Kansas City International to Salt Lake City International MCI → SLC
797 nautical miles (917 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 282°, about 280° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 8:52 am MDT (14:52 UTC). Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23; SLC is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 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: 2,006 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 379 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 359 to 767 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 399 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 498 to 668 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 239 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 608 to 668 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 169 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
Not fetched just now.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GRI, GLD, DEN, RKS, SLC). 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 | 230° at 35 kt | +21 kt | 21 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 03 min | 9:11 am MDT (15:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +22 kt | 19 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 08 min | 9:16 am MDT (15:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +17 kt | 14 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 44 min | 8:52 am MDT (14:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +18 kt | 9 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 49 min | 8:57 am MDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +20 kt | 4 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 58 min | 9:06 am MDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +20 kt | -1 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 58 min | 9:06 am MDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +20 kt | -5 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 58 min | 9:06 am MDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 31 kt | +20 kt | -9 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 58 min | 9:06 am MDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 39 kt | +23 kt | -21 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 13 min | 9:21 am MDT (15:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 54 kt | +39 kt | -30 °C | 81 kt | 9 h 50 min | 10:58 am MDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 58 kt | +47 kt | -36 °C | 73 kt | 10 h 55 min | 12:03 pm MDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 55 kt | +47 kt | -46 °C | 73 kt | 10 h 55 min | 12:03 pm MDT (18:03 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; 34 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; 78 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° |
| GRI | used from 149 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| GLD | used from 249 nm out; 68 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° | |
| DEN | used from 399 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 548 nm out; 108 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 698 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -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-southwest (210°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 40 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RPB Belleville, KS | 140 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,538 ft | ||||
| TKO Mankato, KS | 169 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,859 ft | ||||
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 279 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RYA Wray, CO | 349 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,677 ft | ||||
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 478 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| LMO Longmont, CO | 488 nm out, 21 nm south of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | none | 5,055 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SBS Steamboat Springs, CO | 568 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 6,882 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| VEL Vernal, UT | 688 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,274 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| HCR Heber, UT | 767 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 5,636 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 12:54 am MDT (06:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,882 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:52 am MDT (14:52 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 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 SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm MDT (01:18 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, Salt Lake City International.