Los Angeles International to Des Moines International LAX → DSM
1,255 nautical miles (1,444 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 061°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 69-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC). Right now LAX is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 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: 602 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 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 498 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 249 to 578 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 259 to 349 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 319 to 787 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 518 to 737 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 707 to 807 nm out.
- 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 last 329 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 LAX.
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 08:00–15:00 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 12 forecast points nearest it (ONT, LAS, BCE, FMN, GJT, ALS, PUB, DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM). 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 | 240° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 14 °C | 147 kt | 8 h 32 min | 3:09 pm CDT (20:09 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 11 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 36 min | 3:13 pm CDT (20:13 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 8 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 39 min | 3:16 pm CDT (20:16 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | −26 kt | 3 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 36 min | 3:13 pm CDT (20:13 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | −29 kt | -1 °C | 149 kt | 8 h 25 min | 3:02 pm CDT (20:02 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −33 kt | -5 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 12 min | 2:49 pm CDT (19:49 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 41 kt | −37 kt | -10 °C | 157 kt | 8 h | 2:37 pm CDT (19:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 42 kt | −38 kt | -11 °C | 158 kt | 7 h 57 min | 2:34 pm CDT (19:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 54 kt | −51 kt | -21 °C | 171 kt | 7 h 20 min | 1:57 pm CDT (18:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 66 kt | −65 kt | -30 °C | 185 kt | 6 h 47 min | 1:24 pm CDT (18:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 69 kt | −69 kt | -36 °C | 189 kt | 6 h 38 min | 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 64 kt | −64 kt | -46 °C | 184 kt | 6 h 49 min | 1:26 pm CDT (18:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
| LAS | used from 100 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| BCE | used from 299 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 448 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| GJT | used from 548 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° | ||
| ALS | used from 598 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| PUB | used from 647 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| DEN | used from 747 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GLD | used from 797 nm out; 51 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° | |
| GRI | used from 946 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 1095 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 1195 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 2,200 ft | 127 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 20 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 295 ft | 02:45 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 199 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 707 ft | 10:50 UTC |
| BDG Blanding, UT | 488 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 4,100 ft | 5,867 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 568 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 9,069 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 727 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 777 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| HDE Holdrege, NE | 986 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,313 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 1105 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 1155 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 19,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 957 ft | 5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DSM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LAX, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC) and 7:00 am PDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, 697 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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: Los Angeles International, Des Moines International.