Plan a flight · Sun 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC)

Joe Foss Field to Seattle-Tacoma International FSD → SEA

1,095 nautical miles (1,260 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 286° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:09 am PDT (09:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 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

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 428 to 448 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 route from 159 to 826 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 289 to 836 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 508 to 896 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 538 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 747 to 976 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

E75L at 14,000 ft, 21 nm south, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 757 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV 32S/TM 2322/FL140/TP E75L/TB MOD 140-210/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over 32S
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zlc
PC12 at 100 ft, 6 nm south, 5:34 pm CDT (22:34 UTC): no icing. 159 nm along the route, 6 nm south 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
B737 descending, 44 nm south, 7:28 pm CDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. 627 nm along the route, 44 nm south 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, 40 nm south, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. 657 nm along the route, 40 nm south 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
C25B at 4,100 ft, 2 nm northwest, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,100 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 757 nm along the route, 2 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0036/FL041/TP C25B/SK OVC041/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,100 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
overcast from 4,100 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
B739 at 3,700 ft, 2 nm northwest, 4:58 pm CDT (21:58 UTC): overcast above 3,700 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 757 nm along the route, 2 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 2158/FL037/TP B739/SK OVC037/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
21:58 UTC
Height
at 3,700 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
overcast from 3,700 ft
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
C172 at 5,500 ft, 33 nm south, 5:17 pm CDT (22:17 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: zse. 916 nm along the route, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUW UA /OV PUW250030/TM 2217/FL055/TP C172/TA 00/IC TRACE RIME/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUW
Where
30 nm west (250°) of PUW
Time
22:17 UTC
Height
at 5,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
trace rime
Remarks
zse

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 11 forecast points nearest it (FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, LWS, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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	080° at 11 kt	−11 kt	8 °C	131 kt	8 h 22 min	2:09 am PDT (09:09 UTC)
6,500 ft	080° at 10 kt	−10 kt	6 °C	130 kt	8 h 25 min	2:12 am PDT (09:12 UTC)
8,500 ft	110° at 6 kt	−7 kt	3 °C	127 kt	8 h 37 min	2:24 am PDT (09:24 UTC)
10,500 ft	180° at 7 kt	−3 kt	-1 °C	123 kt	8 h 54 min	2:41 am PDT (09:41 UTC)
12,500 ft	200° at 12 kt	0	-3 °C	120 kt	9 h 08 min	2:55 am PDT (09:55 UTC)
14,500 ft	210° at 14 kt	+3 kt	-7 °C	117 kt	9 h 22 min	3:09 am PDT (10:09 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	+6 kt	-11 °C	114 kt	9 h 36 min	3:23 am PDT (10:23 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 20 kt	+8 kt	-14 °C	112 kt	9 h 47 min	3:34 am PDT (10:34 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 27 kt	+15 kt	-24 °C	105 kt	10 h 26 min	4:13 am PDT (11:13 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 37 kt	+18 kt	-36 °C	102 kt	10 h 44 min	4:31 am PDT (11:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 46 kt	+27 kt	-42 °C	93 kt	11 h 46 min	5:33 am PDT (12:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 49 kt	+37 kt	-46 °C	83 kt	13 h 12 min	6:59 am PDT (13:59 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; 63 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 348 nm out; 64 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 448 nm out; 51 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°
GTF	used from 597 nm out; 64 nm from the line		070/21	080/18 -6°	120/5 -5°	180/30 -14°	200/53 -24°	210/80 -38°	220/83 -44°	230/68 -46°
GPI	used from 747 nm out; 84 nm from the line		060/19 -3°	110/11 -8°	130/6 -8°	200/40 -19°	190/58 -28°	200/101 -39°	220/73 -43°	230/41 -43°
LWS	used from 797 nm out; 70 nm from the line	010/5	050/14 -2°	040/12 -6°	160/7 -10°	190/30 -22°	200/54 -27°	200/48 -35°	210/40 -37°	230/32 -41°
GEG	used from 846 nm out; 41 nm from the line		050/18 -2°	060/19 -8°	L/V -11°	160/11 -24°	190/17 -31°	200/19 -35°	220/14 -37°	250/11 -41°
YKM	used from 946 nm out; 69 nm from the line	030/16	020/18 0°	030/30 -8°	030/23 -13°	020/40 -23°	010/73 -29°	010/54 -36°	360/29 -37°	330/16 -40°
SEA	used from 1045 nm out; 25 nm from the line	360/9	350/10 1°	010/10 -5°	030/20 -11°	020/60 -17°	010/86 -26°	360/90 -40°	010/68 -42°	360/31 -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 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, 10 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	159 nm out, 7 nm southwest 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
BIL Billings, MT	518 nm out, 20 nm south 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
HWQ Harlowton, MT	577 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				4,311 ft
HLN Helena, MT	667 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: snow, freezing fog	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	0.5 mi	1,300 ft	3,877 ft	00:06 UTC
MWH Moses Lake, WA	976 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	1,188 ft	23:52 UTC
EPH Ephrata, WA	986 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet	from the east (080°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	1,276 ft	23:53 UTC
SEA Seattle, WA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	432 ft	4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,311 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:09 am PDT (09:09 UTC)

Wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SEA

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SEA is before sunrise there (7:23 am PDT (14:23 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 Pacific Northwest · 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.