Topeka Regional to Salt Lake City International FOE → SLC
759 nautical miles (873 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 284°, about 279° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 7:26 am MDT (13:26 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FOE is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 14 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 7 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: 5 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 339 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 329 to 729 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 399 nm of the route.
- 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 459 to 629 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 220 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 589 to 619 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 160 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 FOE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent B737 at 7,600 ft, 2 nm west, 10:22 pm CDT (03:22 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 45 knots crosswind on final. 539 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
HDN UUA /OV HDN/TM 0322/FL076/TP B737/RM LLWS 45 KTS CROSSWIND ON FINAL
- Report
- an urgent report filed through HDN
- Where
- over HDN
- Time
- 03:22 UTC
- Height
- at 7,600 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear 45 knots crosswind on final
- A320 descending, 27 nm south, 10:19 pm CDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 419 nm along the route, 27 nm south 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
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 11 nm north, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 469 nm along the route, 11 nm north 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
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 5 forecast points nearest it (SLN, GLD, DEN, 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 | 220° at 41 kt | +22 kt | 98 kt | 7 h 45 min | 7:45 am MDT (13:45 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +23 kt | 19 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 49 min | 7:49 am MDT (13:49 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +18 kt | 14 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 26 min | 7:26 am MDT (13:26 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +19 kt | 10 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 31 min | 7:31 am MDT (13:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +21 kt | 4 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 40 min | 7:40 am MDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +21 kt | 0 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 40 min | 7:40 am MDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +20 kt | -5 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 35 min | 7:35 am MDT (13:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 33 kt | +20 kt | -8 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 35 min | 7:35 am MDT (13:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 40 kt | +23 kt | -21 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 49 min | 7:49 am MDT (13:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 56 kt | +39 kt | -29 °C | 81 kt | 9 h 22 min | 9:22 am MDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 60 kt | +47 kt | -36 °C | 73 kt | 10 h 24 min | 10:24 am MDT (16:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 55 kt | +45 kt | -46 °C | 75 kt | 10 h 07 min | 10:07 am MDT (16:07 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLN | used from 0 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GLD | used from 200 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| DEN | used from 349 nm out; 52 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 549 nm out; 81 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 699 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOE Topeka, KS | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 50 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| CNK Concordia, KS | 100 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 180 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 260 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 21 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 359 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 439 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| SBS Steamboat Springs, CO | 529 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 6,882 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| HDN Hayden, CO | 539 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,606 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| VEL Vernal, UT | 649 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,274 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HCR Heber, UT | 729 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | calm | 9 mi | 4,500 ft | 5,636 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 feet, a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 11:54 pm MDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,882 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, 7:26 am MDT (13:26 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 FOE, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 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 FOE 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC), at SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm MDT (01:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SLC is before sunrise there (7:35 am MDT (13:35 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: Topeka Regional, Salt Lake City International.