Spokane International to Joe Foss Field GEG → FSD
903 nautical miles (1,040 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 098°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC). Right now GEG is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 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
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 427 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 169 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 40 to 387 nm out.
- 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 179 to 893 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 437 to 526 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 GEG.
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 9 forecast points nearest it (GEG, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, RAP, PIR, FSD). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 8 kt | −6 kt | 6 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 10 min | 1:13 pm CDT (18:13 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 10 kt | −7 kt | 6 °C | 127 kt | 7 h 07 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 13 kt | −8 kt | 2 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 03 min | 1:06 pm CDT (18:06 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 15 kt | −9 kt | -1 °C | 129 kt | 7 h | 1:03 pm CDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −8 kt | -4 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 03 min | 1:06 pm CDT (18:06 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −7 kt | -8 °C | 127 kt | 7 h 07 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 23 kt | −6 kt | -12 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 10 min | 1:13 pm CDT (18:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 23 kt | −6 kt | -13 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 10 min | 1:13 pm CDT (18:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 35 kt | −10 kt | -26 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 57 min | 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 37 kt | −18 kt | -35 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 33 min | 12:36 pm CDT (17:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 45 kt | −23 kt | -38 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 19 min | 12:22 pm CDT (17:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 53 kt | −33 kt | -45 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 54 min | 11:57 am CDT (16:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEG | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| GPI | used from 99 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 199 nm out; 43 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| BIL | used from 298 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 447 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| DIK | used from 546 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 596 nm out; 72 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° | |
| PIR | used from 645 nm out; 74 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° | |
| FSD | used from 844 nm out; 35 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEG Spokane, WA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 2,385 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
| THM Thompson Falls, MT | 89 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,467 ft | ||||
| MSO Missoula, MT | 149 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HLN Helena, MT | 238 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 3,877 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HWQ Harlowton, MT | 318 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,311 ft | ||||
| RPX Roundup, MT | 377 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 745 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 4 mi | 400 ft | 1,744 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 844 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 1,304 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 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 FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC)
Wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- 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
The forecast for GEG, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 129 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
- 6/8925 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 129 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at GEG 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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: Spokane International, Joe Foss Field.