Jamestown Regional to Southwest Wyoming Regional JMS → RKS
549 nautical miles (632 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 238°, about 234° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 9:03 am MDT (15:03 UTC). Right now JMS is IFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18; RKS is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 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 C15C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 5:55 am CDT (10:55 UTC). Over the route from 130 to 230 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120855 MKCC WST 120855 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15C VALID UNTIL 1055Z SD ND FROM 50SE DIK-50ENE DPR-40ENE RAP-50NNW RAP-50SE DIK AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- 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 399 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 last 309 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 369 to 479 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 last 160 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 439 to 459 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 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 JMS.
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 (ABR, DIK, RAP, LND, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 14 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 20 min | 9:03 am MDT (15:03 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 14 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 33 min | 9:16 am MDT (15:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 9 °C | 101 kt | 5 h 26 min | 9:09 am MDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 5 °C | 97 kt | 5 h 40 min | 9:23 am MDT (15:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +27 kt | 1 °C | 93 kt | 5 h 54 min | 9:37 am MDT (15:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +30 kt | -3 °C | 90 kt | 6 h 06 min | 9:49 am MDT (15:49 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | +33 kt | -8 °C | 87 kt | 6 h 19 min | 10:02 am MDT (16:02 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 37 kt | +35 kt | -11 °C | 85 kt | 6 h 28 min | 10:11 am MDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 46 kt | +44 kt | -23 °C | 76 kt | 7 h 13 min | 10:56 am MDT (16:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 47 kt | +47 kt | -33 °C | 73 kt | 7 h 31 min | 11:14 am MDT (17:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 48 kt | +49 kt | -37 °C | 71 kt | 7 h 44 min | 11:27 am MDT (17:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 53 kt | +54 kt | -46 °C | 66 kt | 8 h 19 min | 12:02 pm MDT (18:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABR | used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| DIK | used from 100 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 150 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| LND | used from 349 nm out; 126 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 499 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JMS Jamestown, ND | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 6 mi | 500 ft | 1,499 ft | 4:33 am CDT (09:33 UTC) |
| SPF Spearfish, SD | 259 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 1.75 mi | 200 ft | 3,933 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 299 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 200 ft | 4,177 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| CPR Casper, WY | 409 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 22 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 5,344 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 5,500 ft | 6,764 ft | 2:54 am MDT (08:54 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, 9:03 am MDT (15:03 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 marginal 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 JMS, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC) and 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): light rain
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 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 JMS 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC), at RKS 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm MDT (01:06 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: Jamestown Regional, Southwest Wyoming Regional.