Spokane International to General Mitchell International GEG → MKE
1,275 nautical miles (1,467 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 092°, about 078° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:39 am CDT (16:39 UTC). Right now GEG is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots; MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 12 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: 3 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 C14C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am PDT (09:55 UTC). Over the route from 647 to 647 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120755 MKCC WST 120755 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 14C VALID UNTIL 0955Z SD ND FROM 50SE DIK-50ENE DPR-40ENE RAP-50NNW RAP-50SE DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 488 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
- 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 70 to 936 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 349 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 498 to 558 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 1046 to 1215 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
- BE20 at 15,000 ft, 30 nm north, 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): light icing, 0 °C. 598 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 0800/FL150/TP BE20/TA 00/IC LGT CLR
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 08:00 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- light clear
- B77W at 30,000 ft, 11 nm south, 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 797 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABR UA /OV ABR/TM 0800/FL300/TP B77W/TB LGT-MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABR
- Where
- over ABR
- Time
- 08:00 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B77W
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
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 11 forecast points nearest it (GEG, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB). 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 | 240° at 8 kt | −6 kt | 0 °C | 126 kt | 10 h 07 min | 2:08 pm CDT (19:08 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 12 kt | −8 kt | 7 °C | 128 kt | 9 h 58 min | 1:59 pm CDT (18:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | −10 kt | 3 °C | 130 kt | 9 h 48 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −12 kt | 1 °C | 132 kt | 9 h 40 min | 1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −13 kt | -3 °C | 133 kt | 9 h 35 min | 1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −15 kt | -7 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 27 min | 1:28 pm CDT (18:28 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −16 kt | -11 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 22 min | 1:23 pm CDT (18:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 22 kt | −16 kt | -12 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 22 min | 1:23 pm CDT (18:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | −22 kt | -24 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 59 min | 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 35 kt | −24 kt | -36 °C | 144 kt | 8 h 51 min | 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 45 kt | −35 kt | -40 °C | 155 kt | 8 h 14 min | 12:15 pm CDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 54 kt | −47 kt | -46 °C | 167 kt | 7 h 38 min | 11:39 am CDT (16:39 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 50 nm out; 73 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; 27 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 349 nm out; 76 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 398 nm out; 62 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 548 nm out; 39 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° | |
| ABR | used from 697 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| AXN | used from 847 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| MSP | used from 946 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| LSE | used from 1046 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| GRB | used from 1195 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
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 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 2,385 ft | 1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC) |
| THM Thompson Falls, MT | 90 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,467 ft | ||||
| GTF Great Falls, MT | 249 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 3,680 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| LWT Lewistown, MT | 329 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,170 ft | ||||
| MLS Miles City, MT | 478 nm out, 22 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 2,634 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| BHK Baker, MT | 548 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | from the east (080°) at 10 knots | 4 mi | 1,100 ft | 2,980 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| ASY Ashley, ND | 747 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,034 ft | ||||
| VVV Ortonville, MN | 876 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots | 4 mi | 200 ft | 1,101 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| FCM Minneapolis, MN | 1006 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 906 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 1115 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| UES Waukesha, WI | 1255 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 911 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 19,000 feet, overcast at 24,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 24,000 ft | 728 ft | 3:52 am CDT (08:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,170 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:39 am CDT (16:39 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKE
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at GEG 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 UTC), at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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, General Mitchell International.
