Washington Dulles International to Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field IAD → BFF
1,203 nautical miles (1,384 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 287°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 11:19 am MDT (17:19 UTC). Right now IAD is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 15 knots, gusting to 27; BFF is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 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
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 447 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 70 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 169 nm out.
- 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 636 to 1173 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1014 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 IAD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- MD83 climbing, 16 nm south, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 258 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 43 nm north, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 388 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
- B38M at 29,000 ft, 19 nm south, 12:52 am EDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 507 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- over RBS
- Time
- 04:52 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft
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 12 forecast points nearest it (EKN, AGC, CMH, FWA, IND, JOT, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF). 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 18 kt | +17 kt | 17 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 41 min | 11:52 am MDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 15 °C | 103 kt | 11 h 41 min | 11:52 am MDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 34 min | 11:45 am MDT (17:45 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 13 kt | +14 kt | 7 °C | 106 kt | 11 h 21 min | 11:32 am MDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 11 kt | +12 kt | 4 °C | 108 kt | 11 h 08 min | 11:19 am MDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | +15 kt | -1 °C | 105 kt | 11 h 27 min | 11:38 am MDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | +18 kt | -5 °C | 102 kt | 11 h 48 min | 11:59 am MDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 19 kt | +21 kt | -8 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 09 min | 12:20 pm MDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 26 kt | +27 kt | -20 °C | 93 kt | 12 h 56 min | 1:07 pm MDT (19:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 32 kt | +34 kt | -34 °C | 86 kt | 13 h 59 min | 2:10 pm MDT (20:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 45 kt | +46 kt | -40 °C | 74 kt | 16 h 15 min | 4:26 pm MDT (22:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 49 kt | +50 kt | -49 °C | 70 kt | 17 h 11 min | 5:22 pm MDT (23:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKN | used from 0 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| AGC | used from 149 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| CMH | used from 199 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| FWA | used from 298 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| IND | used from 398 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 447 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| BRL | used from 596 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 696 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 795 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| GRI | used from 895 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 944 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 1094 nm out; 85 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAD Washington, DC | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (350°) at 15 knots, gusting to 27 | 4 mi | 800 ft | 312 ft | 1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC) |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 119 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 500 ft | 1,243 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 129 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 1,223 ft | 06:00 UTC |
| OSU Columbus, OH | 268 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 905 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 418 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| PNT Pontiac, IL | 527 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 666 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 616 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 756 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 855 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 1004 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| AIA Alliance, NE | 1163 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,930 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | destination | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,967 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:19 am MDT (17:19 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFF
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
The forecast for IAD, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at BFF 6:16 pm MDT (00:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm MDT (00:44 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: Washington Dulles International, Scottsbluff/Western Nebraska Rgnl/Wm B Heilig Field.