -1°	020/27 -8°	030/25 -13°	020/48 -20°	010/83 -27°	010/77 -37°	010/49 -40°	350/14 -41°
SEA	used from 1598 nm out; 55 nm from the line	050/7	050/11 1°	050/12 -5°	030/31 -7°	010/61 -15°	010/69 -26°	360/73 -40°	360/62 -47°	330/21 -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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	645 ft	12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC)
MKG Muskegon, MI	140 nm out, 0 nm southeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	04:55 UTC
OSH Oshkosh, WI	250 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	808 ft	04:53 UTC
MIC Minneapolis, MN	469 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	04:53 UTC
ETH Wheaton, MN	609 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the north (350°) at 9 knots	1.5 mi	200 ft	1,022 ft	05:33 UTC
BIS Bismarck, ND	789 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	1,661 ft	04:52 UTC
GDV Glendive, MT	959 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (050°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	400 ft	2,458 ft	04:56 UTC
JDN Jordan, MT	1048 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the northeast (040°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18		none	2,667 ft	04:48 UTC
GTF Great Falls, MT	1228 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the north (360°) at 10 knots	3 mi	800 ft	3,680 ft	05:46 UTC
SFF Spokane, WA	1468 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,956 ft	04:53 UTC
PAE Everett, WA	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	606 ft	9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,680 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:23 pm PDT (19:23 UTC)

Wind from the east-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for PAE

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 469 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP
6/6654 28NM W TWISP, WA, Thursday, October 1, 2026 through Thursday, October 15, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 15 October · ZSE

Daylight

Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at PAE 6:26 pm PDT (01:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm PDT (01:57 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 now, the northern 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, Seattle Paine Field International.