Grand Forks International to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal GFK → COS
639 nautical miles (735 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 214°, about 208° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GFK is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 11 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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
- SIGMET C10C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120555 MKCC WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C VALID UNTIL 0755Z CO NM FROM 20NNE PUB-40WSW LAA-30WSW CIM-50WSW ALS-50ESE HBU-20NNE PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 first 389 nm of the route.
- 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 369 to 489 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 190 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 130 nm of the route.
- 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 last 0 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 GFK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B738 descending, 27 nm northwest, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 589 nm along the route, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 05:06 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
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 5 forecast points nearest it (GFK, ABR, PIR, BFF, DEN). 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 | 160° at 15 kt | +10 kt | 19 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 49 min | 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 180° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 15 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 02 min | 6:36 am MDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 20 min | 6:54 am MDT (12:54 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 9 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 39 min | 7:13 am MDT (13:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +29 kt | 4 °C | 91 kt | 7 h 01 min | 7:35 am MDT (13:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +29 kt | -1 °C | 91 kt | 7 h 01 min | 7:35 am MDT (13:35 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | +30 kt | -5 °C | 90 kt | 7 h 06 min | 7:40 am MDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 33 kt | +30 kt | -9 °C | 90 kt | 7 h 06 min | 7:40 am MDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 39 kt | +35 kt | -21 °C | 85 kt | 7 h 31 min | 8:05 am MDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 39 kt | +34 kt | -34 °C | 86 kt | 7 h 26 min | 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 45 kt | +35 kt | -39 °C | 85 kt | 7 h 31 min | 8:05 am MDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 52 kt | +39 kt | -47 °C | 81 kt | 7 h 53 min | 8:27 am MDT (14:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GFK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 070/18 | 100/10 9° | 250/11 6° | 250/27 1° | 250/34 -10° | 260/43 -21° | 260/39 -36° | 260/36 -46° | 260/59 -53° |
| ABR | used from 100 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| PIR | used from 200 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 349 nm out; 90 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 499 nm out; 65 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GFK Grand Forks, ND | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (010°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 845 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
| BAC Valley City, ND | 70 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ASY Ashley, ND | 150 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,034 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 250 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,744 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 319 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 2,724 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 369 nm out, 17 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east (080°) at 9 knots | 1.25 mi | 300 ft | 3,562 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| AIA Alliance, NE | 429 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,930 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SNY Sidney, NE | 479 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 19:53 UTC |
| FMM Fort Morgan, CO | 539 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 4,595 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CFO Denver, CO | 579 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 22 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 5,515 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 11:54 pm MDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for COS
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for GFK, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4348 GRAND FORKS AFB, ND, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at GFK 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC), at COS 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COS is before sunrise there (7:04 am MDT (13:04 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: Grand Forks International, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.