Plan a flight · Mon 4:07 am EDT (08:07 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to Williston Basin International DTW → XWA

932 nautical miles (1,073 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 300°, about 307° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC). Right now DTW is IFR, wind from the west (260°) at 7 knots; XWA is IFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 14 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: 3 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, fog). Over the first 69 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 188 to 357 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 last 377 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 40 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

B738 at 1,700 ft, 43 nm southwest, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 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 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
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

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 (FWA, MKG, GRB, LSE, MSP, AXN, GFK, MOT). 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	240° at 10 kt	+5 kt	5 °C	115 kt	8 h 06 min	11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 11 kt	+8 kt	12 °C	112 kt	8 h 19 min	11:26 am CDT (16:26 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 14 kt	+9 kt	9 °C	111 kt	8 h 24 min	11:31 am CDT (16:31 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+12 kt	6 °C	108 kt	8 h 38 min	11:45 am CDT (16:45 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	+15 kt	2 °C	105 kt	8 h 53 min	12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 24 kt	+19 kt	-2 °C	101 kt	9 h 14 min	12:21 pm CDT (17:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	260° at 27 kt	+24 kt	-6 °C	96 kt	9 h 42 min	12:49 pm CDT (17:49 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 30 kt	+27 kt	-10 °C	93 kt	10 h 01 min	1:08 pm CDT (18:08 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 36 kt	+33 kt	-21 °C	87 kt	10 h 43 min	1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 40 kt	+37 kt	-36 °C	83 kt	11 h 14 min	2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 45 kt	+44 kt	-45 °C	76 kt	12 h 16 min	3:23 pm CDT (20:23 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 59 kt	+58 kt	-52 °C	62 kt	15 h 02 min	6:09 pm CDT (23:09 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; 106 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; 66 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 198 nm out; 33 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 297 nm out; 76 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 397 nm out; 59 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 496 nm out; 51 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°
GFK	used from 645 nm out; 63 nm from the line	070/18	100/10 9°	250/11 6°	250/27 1°	250/34 -10°	260/43 -21°	260/39 -36°	260/36 -46°	260/59 -53°
MOT	used from 744 nm out; 74 nm from the line		120/14 5°	200/20 4°	230/33 1°	250/39 -11°	250/50 -21°	240/61 -37°	250/56 -45°	260/68 -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	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the west (260°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	645 ft	3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)
LAN Lansing, MI	59 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	8 mi	none	860 ft	07:53 UTC
MKG Muskegon, MI	139 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	07:55 UTC
ATW Appleton, WI	258 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	918 ft	07:55 UTC
CWA Mosinee, WI	317 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	1,277 ft	07:55 UTC
EAU Eau Claire, WI	387 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	913 ft	07:56 UTC
JMR Mora, MN	486 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,032 ft	07:55 UTC
FAR Fargo, ND	645 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north (360°) at 12 knots	1.75 mi	300 ft	901 ft	07:53 UTC
BAC Valley City, ND	684 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	700 ft	1,401 ft	05:55 UTC
XWA Williston, ND	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the east-northeast (060°) at 14 knots	6 mi	700 ft	2,356 ft	2:51 am CDT (07:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,356 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At XWA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC)

Wind from the northeast at 13 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet low IFR

30% chance between Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, light rain snow, mist IFR

The whole forecast for XWA

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 11 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 13 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, light rain snow, mist
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at XWA 7:10 pm CDT (00:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:41 pm CDT (00:41 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, Williston Basin International.