Joe Foss Field to Salt Lake City International FSD → SLC
697 nautical miles (802 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 256° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 10:07 am MDT (16:07 UTC). Right now FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) 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: 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
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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, at the departure end.
- 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 30 to 349 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 319 to 568 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 349 to 637 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 388 to 508 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 259 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 438 to 488 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 30 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 FSD.
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 08:00–15:00 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 (FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, 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 | 260° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 19 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 11 min | 10:11 am MDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 18 °C | 96 kt | 7 h 16 min | 10:16 am MDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +22 kt | 15 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 07 min | 10:07 am MDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 8 °C | 96 kt | 7 h 16 min | 10:16 am MDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +25 kt | 2 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 20 min | 10:20 am MDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +25 kt | -3 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 20 min | 10:20 am MDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +26 kt | -8 °C | 94 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:25 am MDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 36 kt | +26 kt | -12 °C | 94 kt | 7 h 25 min | 10:25 am MDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 49 kt | +37 kt | -22 °C | 83 kt | 8 h 24 min | 11:24 am MDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 51 kt | +47 kt | -32 °C | 73 kt | 9 h 33 min | 12:33 pm MDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 52 kt | +48 kt | -36 °C | 72 kt | 9 h 41 min | 12:41 pm MDT (18:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 51 kt | +48 kt | -45 °C | 72 kt | 9 h 41 min | 12:41 pm MDT (18:41 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| ONL | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 149 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 199 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 249 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| RKS | used from 448 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 647 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/16 | 210/23 4° | 220/34 -3° | 210/40 -16° | 220/66 -23° | 220/64 -31° | 220/57 -36° | 220/50 -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 (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 3:56 am CDT (08:56 UTC) |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 50 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north (360°) at 9 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 1,304 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 139 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 400 ft | 2,032 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 179 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 1.25 mi | 200 ft | 2,724 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 239 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 1.75 mi | 300 ft | 3,562 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| CDR Chadron, NE | 279 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 10 knots | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,297 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 359 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 478 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 558 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 5,500 ft | 6,764 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| EVW Evanston, WY | 647 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,700 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,142 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 9,500 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 2:54 am MDT (08:54 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, 10:07 am MDT (16:07 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 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 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: Joe Foss Field, Salt Lake City International.