Northern Colorado Regional to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport FNL → MSP
584 nautical miles (672 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 059°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:23 am CDT (09:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FNL is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 5 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 TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 79 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 99 to 267 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 228 to 277 nm out.
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 FNL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 32 nm west, 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. At the departure end, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
- A320 descending, 42 nm southeast, 9:19 pm MDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 03:19 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 6 nm southeast, 9:25 pm MDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 544 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast 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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (DEN, BFF, ONL, FSD, MSP). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | −23 kt | 20 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 05 min | 5:04 am CDT (10:04 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 15 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 02 min | 5:01 am CDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 12 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 02 min | 5:01 am CDT (10:01 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 7 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 03 min | 5:02 am CDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 2 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 03 min | 5:02 am CDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -3 °C | 146 kt | 4 h | 4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -8 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 58 min | 4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -9 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 58 min | 4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 33 kt | −33 kt | -21 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 49 min | 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 42 kt | −42 kt | -34 °C | 162 kt | 3 h 36 min | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | −48 kt | -40 °C | 168 kt | 3 h 29 min | 4:28 am CDT (09:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 54 kt | −52 kt | -47 °C | 172 kt | 3 h 24 min | 4:23 am CDT (09:23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| BFF | used from 49 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 198 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 346 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MSP | used from 495 nm out; 64 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 11:56 pm MDT (05:56 UTC) |
| IBM Kimball, NE | 79 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,925 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| OKS Oshkosh, NE | 129 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,394 ft | ||||
| TIF Thedford, NE | 218 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the east (100°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 2,925 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ANW Ainsworth, NE | 257 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 2,588 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 336 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet | from the north (350°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,477 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 416 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| TKC Tracy, MN | 475 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,335 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| GYL Glencoe, MN | 544 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 992 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 841 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,020 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:23 am CDT (09:23 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 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 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at FNL 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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: Northern Colorado Regional, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.