Manhattan Regional to Grand Forks International MHK → GFK
529 nautical miles (609 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 358°, about 354° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 16-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Right now MHK is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots; GFK is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 14 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 260 nm of the route.
- 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 last 250 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 MHK.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 10 nm east, 3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC): light chop turbulence above 35,000 ft. 459 nm along the route, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 0830/FL350/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 350
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over FAR
- Time
- 08:30 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 35,000 ft
- P28A at 4,000 ft, 3 nm west, 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,800 ft, 10 °C. 469 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR270015/TM 0927/FL040/TP P28A/SK OVC013-TOP038/TA 10/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- 15 nm west (270°) of KFAR
- Time
- 09:27 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,800 ft
- Temperature
- 10 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
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 6 forecast points nearest it (SLN, OMA, FSD, ABR, AXN, GFK). 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 21 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 3 h 59 min | 9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −12 kt | 18 °C | 132 kt | 4 h | 9:02 am CDT (14:02 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −13 kt | 13 °C | 133 kt | 3 h 59 min | 9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −15 kt | 9 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 55 min | 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −16 kt | 4 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 53 min | 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | −16 kt | -1 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 53 min | 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 32 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 55 min | 8:57 am CDT (13:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 33 kt | −14 kt | -9 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 57 min | 8:59 am CDT (13:59 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 38 kt | −14 kt | -21 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 57 min | 8:59 am CDT (13:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 41 kt | −4 kt | -35 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 16 min | 9:18 am CDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 53 kt | −5 kt | -38 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 14 min | 9:16 am CDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 60 kt | +1 kt | -47 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 27 min | 9:29 am CDT (14:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLN | used from 0 nm out; 64 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° |
| OMA | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| FSD | used from 200 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| ABR | used from 349 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| AXN | used from 399 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| GFK | used from 449 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 080/18 | L/V 11° | 260/22 7° | 250/48 3° | 260/51 -11° | 250/44 -22° | 260/34 -38° | 260/53 -44° | 270/66 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHK Manhattan, KS | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 4:52 am CDT (09:52 UTC) |
| MYZ Marysville, KS | 40 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,283 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 100 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| SCB Scribner, NE | 150 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,324 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 200 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (100°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| VMR Vermillion, SD | 220 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,146 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 270 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| ATY Watertown, SD | 349 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 1,749 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| ETH Wheaton, MN | 399 nm out, 21 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots | 1.75 mi | 200 ft | 1,022 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| FAR Fargo, ND | 469 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots | 2.5 mi | 400 ft | 901 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| GFK Grand Forks, ND | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 14 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 845 ft | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,749 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GFK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet IFR
30% chance between Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): light rain showers
The whole forecast for GFK
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 700 feet
The forecast for MHK, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4348 GRAND FORKS AFB, ND, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at MHK 6:52 pm CDT (23:52 UTC), at GFK 6:46 pm CDT (23:46 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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: Manhattan Regional, Grand Forks International.