Monroe Regional to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport MLU → MSP
745 nautical miles (857 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 356°, about 353° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC). Right now MLU is VFR, wind calm; MSP 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 278 to 646 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 MLU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E170 at 14,000 ft, 26 nm east, 6:19 am CDT (11:19 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZME65. 149 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LIT UA /OV LIT045030/TM 1119/FL140/TP E170/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZME65
- Report
- a routine report filed through LIT
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (045°) of LIT
- Time
- 11:19 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZME65
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 23 nm west, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 616 nm along the route, 23 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 35 nm east (075°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:35 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft
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 (SHV, LIT, SGF, COU, BRL, DSM, MCW, MSP). 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 | 250° at 26 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 5 h 49 min | 1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | −5 kt | 16 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 58 min | 1:43 pm CDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 13 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 52 min | 1:37 pm CDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 9 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 52 min | 1:37 pm CDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −6 kt | 5 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 55 min | 1:40 pm CDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −4 kt | 1 °C | 124 kt | 6 h | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | −3 kt | -4 °C | 123 kt | 6 h 03 min | 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 23 kt | −1 kt | -7 °C | 121 kt | 6 h 09 min | 1:54 pm CDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 30 kt | −4 kt | -19 °C | 124 kt | 6 h | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 46 kt | +11 kt | -32 °C | 109 kt | 6 h 50 min | 2:35 pm CDT (19:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 53 kt | +16 kt | -39 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 10 min | 2:55 pm CDT (19:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 53 kt | +21 kt | -49 °C | 99 kt | 7 h 32 min | 3:17 pm CDT (20:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHV | used from 0 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| LIT | used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| SGF | used from 199 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| COU | used from 348 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| BRL | used from 447 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DSM | used from 497 nm out; 44 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° |
| MCW | used from 596 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| MSP | used from 695 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLU Monroe, LA | departure | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 78 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
| CRT Crossett, AR | 40 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | no report just now | 183 ft | ||||
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 129 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 266 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CCA Clinton, AR | 189 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 513 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| BPK Mountain Home, AR | 228 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 928 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 318 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 377 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 497 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,023 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| MIW Marshalltown, IA | 576 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 974 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HPT Hampton, IA | 616 nm out, 11 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,176 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| LVN Minneapolis, MN | 725 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 960 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 841 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,176 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
The forecast for MLU, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 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
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 397 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at MLU 6:39 pm CDT (23:39 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 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
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: Monroe Regional, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.