Idaho Falls Regional to Joe Foss Field IDA → FSD
666 nautical miles (767 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 072° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:19 am CDT (11:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IDA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the north (010°) 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 C13C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am MDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 408 to 408 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120655 MKCC WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13C VALID UNTIL 0855Z SD FROM 50NW DPR-30ESE DPR-20SE RAP-50WNW RAP-50NW DPR AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 278 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 239 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 route from 99 to 606 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 109 to 318 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 119 to 378 nm out.
- 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 149 to 368 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 IDA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (PIH, LND, RAP, PIR, FSD). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 180° at 19 kt | −1 kt | 15 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 30 min | 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 23 kt | −7 kt | 11 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 15 min | 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | −12 kt | 9 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 03 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 30 kt | −17 kt | 5 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 52 min | 7:20 am CDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −19 kt | 0 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 47 min | 7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −20 kt | -4 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 45 min | 7:13 am CDT (12:13 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 41 min | 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | −22 kt | -10 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 41 min | 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 36 kt | −29 kt | -22 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 28 min | 6:56 am CDT (11:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | −35 kt | -33 °C | 155 kt | 4 h 18 min | 6:46 am CDT (11:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 53 kt | −47 kt | -39 °C | 167 kt | 3 h 59 min | 6:27 am CDT (11:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 58 kt | −53 kt | -46 °C | 173 kt | 3 h 51 min | 6:19 am CDT (11:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH | used from 0 nm out; 61 nm from the line | L/V | 240/13 1° | 240/15 -3° | 210/42 -15° | 200/70 -25° | 220/74 -29° | 220/71 -36° | 220/62 -43° | |
| LND | used from 50 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| RAP | used from 249 nm out; 119 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 447 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| FSD | used from 597 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 4,743 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
| JAC Jackson, WY | 60 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,600 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 6,451 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 99 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 7,298 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| HSG Thermopolis, WY | 159 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 4,891 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 388 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east (090°) at 10 knots | 0.75 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 07:19 UTC |
| PHP Philip, SD | 457 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 2,209 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 537 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 2,032 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 606 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,304 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | destination | VFR | from the north (010°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 1:56 am CDT (06:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:19 am CDT (11:19 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FSD
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet
The forecast for IDA, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
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 IDA 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FSD is before sunrise there (7:37 am CDT (12:37 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: Idaho Falls Regional, Joe Foss Field.