Grand Forks International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International GFK → PHX
1,098 nautical miles (1,264 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 223°, about 217° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC). Right now GFK is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 8 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 7 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: 4 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 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 419 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 route from 389 to 559 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 459 to 1039 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 499 to 849 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 519 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 689 nm along 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 route from 959 to 1019 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 979 to 1078 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1039 nm along 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
- P28A at 4,000 ft, 41 nm southeast, 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,800 ft, 10 °C. At the departure end, 41 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR270015/TM 0927/FL040/TP P28A/SK OVC013-TOP038/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- 15 nm west (270°) of KFAR
- Time
- 09:27 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,800 ft
- Temperature
- 10 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 599 nm along the route, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 33 nm southeast, 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 729 nm along the route, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
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 10 forecast points nearest it (GFK, ABR, PIR, RAP, BFF, DEN, GJT, FMN, PRC, PHX). 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 | 250° at 12 kt | +10 kt | 16 °C | 110 kt | 9 h 59 min | 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 14 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 33 min | 2:34 pm MST (21:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +22 kt | 9 °C | 98 kt | 11 h 12 min | 3:13 pm MST (22:13 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +27 kt | 6 °C | 93 kt | 11 h 48 min | 3:49 pm MST (22:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +32 kt | 2 °C | 88 kt | 12 h 29 min | 4:30 pm MST (23:30 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | +36 kt | -3 °C | 84 kt | 13 h 04 min | 5:05 pm MST (00:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -7 °C | 80 kt | 13 h 44 min | 5:45 pm MST (00:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 44 kt | +44 kt | -10 °C | 76 kt | 14 h 27 min | 6:28 pm MST (01:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 54 kt | +53 kt | -22 °C | 67 kt | 16 h 23 min | 8:24 pm MST (03:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 64 kt | +63 kt | -32 °C | 57 kt | 19 h 16 min | 11:17 pm MST (06:17 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 70 kt | +68 kt | -37 °C | 52 kt | 21 h 07 min | 1:08 am MST (08:08 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 70 kt | +66 kt | -46 °C | 54 kt | 20 h 20 min | 12:21 am MST (07:21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GFK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 080/18 | L/V 11° | 260/22 7° | 250/48 3° | 260/51 -11° | 250/44 -22° | 260/34 -38° | 260/53 -44° | 270/66 -49° |
| ABR | used from 100 nm out; 67 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° |
| PIR | used from 200 nm out; 51 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 300 nm out; 35 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 399 nm out; 42 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° | |
| DEN | used from 549 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GJT | used from 649 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| FMN | used from 749 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| PRC | used from 949 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| PHX | used from 1048 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 190/15 | 210/25 12° | 200/34 4° | 200/34 2° | 220/58 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/91 -28° | 220/100 -35° | 220/95 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GFK Grand Forks, ND | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north (010°) at 8 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 845 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| JMS Jamestown, ND | 90 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 1,499 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 200 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms, light rain | from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 1,716 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| PHP Philip, SD | 300 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the east (090°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,209 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| CDR Chadron, NE | 399 nm out, 12 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 3,297 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 519 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| EGE Eagle, CO | 649 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 6,547 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | 669 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 7,837 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 809 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 5,917 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| PAN Payson, AZ | 1039 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 5,160 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,134 ft | 3:51 am MST (10:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHX
- From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
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 PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:22 pm MST (01:22 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.