Kansas City International to Montrose Regional MCI → MTJ
617 nautical miles (710 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 270°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 20-knot headwind), arriving about 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23; MTJ is VFR, wind variable at 3 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
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 first 378 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 239 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 229 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 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 MCI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 36 nm north, 11:30 pm CDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. 567 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
- Report
- an urgent report filed through ASE
- Where
- over ASE
- Time
- 04:30 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 22 nm north, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 498 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 05:06 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
- B733 at 20,000 ft, 9 nm south, 10:16 pm CDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. 577 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- over HBU
- Time
- 03:16 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B733
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-12
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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, GLD, PUB, GJT). 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 | 220° at 46 kt | +33 kt | 87 kt | 7 h 06 min | 7:20 am MDT (13:20 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 40 kt | +33 kt | 19 °C | 87 kt | 7 h 06 min | 7:20 am MDT (13:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +26 kt | 13 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 34 min | 6:48 am MDT (12:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 22 min | 6:36 am MDT (12:36 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +20 kt | 6 °C | 100 kt | 6 h 10 min | 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +22 kt | 1 °C | 98 kt | 6 h 18 min | 6:32 am MDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +24 kt | -4 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 26 min | 6:40 am MDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | +25 kt | -8 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 30 min | 6:44 am MDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 39 kt | +33 kt | -20 °C | 87 kt | 7 h 06 min | 7:20 am MDT (13:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 61 kt | +56 kt | -29 °C | 64 kt | 9 h 38 min | 9:52 am MDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 62 kt | +59 kt | -36 °C | 61 kt | 10 h 07 min | 10:21 am MDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | +53 kt | -47 °C | 67 kt | 9 h 13 min | 9:27 am MDT (15:27 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 32 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| SLN | used from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GLD | used from 249 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| PUB | used from 398 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| GJT | used from 547 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° |
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 | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 40 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 90 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| CNK Concordia, KS | 139 nm out, 18 nm north of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RCP Stockton, KS | 209 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,999 ft | ||||
| OEL Oakley, KS | 289 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 3,045 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ITR Burlington, CO | 348 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,218 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 418 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 468 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| AEJ Buena Vista, CO | 528 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 7,950 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| GUC Gunnison, CO | 567 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,679 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| MTJ Montrose, CO | destination | VFR | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,758 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,950 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MTJ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MTJ
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
The forecast for MCI, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, 498 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at MTJ 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MTJ is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 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, Montrose Regional.