Plan a flight · Sun 7:49 pm CDT (00:49 UTC)

Joe Foss Field to Bozeman Yellowstone International FSD → BZN

628 nautical miles (723 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 287°, about 282° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots; BZN is low IFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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

SIGMET W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 409 to 518 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
MT WY
FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.

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 479 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 339 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 469 to 588 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 150 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). Near the route, 518 nm along 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 FSD.

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

BE20 at 14,000 ft, 34 nm north, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft
PC12 at 100 ft, 8 nm northeast, 5:34 pm CDT (22:34 UTC): no icing. 160 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2234/FL001/TP PC12/SK BASE030-TOP045/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
over PIR
Time
22:34 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE030-TOP045
Icing
none
A21N at 35,000 ft, 48 nm south, 5:47 pm CDT (22:47 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-32. 379 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV GCC/TM 2247/FL350/TP A21N/TB NEG /RM ZDVWC-32
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
over GCC
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-32
B737 descending, 0 nm northwest, 7:28 pm CDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
B738 at 24,000 ft, 30 nm west, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. At the destination end, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN270030/TM 2313/FL240/TP B738/RM SN TOP FL 240 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BZN
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, DLN). 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	120° at 11 kt	−11 kt	12 °C	131 kt	4 h 48 min	11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC)
6,500 ft	130° at 9 kt	−9 kt	13 °C	129 kt	4 h 52 min	11:41 pm MDT (05:41 UTC)
8,500 ft	180° at 11 kt	−2 kt	10 °C	122 kt	5 h 09 min	11:58 pm MDT (05:58 UTC)
10,500 ft	200° at 18 kt	+2 kt	5 °C	118 kt	5 h 19 min	12:08 am MDT (06:08 UTC)
12,500 ft	210° at 25 kt	+7 kt	2 °C	113 kt	5 h 33 min	12:22 am MDT (06:22 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+12 kt	-2 °C	108 kt	5 h 49 min	12:38 am MDT (06:38 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 32 kt	+17 kt	-6 °C	103 kt	6 h 06 min	12:55 am MDT (06:55 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 35 kt	+21 kt	-10 °C	99 kt	6 h 21 min	1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 43 kt	+28 kt	-21 °C	92 kt	6 h 50 min	1:39 am MDT (07:39 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 49 kt	+27 kt	-36 °C	93 kt	6 h 45 min	1:34 am MDT (07:34 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 61 kt	+38 kt	-43 °C	82 kt	7 h 40 min	2:29 am MDT (08:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 67 kt	+53 kt	-49 °C	67 kt	9 h 22 min	4:11 am MDT (10:11 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
FSD	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	200/16	220/20 17°	240/26 13°	230/19 6°	240/25 -9°	240/28 -20°	250/39 -33°	250/44 -43°	260/63 -52°
PIR	used from 100 nm out; 36 nm from the line		L/V 17°	230/13 12°	220/22 6°	250/31 -9°	250/34 -21°	240/50 -35°	230/61 -43°	240/62 -51°
RAP	used from 249 nm out; 44 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°
MLS	used from 349 nm out; 84 nm from the line		120/22 5°	170/18 4°	200/33 1°	230/49 -10°	230/58 -21°	220/54 -37°	230/64 -44°	250/74 -49°
BIL	used from 449 nm out; 50 nm from the line		080/24	130/14 -1°	180/33 0°	210/43 -10°	220/58 -21°	200/55 -36°	220/75 -44°	240/83 -48°
DLN	used from 598 nm out; 80 nm from the line			080/10 -3°	180/8 -3°	180/23 -14°	200/58 -22°	200/80 -36°	220/85 -41°	230/81 -45°

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
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	departure	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	18,000 ft	1,430 ft	6:56 pm CDT (23:56 UTC)
MHE Mitchell, SD	60 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,304 ft	23:53 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	160 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	1,744 ft	23:53 UTC
SPF Spearfish, SD	309 nm out, 25 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	3,933 ft	23:35 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD	319 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,190 ft
BIL Billings, MT	518 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north (010°) at 14 knots	6 mi	800 ft	3,662 ft	23:53 UTC
LVM Livingston, MT	598 nm out, 1 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the east (080°) at 14 knots	1.25 mi	400 ft	4,659 ft	00:39 UTC
BZN Bozeman, MT	destination	low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: snow, fog	calm	0.5 mi	1,100 ft	4,473 ft	5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,659 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BZN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:37 pm MDT (05:37 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility ½ mile, snow, fog, overcast at 300 feet low IFR

At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet IFR

The whole forecast for BZN

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility ½ mile, snow, fog, overcast at 300 feet
At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility 2 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 800 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm MDT (23:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet

The forecast for FSD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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 FSD 6:50 pm CDT (23:50 UTC), at BZN 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:14 pm MDT (01:14 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BZN is before sunrise there (7:36 am MDT (13:36 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, 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: Joe Foss Field, Bozeman Yellowstone International.