Grand Junction Regional to Southwest Wyoming Regional GJT → RKS
151 nautical miles (173 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 351°, about 342° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:39 am MDT (07:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GJT is VFR, wind variable at 4 knots; RKS is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 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 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 first 122 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 85 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 85 to 132 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 GJT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E170 at 4,800 ft, 0 nm west, 12:31 am MDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 06:31 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc
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 2 forecast points nearest it (GJT, RKS). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 42 kt | −34 kt | 7 °C | 154 kt | 59 min | 1:41 am MDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 43 kt | −30 kt | 4 °C | 150 kt | 1 h | 1:42 am MDT (07:42 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 44 kt | −25 kt | 0 °C | 145 kt | 1 h 02 min | 1:44 am MDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | −26 kt | -4 °C | 146 kt | 1 h 02 min | 1:44 am MDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 44 kt | −28 kt | -9 °C | 148 kt | 1 h 01 min | 1:43 am MDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 44 kt | −28 kt | -12 °C | 148 kt | 1 h 01 min | 1:43 am MDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 56 kt | −36 kt | -23 °C | 156 kt | 58 min | 1:40 am MDT (07:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 57 kt | −39 kt | -28 °C | 159 kt | 57 min | 1:39 am MDT (07:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 61 kt | −34 kt | -34 °C | 154 kt | 59 min | 1:41 am MDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 57 kt | −34 kt | -45 °C | 154 kt | 59 min | 1:41 am MDT (07:41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 94 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,861 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 5 mi | 3,200 ft | 6,764 ft | 12:31 am MDT (06:31 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,764 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RKS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:39 am MDT (07:39 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RKS
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 3,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet and more above
The forecast for GJT, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 19 knots, gusting to 31, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
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 GJT 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC), at RKS 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm MDT (01:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RKS is before sunrise there (7:24 am MDT (13:24 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 Junction Regional, Southwest Wyoming Regional.