Kansas City International to Palm Springs International MCI → PSP
1,098 nautical miles (1,263 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 259°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 10:16 am PDT (17:16 UTC). Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22; PSP is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 12 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: 6 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 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 429 to 609 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 409 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 399 to 918 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Near the route, 419 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 659 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 route from 489 to 509 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 759 to 968 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 828 to 878 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the last 60 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
- E75L climbing, 13 nm northwest, 10:22 pm CDT (03:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 13 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSP UA /OV PSP345013/TM 0322/FLDURC/TP E75L/TB MOD CHOP/LT TURBU SFC-60
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSP
- Where
- 13 nm north (345°) of PSP
- Time
- 03:22 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate chop/lt turbu SFC-60
- BE20 at 20,400 ft, 35 nm northwest, 10:14 pm CDT (03:14 UTC): rain, heavy rain, blowing, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 599 nm along the route, 35 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO050025/TM 0314/FL204/TP BE20/WX RA-+RA BLO 150/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- 25 nm northeast (050°) of DRO
- Time
- 03:14 UTC
- Height
- at 20,400 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Weather
- ra-+ra, below, at 15,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-36
- PC12 at 16,400 ft, 30 nm north, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, clear from 16,400 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 639 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DRO UA /OV DRO230013/TM 0315/FL164/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 160/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through DRO
- Where
- 13 nm southwest (230°) of DRO
- Time
- 03:15 UTC
- Height
- at 16,400 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop below 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-36
- A321 at 3,300 ft, 48 nm west, 11:59 pm CDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 48 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 8 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:59 UTC
- Height
- at 3,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B38M at 4,500 ft, 45 nm west, 11:15 pm CDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078012/TM 0415/FL045/TP B38M/SK BKN045-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 12 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:15 UTC
- Height
- at 4,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,500 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 8 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GCK, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +24 kt | 11 °C | 96 kt | 11 h 26 min | 10:16 am PDT (17:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +25 kt | 7 °C | 95 kt | 11 h 33 min | 10:23 am PDT (17:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +26 kt | 3 °C | 94 kt | 11 h 41 min | 10:31 am PDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | +31 kt | -1 °C | 89 kt | 12 h 20 min | 11:10 am PDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | +35 kt | -5 °C | 85 kt | 12 h 55 min | 11:45 am PDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 43 kt | +38 kt | -8 °C | 82 kt | 13 h 23 min | 12:13 pm PDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 50 kt | +46 kt | -21 °C | 74 kt | 14 h 50 min | 1:40 pm PDT (20:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 72 kt | +69 kt | -28 °C | 51 kt | 21 h 32 min | 8:22 pm PDT (03:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 76 kt | +75 kt | -35 °C | 45 kt | 24 h 24 min | 11:14 pm PDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 63 kt | +62 kt | -46 °C | 58 kt | 18 h 56 min | 5:46 pm PDT (00:46 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; 31 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; 66 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° |
| GCK | used from 200 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 399 nm out; 60 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° | ||
| ALS | used from 499 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 599 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| PRC | used from 798 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 948 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -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 Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 40 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 140 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 289 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| LAA Lamar, CO | 379 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,705 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| TAD Trinidad, CO | 469 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,761 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 659 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 848 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the southwest (220°) at 18 knots, gusting to 30 | 9 mi | 1,400 ft | 7,014 ft | 05:33 UTC |
| HII Lake Havasu City, AZ | 978 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 782 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| TNP Twentynine Palms, CA | 1068 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,888 ft | ||||
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:16 am PDT (17:16 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PSP
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 978 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at PSP 6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm PDT (01:41 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, Palm Springs International.