Plan a flight · Mon 9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC)

Kansas City International to Tucson International MCI → TUS

899 nautical miles (1,035 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 246°, about 244° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 4:23 pm MST (23:23 UTC). Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25; TUS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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 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 220 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. Near the route, 469 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 559 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 709 to 769 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

urgent B763 at 2,000 ft, 2 nm southeast, 6:57 am CDT (11:57 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 50 nm along the route, 2 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOE UUA /OV 130003/TM 1157/FL020/TP B763/WV LLWS
```
Report
an urgent report filed through FOE
Where
wind from 130° at 3 knots
Time
11:57 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Wind
low-level wind shear
PC12 at 22,000 ft, 29 nm north, 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj. 90 nm along the route, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MHK UA /OV MHK/TM 1200/FL220/TP PC12/TA M09/IC LGT RIME/RM NEG ICING AT FL200 /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through MHK
Where
over MHK
Time
12:00 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−9 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
no icing at FL200 zkcfdc xj
PC12 at 14,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 8:42 am CDT (13:42 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 160 nm along the route, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ICT UA /OV 30N/TM 1342/FL140/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD TURB /RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ICT
Where
over 30N
Time
13:42 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light to moderate turbulence
Remarks
during the descent
CRJ7 at 28,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zkc fd dl. 240 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DDC UA /OV DDC090024/TM 1125/FL280/TP CRJ7/TB LGT/RM ZKC FD DL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DDC
Where
24 nm east (090°) of DDC
Time
11:25 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
light
Remarks
zkc fd dl
BE20 at 16,000 ft, 6 nm south, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): light turbulence, light rime icing, -2 °C, remarks: zkcfdc xj. 290 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBL UA /OV LBL070035/TM 1338/FL160/TP BE20/TA M02/TB LGT/IC LGT RIME/RM /ZKCFDC XJ
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBL
Where
35 nm east (070°) of LBL
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−2 °C
Turbulence
light
Icing
light rime
Remarks
zkcfdc xj

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 8 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, ICT, GCK, AMA, TCC, ABQ, TUS). 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 29 kt	+28 kt	17 °C	92 kt	9 h 46 min	4:47 pm MST (23:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+26 kt	18 °C	94 kt	9 h 34 min	4:35 pm MST (23:35 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+24 kt	12 °C	96 kt	9 h 22 min	4:23 pm MST (23:23 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+27 kt	9 °C	93 kt	9 h 40 min	4:41 pm MST (23:41 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	+30 kt	4 °C	90 kt	9 h 59 min	5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 35 kt	+34 kt	0 °C	86 kt	10 h 27 min	5:28 pm MST (00:28 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 39 kt	+38 kt	-4 °C	82 kt	10 h 58 min	5:59 pm MST (00:59 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 42 kt	+41 kt	-7 °C	79 kt	11 h 23 min	6:24 pm MST (01:24 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 53 kt	+53 kt	-19 °C	67 kt	13 h 25 min	8:26 pm MST (03:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 75 kt	+76 kt	-28 °C	44 kt	20 h 26 min	3:27 am MST (10:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 71 kt	+72 kt	-36 °C	48 kt	18 h 44 min	1:45 am MST (08:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 65 kt	+66 kt	-48 °C	54 kt	16 h 39 min	11:40 pm MST (06:40 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; 28 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; 69 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°
ICT	used from 150 nm out; 41 nm from the line	230/45	240/33 21°	230/23 14°	230/22 7°	240/29 -7°	240/36 -20°	260/78 -29°	270/69 -36°	270/56 -49°
GCK	used from 250 nm out; 50 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
AMA	used from 350 nm out; 82 nm from the line		230/32	230/28 14°	230/27 7°	230/38 -6°	230/50 -17°	250/69 -28°	260/62 -37°	270/65 -49°
TCC	used from 400 nm out; 73 nm from the line		240/20	230/22 13°	230/27 6°	230/40 -7°	240/55 -18°	240/74 -27°	240/68 -37°	250/64 -49°
ABQ	used from 549 nm out; 59 nm from the line			220/19 9°	220/35 3°	230/50 -8°	240/64 -19°	230/83 -26°	230/85 -36°	230/80 -48°
TUS	used from 749 nm out; 125 nm from the line		200/12 13°	200/34 7°	210/41 4°	230/53 -7°	220/69 -19°	220/84 -27°	220/88 -36°	220/83 -48°

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: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	20,000 ft	1,027 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
FOE Topeka, KS	50 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	1,077 ft	13:53 UTC
HUT Hutchinson, KS	170 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,542 ft	13:52 UTC
PTT Pratt, KS	210 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,952 ft	13:55 UTC
MEJ Meade, KS	290 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				2,527 ft
GUY Guymon, OK	360 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	3,125 ft	13:53 UTC
SXU Santa Rosa, NM	539 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	4,791 ft	13:55 UTC
ONM Socorro, NM	669 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	4,875 ft	13:55 UTC
CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ	799 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				3,797 ft
SAD Safford, AZ	819 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	3,178 ft	13:51 UTC
TUS Tucson, AZ	destination	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	2,643 ft	6:53 am MST (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,875 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At TUS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:23 pm MST (23:23 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for TUS

From Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm MST (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet

The forecast for MCI, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 23 nm from the route, 629 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB

Daylight

Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at TUS 5:53 pm MST (00:53 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:18 pm MST (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

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, Tucson International.