Plan a flight · Sun 7:23 pm MDT (01:23 UTC)

Idaho Falls Regional to Rochester International IDA → RST

848 nautical miles (976 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 070° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IDA is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots; RST is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 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

SIGMET 3W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm MDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 150 to 299 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120055
MKCW WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3W
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
MT WY
FROM 10WSW MLS-70E DDY-20N LAR-50E BPI-30NE BIL-10WSW MLS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
```
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 519 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 100 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 389 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 259 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 40 to 239 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

PC12 at 15,000 ft, 21 nm south, 5:47 pm MDT (23:47 UTC): light rime icing above 15,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV JAC200025/TM 2347/FL150/TP PC12/IC LGT RIME 150 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
25 nm south (200°) of JAC
Time
23:47 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Icing
light rime at 15,000 ft zlc
A320 descending, 2 nm southwest, 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC): overcast above 7,500 ft, remarks: braking action good during the descent RY19. 60 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV JAC/TM 0054/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC075/RM BRAKING ACTION GOOD DURD RY19
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
over JAC
Time
00:54 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 7,500 ft
Remarks
braking action good during the descent RY19
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 32 nm south, 5:03 pm MDT (23:03 UTC): light rime icing, -6 °C. 60 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV JAC160030/TM 2303/FL170/TP CRJ7/TA M6/IC LGT RIME /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
30 nm south (160°) of JAC
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Temperature
−6 °C
Icing
light rime zlc
BE9T at 17,500 ft, 12 nm north, 4:40 pm MDT (22:40 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -6 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-22. 249 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV CZI020012/TM 2240/FL175/TP BE9T/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT MIX /RM ZDVWC-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
12 nm north (020°) of CZI
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 17,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9T
Temperature
−6 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light mix
Remarks
ZDVWC-22
A21N at 35,000 ft, 20 nm north, 4:47 pm MDT (22:47 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-32. 289 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV GCC/TM 2247/FL350/TP A21N/TB NEG /RM ZDVWC-32
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
over GCC
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-32
PC12 at 100 ft, 15 nm north, 4:34 pm MDT (22:34 UTC): no icing. 519 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2234/FL001/TP PC12/SK BASE030-TOP045/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
over PIR
Time
22:34 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE030-TOP045
Icing
none
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 7 nm north, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 658 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft
B39M at 34,000 ft, 35 nm north, 5:25 pm MDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 778 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (PIH, LND, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW). 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	200° at 9 kt	−3 kt	14 °C	123 kt	6 h 54 min	3:17 am CDT (08:17 UTC)
7,500 ft	200° at 17 kt	−7 kt	13 °C	127 kt	6 h 41 min	3:04 am CDT (08:04 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 21 kt	−10 kt	10 °C	130 kt	6 h 31 min	2:54 am CDT (07:54 UTC)
11,500 ft	210° at 25 kt	−13 kt	6 °C	133 kt	6 h 23 min	2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC)
13,500 ft	210° at 28 kt	−18 kt	1 °C	138 kt	6 h 09 min	2:32 am CDT (07:32 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	−22 kt	-3 °C	142 kt	5 h 58 min	2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 34 kt	−26 kt	-8 °C	146 kt	5 h 48 min	2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 35 kt	−27 kt	-9 °C	147 kt	5 h 46 min	2:09 am CDT (07:09 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 35 kt	−28 kt	-21 °C	148 kt	5 h 44 min	2:07 am CDT (07:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 40 kt	−33 kt	-35 °C	153 kt	5 h 33 min	1:56 am CDT (06:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 51 kt	−46 kt	-41 °C	166 kt	5 h 07 min	1:30 am CDT (06:30 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 59 kt	−56 kt	-49 °C	176 kt	4 h 49 min	1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 62 nm from the line		270/10	270/13 1°	210/16 -2°	200/56 -11°	200/51 -23°	200/68 -33°	220/77 -37°	230/73 -44°
LND	used from 50 nm out; 88 nm from the line			180/33 10°	190/50 3°	210/59 -9°	200/50 -21°	190/41 -34°	230/55 -39°	240/65 -47°
RAP	used from 249 nm out; 118 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°
PIR	used from 449 nm out; 40 nm from the line		L/V 17°	230/13 12°	220/22 6°	250/31 -9°	250/34 -21°	240/50 -35°	230/61 -43°	240/62 -51°
FSD	used from 598 nm out; 53 nm from the line	200/16	220/20 17°	240/26 13°	230/19 6°	240/25 -9°	240/28 -20°	250/39 -33°	250/44 -43°	260/63 -52°
MCW	used from 748 nm out; 64 nm from the line	200/35	240/33 18°	250/20 10°	260/10 6°	270/18 -8°	260/28 -19°	280/30 -34°	290/49 -43°	280/70 -54°

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	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	4,500 ft	4,743 ft	6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC)
JAC Jackson, WY	60 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	3 mi	1,100 ft	6,451 ft	00:56 UTC
HSG Thermopolis, WY	160 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	500 ft	4,891 ft	01:15 UTC
WRL Worland, WY	180 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	4,251 ft	01:05 UTC
ECS Newcastle, WY	339 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	4,177 ft	01:15 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	389 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	3,203 ft	00:52 UTC
PHP Philip, SD	459 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	2,209 ft	00:55 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	509 nm out, 14 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,744 ft	00:53 UTC
MDS Madison, SD	648 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,718 ft	23:35 UTC
JYG St James, MN	758 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,067 ft	01:15 UTC
ACQ Waseca, MN	798 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,126 ft	01:15 UTC
RST Rochester, MN	destination	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,451 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RST when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:12 am CDT (06:12 UTC)

Wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RST

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

The forecast for IDA, the departure

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet

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 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC), at RST 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RST is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Rochester International.