Plan a flight · Mon 5:04 am CDT (10:04 UTC)

Kansas City International to Reno/Tahoe International MCI → RNO

1,159 nautical miles (1,333 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 279°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 2:26 pm PDT (21:26 UTC). Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22; RNO is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 4 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: 9 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 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 first 320 nm of the route.
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 430 to 789 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 459 to 629 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 469 to 689 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 529 to 1039 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 539 to 1069 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 629 to 959 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 50 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

B737 at 18,000 ft, 33 nm north, 2:24 am CDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 479 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
Time
07:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
FL180-130
B737 descending, 13 nm south, 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 459 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
B737 descending, 13 nm south, 2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 459 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth

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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO). 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	240° at 28 kt	+23 kt	23 °C	97 kt	11 h 57 min	3:01 pm PDT (22:01 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+21 kt	21 °C	99 kt	11 h 42 min	2:46 pm PDT (21:46 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+18 kt	8 °C	102 kt	11 h 22 min	2:26 pm PDT (21:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	+19 kt	4 °C	101 kt	11 h 29 min	2:33 pm PDT (21:33 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	11 h 35 min	2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	+23 kt	-4 °C	97 kt	11 h 57 min	3:01 pm PDT (22:01 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 36 kt	+25 kt	-9 °C	95 kt	12 h 12 min	3:16 pm PDT (22:16 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 39 kt	+26 kt	-12 °C	94 kt	12 h 20 min	3:24 pm PDT (22:24 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 46 kt	+33 kt	-23 °C	87 kt	13 h 19 min	4:23 pm PDT (23:23 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 61 kt	+51 kt	-30 °C	69 kt	16 h 48 min	7:52 pm PDT (02:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 63 kt	+56 kt	-36 °C	64 kt	18 h 07 min	9:11 pm PDT (04:11 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 58 kt	+51 kt	-45 °C	69 kt	16 h 48 min	7:52 pm PDT (02:52 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
MKC	used from 0 nm out; 33 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
SLN	used from 50 nm out; 75 nm from the line	230/49	240/41 22°	230/26 15°	220/21 7°	240/38 -8°	240/44 -21°	260/77 -29°	270/70 -36°	270/63 -48°
GRI	used from 200 nm out; 92 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°
GLD	used from 250 nm out; 58 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°
DEN	used from 400 nm out; 39 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°
GJT	used from 549 nm out; 87 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°
SLC	used from 699 nm out; 85 nm from the line		200/16	210/23 4°	220/34 -3°	210/40 -16°	220/66 -23°	220/64 -31°	220/57 -36°	220/50 -43°
ELY	used from 849 nm out; 68 nm from the line			210/34 1°	220/40 -4°	220/39 -17°	210/51 -24°	220/65 -30°	220/60 -37°	220/56 -44°
BAM	used from 999 nm out; 51 nm from the line			280/9 -2°	260/18 -8°	190/47 -19°	200/50 -29°	210/56 -29°	220/54 -34°	220/45 -42°
RNO	used from 1099 nm out; 35 nm from the line		010/6	270/12 -3°	220/26 -10°	280/13 -19°	350/44 -24°	320/30 -32°	260/22 -36°	240/24 -42°

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 14 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	1,027 ft	4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC)
TOP Topeka, KS	40 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	881 ft	09:53 UTC
CNK Concordia, KS	140 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	VFR Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	1,488 ft	09:55 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS	270 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	2,706 ft	09:55 UTC
DEN Denver, CO	459 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	5,433 ft	09:53 UTC
BJC Denver, CO	479 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	09:55 UTC
EEO Meeker, CO	609 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 5 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	none	6,415 ft	09:53 UTC
PVU Provo, UT	789 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-southeast (120°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	4,496 ft	09:56 UTC
TMT Austin, NV	1039 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	5,735 ft	09:55 UTC
FLX Fallon, NV	1109 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,966 ft
RNO Reno, NV	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet	from the north (360°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	4,414 ft	2:55 am PDT (09:55 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,415 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:26 pm PDT (21:26 UTC)

Wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RNO

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at RNO 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm PDT (01:50 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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: Kansas City International, Reno/Tahoe International.