Plan a flight · Sun 8:23 pm CDT (01:23 UTC)

Kansas City International to Seattle-Tacoma International MCI → SEA

1,291 nautical miles (1,486 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 301°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:28 am PDT (11:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 11 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: 2,247 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 3W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 517 to 685 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120055
MKCW WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3W
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
MT WY
FROM 10WSW MLS-70E DDY-20N LAR-50E BPI-30NE BIL-10WSW MLS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
```
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 397 to 1033 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 556 to 825 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 596 to 1103 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 606 to 795 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 616 to 984 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 964 to 1172 nm out.

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

B738 at 33,000 ft, 49 nm south, 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 31,000 ft to 33,000 ft. 825 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IDA UA /OV DBS015030/TM 2357/FL330/TP B738/TB MOD CHOP 310-330 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through IDA
Where
30 nm north (015°) of DBS
Time
23:57 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate chop from 31,000 ft to 33,000 ft zlc
E75L at 14,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 954 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV 32S/TM 2322/FL140/TP E75L/TB MOD 140-210/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over 32S
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zlc
A21N at 35,000 ft, 42 nm north, 5:47 pm CDT (22:47 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-32. 566 nm along the route, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV GCC/TM 2247/FL350/TP A21N/TB NEG /RM ZDVWC-32
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
over GCC
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-32
BE9T at 17,500 ft, 20 nm northeast, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -6 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-22. 596 nm along the route, 20 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV CZI020012/TM 2240/FL175/TP BE9T/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT MIX /RM ZDVWC-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
12 nm north (020°) of CZI
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 17,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9T
Temperature
−6 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light mix
Remarks
ZDVWC-22
E75L descending, 32 nm northeast, 8:04 pm CDT (01:04 UTC): remarks: had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground. 825 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0104/FLDURD/TP E75L/RM HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AT 400-500FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground
B737 descending, 32 nm northeast, 7:28 pm CDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. 825 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
B738 at 24,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. 854 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN270030/TM 2313/FL240/TP B738/RM SN TOP FL 240 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BZN
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc
PC12 at 13,500 ft, 15 nm southwest, 8:08 pm CDT (01:08 UTC): no turbulence, a trace of icing, overcast from 9,000 ft to 13,500 ft, -10 °C. 1142 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSC UA /OV PSC360025/TM 0108/FL135/TP PC12/SK OVC090-TOP135/TA M10/TB NEG /IC TRACE RM 135-090
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSC
Where
25 nm north (360°) of PSC
Time
01:08 UTC
Height
at 13,500 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 9,000 ft, tops 13,500 ft
Temperature
−10 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
trace remarks from 13,500 ft to 9,000 ft
PC12 at 13,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL130/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 15,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL150/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse

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 12 forecast points nearest it (MKC, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF, RAP, LND, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, SEA). 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	140° at 8 kt	−8 kt	16 °C	128 kt	10 h 05 min	4:28 am PDT (11:28 UTC)
6,500 ft	150° at 7 kt	−7 kt	8 °C	127 kt	10 h 10 min	4:33 am PDT (11:33 UTC)
8,500 ft	180° at 6 kt	−4 kt	4 °C	124 kt	10 h 25 min	4:48 am PDT (11:48 UTC)
10,500 ft	200° at 10 kt	−2 kt	2 °C	122 kt	10 h 35 min	4:58 am PDT (11:58 UTC)
12,500 ft	210° at 13 kt	+1 kt	-1 °C	119 kt	10 h 51 min	5:14 am PDT (12:14 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	+3 kt	-5 °C	117 kt	11 h 02 min	5:25 am PDT (12:25 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 18 kt	+5 kt	-10 °C	115 kt	11 h 14 min	5:37 am PDT (12:37 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 19 kt	+6 kt	-12 °C	114 kt	11 h 19 min	5:42 am PDT (12:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 29 kt	+14 kt	-22 °C	106 kt	12 h 11 min	6:34 am PDT (13:34 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 36 kt	+12 kt	-35 °C	108 kt	11 h 57 min	6:20 am PDT (13:20 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 46 kt	+25 kt	-40 °C	95 kt	13 h 35 min	7:58 am PDT (14:58 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 50 kt	+36 kt	-46 °C	84 kt	15 h 22 min	9:45 am PDT (16:45 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; 36 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°
OMA	used from 50 nm out; 83 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
GRI	used from 99 nm out; 69 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°
ONL	used from 248 nm out; 78 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
BFF	used from 348 nm out; 80 nm from the line		120/24	180/31 13°	210/26 7°	230/25 -7°	240/41 -20°	230/52 -36°	250/56 -41°	260/57 -45°
RAP	used from 497 nm out; 91 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°
LND	used from 596 nm out; 104 nm from the line			180/33 10°	190/50 3°	210/59 -9°	200/50 -21°	190/41 -34°	230/55 -39°	240/65 -47°
BIL	used from 646 nm out; 89 nm from the line		080/24	130/14 -1°	180/33 0°	210/43 -10°	220/58 -21°	200/55 -36°	220/75 -44°	240/83 -48°
DLN	used from 795 nm out; 50 nm from the line			080/10 -3°	180/8 -3°	180/23 -14°	200/58 -22°	200/80 -36°	220/85 -41°	230/81 -45°
LWS	used from 944 nm out; 97 nm from the line	010/5	050/14 -2°	040/12 -6°	160/7 -10°	190/30 -22°	200/54 -27°	200/48 -35°	210/40 -37°	230/32 -41°
YKM	used from 1142 nm out; 55 nm from the line	030/16	020/18 0°	030/30 -8°	030/23 -13°	020/40 -23°	010/73 -29°	010/54 -36°	360/29 -37°	330/16 -40°
SEA	used from 1242 nm out; 25 nm from the line	360/9	350/10 1°	010/10 -5°	030/20 -11°	020/60 -17°	010/86 -26°	360/90 -40°	010/68 -42°	360/31 -43°

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 (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,027 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
STJ St Joseph, MO	20 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	826 ft	00:53 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	189 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	00:53 UTC
TIF Thedford, NE	308 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,925 ft	01:15 UTC
CDR Chadron, NE	437 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	3,297 ft	00:53 UTC
BYG Buffalo, WY	616 nm out, 24 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	6 mi	200 ft	4,970 ft	00:53 UTC
COD Cody, WY	715 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet	from the north (360°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	5,102 ft	00:56 UTC
RVF Twin Bridges, MT	864 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: freezing fog	from the north-northeast (030°) at 25 knots	0.5 mi	300 ft	4,788 ft	01:15 UTC
HRF Hamilton, MT	944 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the north (360°) at 9 knots	2.5 mi	1,300 ft	3,635 ft	01:15 UTC
LWS Lewiston, ID	1063 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	1,442 ft	00:56 UTC
MWH Moses Lake, WA	1172 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	10,000 ft	1,188 ft	00:52 UTC
SEA Seattle, WA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet	from the north (350°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	432 ft	5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,102 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:28 am PDT (11:28 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SEA

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

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 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SEA is before sunrise there (7:23 am PDT (14:23 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.