Fort Dodge Regional to Salt Lake City International FOD → SLC
803 nautical miles (924 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 9:31 am MDT (15:31 UTC). Right now FOD is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 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: 1 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 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 first 288 nm of the route.
- 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 218 to 367 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 426 to 754 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 436 to 625 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 367 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 258 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 555 to 595 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 228 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 FOD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (MCW, OMA, FSD, ONL, BFF, RKS, SLC). 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 26 kt | +12 kt | 20 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 26 min | 9:31 am MDT (15:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +14 kt | 18 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 35 min | 9:40 am MDT (15:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +19 kt | 14 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 57 min | 10:02 am MDT (16:02 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +21 kt | 9 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 07 min | 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +21 kt | 4 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 07 min | 10:12 am MDT (16:12 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +22 kt | -1 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 12 min | 10:17 am MDT (16:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 17 min | 10:22 am MDT (16:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | +24 kt | -9 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 22 min | 10:27 am MDT (16:27 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 37 kt | +30 kt | -22 °C | 90 kt | 8 h 55 min | 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | +36 kt | -32 °C | 84 kt | 9 h 34 min | 11:39 am MDT (17:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -37 °C | 71 kt | 11 h 19 min | 1:24 pm MDT (19:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 56 kt | +54 kt | -46 °C | 66 kt | 12 h 10 min | 2:15 pm MDT (20:15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCW | used from 0 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| OMA | used from 50 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| FSD | used from 99 nm out; 68 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° |
| ONL | used from 149 nm out; 26 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° | |
| BFF | used from 297 nm out; 98 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° | |
| RKS | used from 545 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 744 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOD Fort Dodge, IA | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,156 ft | 2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC) |
| SLB Storm Lake, IA | 50 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,487 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 99 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 198 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 300 ft | 2,033 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| TIF Thedford, NE | 288 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the east (100°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 300 ft | 2,925 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| AIA Alliance, NE | 387 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north (360°) at 12 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 3,930 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 466 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 565 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 19 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 7,014 ft | 07:50 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 664 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 6,764 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| EVW Evanston, WY | 754 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 7,142 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 1:54 am MDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:31 am MDT (15:31 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
The forecast for FOD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 24,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 FOD 6:39 pm CDT (23:39 UTC), at SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm MDT (01:18 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: Fort Dodge Regional, Salt Lake City International.