Plan a flight · Mon 1:50 am CDT (06:50 UTC)

Joe Foss Field to Los Angeles International FSD → LAX

1,163 nautical miles (1,338 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 247°, about 242° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 11:07 am PDT (18:07 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots; LAX is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 8 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 route from 139 to 189 nm out.
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 139 to 308 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 288 to 785 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 338 to 954 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 427 to 596 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 527 to 894 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 666 to 964 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 894 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 964 to 1153 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 FSD.

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

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 36 nm southeast, 11:30 pm CDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 527 nm along the route, 36 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
B38M at 21,500 ft, 8 nm northwest, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 437 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest 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
A20N at 25,000 ft, 41 nm southeast, 1:19 am CDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 457 nm along the route, 41 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06
E170 at 4,800 ft, 3 nm east, 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. 596 nm along the route, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
06:31 UTC
Height
at 4,800 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc
A321 at 31,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: mountain wave zlc. 696 nm along the route, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CNY UA /OV HVE340015/TM 0615/FL310/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CHOP /RM MTN WAVE /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CNY
Where
15 nm north (340°) of HVE
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate chop
Remarks
mountain wave zlc
B38M at 14,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC): light rime icing, 6 °C. 924 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS059040/TM 0547/FL140/TP B38M/TA 06/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
40 nm northeast (059°) of LAS
Time
05:47 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
6 °C
Icing
light rime
B737 at 19,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 12:45 am CDT (05:45 UTC): light turbulence. 944 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS050012/TM 0545/FL190/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
12 nm northeast (050°) of LAS
Time
05:45 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B737 at 14,500 ft, 2 nm north, 12:30 am CDT (05:30 UTC): light turbulence. 964 nm along the route, 2 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS155012/TM 0530/FL145/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
12 nm southeast (155°) of LAS
Time
05:30 UTC
Height
at 14,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B38M at 4,500 ft, 25 nm southeast, 11:15 pm CDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. 1113 nm along the route, 25 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT078012/TM 0415/FL045/TP B38M/SK BKN045-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
12 nm east (078°) of ONT
Time
04:15 UTC
Height
at 4,500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent
B38M at 3,000 ft, 21 nm southeast, 12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 8,000 ft, remarks: BASE030. At the destination end, 21 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV KONT080005/TM 0547/FL030/TP B38M/SK BKN029-TOP080/RM BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
5 nm east (080°) of KONT
Time
05:47 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 2,900 ft, tops 8,000 ft
Remarks
BASE030
A321 at 3,300 ft, 23 nm southeast, 11:59 pm CDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
8 nm east (078°) of ONT
Time
04:59 UTC
Height
at 3,300 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent
GLF5 at 3,500 ft, 16 nm northwest, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC): overcast above 3,600 ft. At the destination end, 16 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
VNY UA /OV VNY36006/TM 0454/FL035/TP GLF5/SK OVC036
```
Report
a routine report filed through VNY
Where
VNY36006
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Sky
overcast from 3,600 ft

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 8 forecast points nearest it (FSD, ONL, BFF, DEN, GJT, BCE, LAS, ONT). 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 23 kt	+17 kt	15 °C	103 kt	11 h 17 min	11:07 am PDT (18:07 UTC)
6,500 ft	200° at 25 kt	+19 kt	12 °C	101 kt	11 h 31 min	11:21 am PDT (18:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+25 kt	9 °C	95 kt	12 h 15 min	12:05 pm PDT (19:05 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+27 kt	5 °C	93 kt	12 h 30 min	12:20 pm PDT (19:20 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+29 kt	1 °C	91 kt	12 h 47 min	12:37 pm PDT (19:37 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 33 kt	+32 kt	-3 °C	88 kt	13 h 13 min	1:03 pm PDT (20:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 36 kt	+34 kt	-8 °C	86 kt	13 h 31 min	1:21 pm PDT (20:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 39 kt	+36 kt	-11 °C	84 kt	13 h 51 min	1:41 pm PDT (20:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 48 kt	+46 kt	-21 °C	74 kt	15 h 43 min	3:33 pm PDT (22:33 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 51 kt	+50 kt	-31 °C	70 kt	16 h 37 min	4:27 pm PDT (23:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 54 kt	+54 kt	-36 °C	66 kt	17 h 37 min	5:27 pm PDT (00:27 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 51 kt	+52 kt	-45 °C	68 kt	17 h 06 min	4:56 pm PDT (23:56 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
FSD	used from 0 nm out; 25 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 50 nm out; 41 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 199 nm out; 100 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°
DEN	used from 398 nm out; 51 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°
GJT	used from 497 nm out; 72 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°
BCE	used from 696 nm out; 65 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
LAS	used from 894 nm out; 41 nm from the line		210/21 10°	200/18 5°	200/23 -2°	210/49 -14°	210/63 -21°	220/58 -30°	220/61 -35°	210/56 -44°
ONT	used from 1043 nm out; 61 nm from the line	190/8	190/19 6°	210/23 4°	210/29 -3°	210/47 -13°	210/49 -19°	220/47 -30°	220/50 -36°	220/55 -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
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	departure	VFR	from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	12:56 am CDT (05:56 UTC)
AGZ Wagner, SD	80 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet	from the north (360°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	500 ft	1,477 ft	06:35 UTC
ANW Ainsworth, NE	159 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet	from the east (080°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	300 ft	2,588 ft	06:35 UTC
IBM Kimball, NE	338 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the west (280°) at 7 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	4,925 ft	06:35 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	417 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,020 ft	05:56 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	517 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	6,547 ft	05:56 UTC
GJT Grand Junction, CO	596 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	4,861 ft	05:53 UTC
BCE Bryce Canyon, UT	785 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots	3 mi	2,300 ft	7,589 ft	06:28 UTC
AZC Colorado City, AZ	845 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	4,873 ft	06:35 UTC
HND Las Vegas, NV	964 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	2,491 ft	05:56 UTC
EMT El Monte, CA	1143 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	295 ft	02:45 UTC
LAX Los Angeles, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	3,400 ft	127 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,589 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:07 am PDT (18:07 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LAX

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet

The forecast for FSD, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-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 at 7 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-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 934 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 954 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 964 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at LAX 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm PDT (01:48 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · 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, Los Angeles International.