Plan a flight · Mon 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC)

General Mitchell International to Montrose Regional MKE → MTJ

945 nautical miles (1,088 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 260°, about 264° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 2:49 pm MDT (20:49 UTC). Right now MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots; MTJ is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 6 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: 1 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 route from 149 to 577 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 707 to 786 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 219 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 169 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 50 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). Near the route, at the destination end.

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 MKE.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B737 descending, 17 nm north, 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 776 nm along the route, 17 nm north 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
B763 at 23,000 ft, 39 nm north, 5:26 am CDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 806 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
37 nm west (278°) of DEN
Time
10:26 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
B38M at 22,000 ft, 9 nm south, 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 826 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
08:14 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
A359 at 38,000 ft, 30 nm south, 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. At the destination end, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
15 nm south (185°) of HBU
Time
10:13 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
A359
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-37

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 9 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, ALS, GJT). 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 33 kt	+33 kt	23 °C	87 kt	10 h 52 min	3:50 pm MDT (21:50 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 29 kt	+29 kt	19 °C	91 kt	10 h 23 min	3:21 pm MDT (21:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+24 kt	12 °C	96 kt	9 h 51 min	2:49 pm MDT (20:49 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+24 kt	8 °C	96 kt	9 h 51 min	2:49 pm MDT (20:49 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	4 °C	95 kt	9 h 57 min	2:55 pm MDT (20:55 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+28 kt	0 °C	92 kt	10 h 16 min	3:14 pm MDT (21:14 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 32 kt	+31 kt	-5 °C	89 kt	10 h 37 min	3:35 pm MDT (21:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 34 kt	+33 kt	-9 °C	87 kt	10 h 52 min	3:50 pm MDT (21:50 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 42 kt	+42 kt	-21 °C	78 kt	12 h 07 min	5:05 pm MDT (23:05 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 54 kt	+54 kt	-32 °C	66 kt	14 h 19 min	7:17 pm MDT (01:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 63 kt	+64 kt	-37 °C	56 kt	16 h 52 min	9:50 pm MDT (03:50 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 63 kt	+64 kt	-47 °C	56 kt	16 h 52 min	9:50 pm MDT (03:50 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
DBQ	used from 50 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
OMA	used from 299 nm out; 50 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°
GRI	used from 398 nm out; 57 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 597 nm out; 64 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 697 nm out; 58 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°
ALS	used from 846 nm out; 96 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
GJT	used from 896 nm out; 59 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°

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
MKE Milwaukee, WI	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	24,000 ft	728 ft	5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC)
JVL Janesville, WI	50 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	807 ft	10:45 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	129 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	10:53 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	199 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	10:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	368 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	10:52 UTC
OLU Columbus, NE	428 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,447 ft	10:56 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	478 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	10:53 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	627 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	10:53 UTC
RYA Wray, CO	667 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				3,677 ft
APA Denver, CO	786 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	5,884 ft	10:53 UTC
ASE Aspen, CO	886 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	7,837 ft	10:53 UTC
MTJ Montrose, CO	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,758 ft	4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MTJ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:49 pm MDT (20:49 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MTJ

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet

The forecast for MKE, the departure

From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, 826 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at MTJ 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 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 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: General Mitchell International, Montrose Regional.