Hays Regional to Yellowstone Regional HYS → COD
554 nautical miles (637 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 311°, about 303° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 1-knot headwind), arriving about 11:49 am MDT (17:49 UTC). Right now HYS is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots; COD is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 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 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 first 89 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 237 to 415 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 277 to 415 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 346 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 148 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 last 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 79 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 HYS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (GCK, GLD, BFF, LND, BIL). 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 | 270° at 31 kt | +23 kt | 22 °C | 97 kt | 5 h 43 min | 12:53 pm MDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 32 kt | +22 kt | 21 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 39 min | 12:49 pm MDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 27 kt | +16 kt | 6 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 20 min | 12:30 pm MDT (18:30 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | +14 kt | 7 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 14 min | 12:24 pm MDT (18:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | +12 kt | 4 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 08 min | 12:18 pm MDT (18:18 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +8 kt | -2 °C | 112 kt | 4 h 57 min | 12:07 pm MDT (18:07 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | +4 kt | -7 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 47 min | 11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 38 kt | +1 kt | -10 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 39 min | 11:49 am MDT (17:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 50 kt | +4 kt | -22 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 47 min | 11:57 am MDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 61 kt | +18 kt | -31 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 26 min | 12:36 pm MDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 62 kt | +24 kt | -36 °C | 96 kt | 5 h 46 min | 12:56 pm MDT (18:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 59 kt | +22 kt | -46 °C | 98 kt | 5 h 39 min | 12:49 pm MDT (18:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCK | used from 0 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| GLD | used from 49 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| BFF | used from 198 nm out; 48 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° | |
| LND | used from 396 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| BIL | used from 544 nm out; 82 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYS Hays, KS | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,999 ft | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| HLC Hill City, KS | 40 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,238 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 79 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| IML Imperial, NE | 148 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,276 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| SNY Sidney, NE | 218 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 19:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 267 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | 200 ft | 3,967 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 326 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 9,500 ft | 4,401 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| DGW Douglas, WY | 366 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 4,932 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 405 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 5,344 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| WRL Worland, WY | 494 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,900 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet | from the north (360°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 4,251 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| GEY Greybull, WY | 524 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 3,941 ft | 12:53 UTC |
| COD Cody, WY | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: light snow | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 500 ft | 5,102 ft | 6:56 am MDT (12:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,344 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:49 am MDT (17:49 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for COD
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light showers rain snow
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet and more above
The forecast for HYS, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 18 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 18 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 HYS 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC), at COD 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 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: Hays Regional, Yellowstone Regional.