Kansas City International to Denver International MCI → DEN
462 nautical miles (532 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 277°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 10:38 pm MDT (04:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 9 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23. 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: 8,655 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 98 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 MCI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent E545 at 6,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 4:49 pm CDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. At the destination end, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
APA UUA /OV APA350002/TM 2149/FL060/TP E545/RM LLWS +/- 5 KT FAP RWY 17L
- Report
- an urgent report filed through APA
- Where
- 2 nm north (350°) of APA
- Time
- 21:49 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L
- UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 16 nm north, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 413 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A21N at 32,000 ft, 25 nm north, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 423 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
- Report
- a routine report filed through AKO
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of AKO
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- intermittent moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-61
- BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 38 nm south, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the destination end, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 25 nm north (350°) of COS
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-46
- B738 at 35,000 ft, 25 nm north, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. 423 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
- Report
- a routine report filed through AKO
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of AKO
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-07
- A320 at 8,000 ft, 2 nm southeast, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 432 nm along the route, 2 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B737 at 15,000 ft, 2 nm southeast, 4:37 pm CDT (21:37 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. 442 nm along the route, 2 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080020/TM 2137/FL150/TP B737/TB CONS LGT OCNL CHOP 150-180/RM DURC ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 20 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 21:37 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional chop from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zdvwc
- A321 descending, 3 nm south, 7:26 pm CDT (00:26 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 00:26 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. At the destination end, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm south (170°) of DEN
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
- E75L at 10,000 ft, 22 nm north, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm north (350°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- light from the surface to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B737 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2327/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no turbulence on final runway 17R
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- CRJ2 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 4:31 pm CDT (21:31 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2131/FL065/TP CRJ2/TB LGT CHOP ON FINAL RWY16L
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 21:31 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- light chop on final runway 16L
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 5 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GRI, GLD, DEN). 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 | 200° at 32 kt | +9 kt | 19 °C | 111 kt | 4 h 10 min | 10:38 pm MDT (04:38 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | +14 kt | 18 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 22 min | 10:50 pm MDT (04:50 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +15 kt | 15 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 24 min | 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +17 kt | 11 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 29 min | 10:57 pm MDT (04:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 6 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 37 min | 11:05 pm MDT (05:05 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | +24 kt | 1 °C | 96 kt | 4 h 49 min | 11:17 pm MDT (05:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 30 kt | +27 kt | -4 °C | 93 kt | 4 h 58 min | 11:26 pm MDT (05:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -7 °C | 90 kt | 5 h 08 min | 11:36 pm MDT (05:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 33 kt | +28 kt | -18 °C | 92 kt | 5 h 01 min | 11:29 pm MDT (05:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 48 kt | +41 kt | -31 °C | 79 kt | 5 h 51 min | 12:19 am MDT (06:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 55 kt | +51 kt | -39 °C | 69 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | +53 kt | -50 °C | 67 kt | 6 h 54 min | 1:22 am MDT (07:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SLN | used from 49 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GRI | used from 197 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| GLD | used from 246 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| DEN | used from 393 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCI Kansas City, MO | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 39 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 88 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| CNK Concordia, KS | 138 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (180°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| TKO Mankato, KS | 167 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,859 ft | ||||
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 216 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 275 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 295 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 324 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 393 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 5,433 ft | 5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:38 pm MDT (04:38 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DEN
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet and more above
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MCI, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 MCI 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC), at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DEN is after sunset there (6:25 pm MDT (00:25 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: Kansas City International, Denver International.
