Plan a flight · Mon 9:50 am CDT (14:50 UTC)

Grand Forks International to Missoula Montana Airport GFK → MSO

688 nautical miles (792 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 271°, about 265° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:31 pm MDT (20:31 UTC). Right now GFK is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 15 knots; MSO is VFR, wind from the north (350°) 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: 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 C20C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC). Near the route, 80 nm along the route.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 121355
MKCC WST 121355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 20C
VALID UNTIL 1555Z
SD ND
FROM 80W GFK-40WNW FAR-40W ABR-50ENE DPR-30S BIS-80W GFK
AREA TS MOV FROM 21040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
```
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 648 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 299 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 389 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 200 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 10 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

PA44 climbing, 1 nm north, 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 1 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV KGFK360001/TM 1407/FLUNKN/TP PA44/SK OVC011-TOPUNKN/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
1 nm north (360°) of KGFK
Time
14:07 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
PA44
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the climb
P28A at 5,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no icing, overcast above 1,000 ft, 5 °C, remarks: during the climb indefinite ceiling visibility 1/2SM. At the departure end, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK030003/TM 1327/FL050/TP P28A/SK OVC010/WX FV00SM/TA 05/IC NEG/RM DURC INDEFINITE CEILING VIS 1/2SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
3 nm northeast (030°) of GFK
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
Weather
flight visibility 0 miles
Temperature
5 °C
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb indefinite ceiling visibility 1/2SM
PRM1 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm east, 8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC): no icing, overcast from 1,200 ft to 5,000 ft, 9 °C. At the departure end, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV KGFK090005/TM 1310/FL050/TP PRM1/SK OVC012-TOP050/TA 09/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
5 nm east (090°) of KGFK
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
PRM1
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 5,000 ft
Temperature
9 °C
Icing
none
P28A at 1,900 ft, 1 nm north, 7:38 am CDT (12:38 UTC): no icing, overcast above 1,200 ft, 5 °C. At the departure end, 1 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV KGFK360001/TM 1238/FL019/TP P28A/SK OVC012-TOPUNKN/TA 05/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
1 nm north (360°) of KGFK
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 1,900 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops unknown
Temperature
5 °C
Icing
none
A321 at 30,000 ft, 1 nm northwest, 7:28 am CDT (12:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 1 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK/TM 1228/FL300/TP A321/SK TOP300/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
over GFK
Time
12:28 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP300
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
none
P212 at 8,000 ft, 46 nm north, 9:45 am CDT (14:45 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -5 °C. 479 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HVR UA /OV HVR110030/TM 1445/FL080/TP P212/TA M5/TB NEG/IC LGT CLR /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HVR
Where
30 nm east (110°) of HVR
Time
14:45 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
P212
Temperature
−5 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light clear zlc
DC3T at 8,500 ft, 12 nm north, 9:03 am CDT (14:03 UTC): light to moderate rime icing above 8,000 ft, -8 °C. 579 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 300025/TM 1403/FL085/TP DC3T/TA M8/IC LGT-MOD RIME 080
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 300° at 25 knots
Time
14:03 UTC
Height
at 8,500 ft
Aircraft
DC3T
Temperature
−8 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime at 8,000 ft
A319 at 7,500 ft, 12 nm north, 8:41 am CDT (13:41 UTC): overcast from 30,000 ft to 7,500 ft. 579 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 180010/TM 1341/FL075/TP A319/SK OVC003-TOPS075
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 180° at 10 knots
Time
13:41 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 300 ft, tops 7,500 ft
BE9L at 7,500 ft, 42 nm south, 7:45 am CDT (12:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing, overcast from 7,500 ft to 9,000 ft, -6 °C, remarks: during the climb. 599 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN120010/TM 1245/FL075/TP BE9L/SK OVC075-TOPS090/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of HLN
Time
12:45 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
overcast from 7,500 ft, tops 9,000 ft
Temperature
−6 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb
B752 at 41,000 ft, 26 nm south, 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 41,000 ft. 599 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN009010/TM 1231/FL410/TP B752/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 410/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm north (009°) of HLN
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate 410/ZLC
C25B at 11,000 ft, 1 nm southeast, 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 1413/FL110/TP C25B/SK TOP 110
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
14:13 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
top 11,000 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (GFK, MOT, DIK, GGW, GTF, GPI). 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	020° at 2 kt	−1 kt	-1 °C	121 kt	5 h 41 min	2:31 pm MDT (20:31 UTC)
6,500 ft	light and variable	0	2 °C	120 kt	5 h 44 min	2:34 pm MDT (20:34 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 5 kt	+3 kt	1 °C	117 kt	5 h 53 min	2:43 pm MDT (20:43 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 12 kt	+9 kt	-1 °C	111 kt	6 h 12 min	3:02 pm MDT (21:02 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	+14 kt	-3 °C	106 kt	6 h 29 min	3:19 pm MDT (21:19 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	+16 kt	-7 °C	104 kt	6 h 37 min	3:27 pm MDT (21:27 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	+19 kt	-11 °C	101 kt	6 h 49 min	3:39 pm MDT (21:39 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 26 kt	+21 kt	-14 °C	99 kt	6 h 57 min	3:47 pm MDT (21:47 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 28 kt	+20 kt	-26 °C	100 kt	6 h 53 min	3:43 pm MDT (21:43 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 43 kt	+29 kt	-36 °C	91 kt	7 h 34 min	4:24 pm MDT (22:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 56 kt	+42 kt	-39 °C	78 kt	8 h 49 min	5:39 pm MDT (23:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 60 kt	+55 kt	-44 °C	65 kt	10 h 35 min	7:25 pm MDT (01:25 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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	100/10	150/9 10°	200/19 7°	230/27 1°	240/51 -11°	230/43 -23°	230/40 -36°	240/56 -40°	260/67 -47°
MOT	used from 100 nm out; 44 nm from the line		L/V 2°	220/12 2°	220/27 0°	220/36 -12°	230/33 -24°	230/39 -34°	230/50 -39°	250/63 -46°
DIK	used from 249 nm out; 79 nm from the line		330/11 1°	230/20 4°	220/22 0°	230/29 -12°	240/27 -25°	240/40 -34°	230/49 -37°	240/55 -44°
GGW	used from 299 nm out; 62 nm from the line		360/9 -3°	L/V -4°	250/12 -4°	250/21 -12°	230/25 -27°	220/53 -34°	230/59 -38°	240/64 -44°
GTF	used from 449 nm out; 100 nm from the line		L/V	L/V -4°	230/12 -3°	210/12 -17°	190/23 -29°	200/48 -39°	210/69 -39°	220/66 -42°
GPI	used from 648 nm out; 84 nm from the line		L/V -3°	L/V -4°	L/V -6°	210/19 -17°	220/26 -32°	190/23 -40°	220/25 -39°	220/34 -42°

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	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 400 feet Weather: fog	from the north-northeast (020°) at 15 knots	0.5 mi	400 ft	845 ft	9:20 am CDT (14:20 UTC)
DVL Devils Lake, ND	70 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (050°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	700 ft	1,469 ft	13:56 UTC
MOT Minot, ND	160 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots	5 mi	1,200 ft	1,715 ft	14:06 UTC
XWA Williston, ND	259 nm out, 25 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots	3 mi	400 ft	2,356 ft	14:30 UTC
SDY Sidney, MT	279 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	1,985 ft	13:56 UTC
JDN Jordan, MT	399 nm out, 20 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots		none	2,667 ft	13:48 UTC
LWT Lewistown, MT	499 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	no report just now				4,170 ft
GTF Great Falls, MT	569 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	400 ft	3,680 ft	13:53 UTC
MSO Missoula, MT	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	3,205 ft	7:53 am MDT (13:53 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 MSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:31 pm MDT (20:31 UTC)

Wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSO

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet

The forecast for GFK, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 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 on the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZMP
6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC

Daylight

Sunset at GFK 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC), at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 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, 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: Grand Forks International, Missoula Montana Airport.