Plan a flight · Sun 9:40 pm CDT (02:40 UTC)

Hector International to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field FAR → MSN

390 nautical miles (449 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 123°, about 119° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:03 am CDT (05:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 50 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 FAR.

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

E75L at 900 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:57 pm CDT (01:57 UTC): no icing, overcast above 1,200 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0157/FL009/TP E75L/SK OVC012/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:57 UTC
Height
at 900 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft
Icing
none
A320 descending, 0 nm southwest, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0101/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC012-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
CRJ7 at 18,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent. 50 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR090050/TM 2341/FL180/TP CRJ7/SK BASE180-TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME 180-200/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
50 nm east (090°) of FAR
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASE180-TOP200
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
light rime from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
E295 at 37,000 ft, 46 nm east, 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (AXN, MSP, LSE, DBQ). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	220° at 18 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	3 h 12 min	12:52 am CDT (05:52 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	3 h	12:40 am CDT (05:40 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−11 kt	13 °C	131 kt	2 h 59 min	12:39 am CDT (05:39 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−10 kt	10 °C	130 kt	3 h	12:40 am CDT (05:40 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−11 kt	6 °C	131 kt	2 h 59 min	12:39 am CDT (05:39 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 24 kt	−14 kt	1 °C	134 kt	2 h 55 min	12:35 am CDT (05:35 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 27 kt	−17 kt	-4 °C	137 kt	2 h 51 min	12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 29 kt	−21 kt	-8 °C	141 kt	2 h 46 min	12:26 am CDT (05:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 30 kt	−22 kt	-9 °C	142 kt	2 h 45 min	12:25 am CDT (05:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 34 kt	−23 kt	-21 °C	143 kt	2 h 44 min	12:24 am CDT (05:24 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 41 kt	−23 kt	-35 °C	143 kt	2 h 44 min	12:24 am CDT (05:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 46 kt	−31 kt	-45 °C	151 kt	2 h 35 min	12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 57 kt	−44 kt	-51 °C	164 kt	2 h 23 min	12:03 am CDT (05:03 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
AXN	used from 0 nm out; 62 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°
MSP	used from 150 nm out; 25 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°
LSE	used from 250 nm out; 27 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°
DBQ	used from 350 nm out; 72 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°

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
FAR Fargo, ND	departure	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north (010°) at 15 knots	3 mi	400 ft	901 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
DTL Detroit Lakes, MN	40 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the north (360°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	1,395 ft	02:35 UTC
ADC Wadena, MN	70 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,368 ft	02:35 UTC
LXL Little Falls, MN	120 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,122 ft	02:35 UTC
STC St Cloud, MN	140 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (360°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,030 ft	01:53 UTC
ANE Minneapolis, MN	180 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	9 mi	none	912 ft	02:35 UTC
RGK Red Wing, MN	230 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	778 ft	02:35 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	300 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	01:53 UTC
CMY Sparta, WI	310 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	839 ft	01:55 UTC
DLL Baraboo, WI	360 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	980 ft	02:35 UTC
MSN Madison, WI	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,395 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:03 am CDT (05:03 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSN

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for FAR, the departure

From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 400 feet
At times between Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC) and 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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 5 nm from the route, 180 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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 northern Rockies · 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: Hector International, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.