Plan a flight · Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport LEX → MSP

564 nautical miles (649 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 319°, about 323° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 1:05 am CDT (06:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LEX is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 7 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 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: 23 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). Near the route, at the departure 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 LEX.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
E170 climbing, 35 nm southwest, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 40 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 30 nm southwest, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 40 nm along the route, 30 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37
B737 at 23,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 49 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B739 climbing, 31 nm northeast, 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 49 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
23:31 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
B026 overcast T036
A333 at 4,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. 49 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A333
Sky
B025 overcast T035
B753 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 49 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2211/FL320/TP B753/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B753
Turbulence
none
B744 climbing, 41 nm northeast, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 59 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
E170 at 23,000 ft, 8 nm east, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light
B39M at 35,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 247 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
B39M at 34,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 40 nm southwest 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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (LOU, IND, JOT, DBQ, LSE, MSP). 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	270° at 13 kt	+9 kt		111 kt	5 h 05 min	1:05 am CDT (06:05 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 16 kt	+15 kt	15 °C	105 kt	5 h 22 min	1:22 am CDT (06:22 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	+16 kt	11 °C	104 kt	5 h 25 min	1:25 am CDT (06:25 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	+17 kt	7 °C	103 kt	5 h 29 min	1:29 am CDT (06:29 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 18 kt	+18 kt	4 °C	102 kt	5 h 32 min	1:32 am CDT (06:32 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	+19 kt	-1 °C	101 kt	5 h 35 min	1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	+21 kt	-6 °C	99 kt	5 h 42 min	1:42 am CDT (06:42 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 21 kt	+21 kt	-9 °C	99 kt	5 h 42 min	1:42 am CDT (06:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 31 kt	+31 kt	-20 °C	89 kt	6 h 20 min	2:20 am CDT (07:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 43 kt	+44 kt	-36 °C	76 kt	7 h 25 min	3:25 am CDT (08:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 51 kt	+51 kt	-43 °C	69 kt	8 h 10 min	4:10 am CDT (09:10 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 61 kt	+61 kt	-50 °C	59 kt	9 h 34 min	5:34 am CDT (10:34 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
LOU	used from 0 nm out; 34 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
IND	used from 99 nm out; 8 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
JOT	used from 198 nm out; 46 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
DBQ	used from 346 nm out; 31 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
LSE	used from 396 nm out; 44 nm from the line	220/33	250/29 17°	250/15 9°	260/12 6°	280/21 -9°	280/33 -20°	300/43 -36°	310/56 -45°	300/79 -53°
MSP	used from 495 nm out; 45 nm from the line	200/28	240/30 19°	240/24 12°	240/17 5°	270/24 -10°	270/33 -20°	280/48 -35°	290/55 -45°	280/84 -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
LEX Lexington, KY	departure	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,700 ft	979 ft	8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC)
FFT Frankfort, KY	20 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	812 ft	00:53 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	99 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	656 ft	00:45 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	129 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	796 ft	00:54 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	178 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	00:54 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	267 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	00:45 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	327 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	00:54 UTC
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	386 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
OVS Boscobel, WI	416 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	672 ft	00:53 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	465 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	00:53 UTC
RGK Red Wing, MN	525 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	778 ft	00:55 UTC
MSP Minneapolis, MN	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	841 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,170 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:05 am CDT (06:05 UTC)

Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSP

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet

The forecast for LEX, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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 central Great Lakes · 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: Blue Grass Airport, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.