Plan a flight · Sun 5:05 pm AKDT (01:05 UTC)

Merrill Field to Williston Basin International MRI → XWA

1,729 nautical miles (1,990 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 095°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MRI is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots; XWA is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) 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: 4 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 ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the last 50 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 50 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). 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 MRI.

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

BE20 at 2,000 ft, 0 nm south, 4:48 pm AKDT (00:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MRI UA /OV MRI/TM 0048/FL020/TP BE20/WX FV20SM/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MRI
Where
over MRI
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Weather
flight visibility 20 miles
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B737 at 5,000 ft, 14 nm southwest, 3:30 pm AKDT (23:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent gasto. At the departure end, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED230010/TM 2330/FL050/TP B737/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD GASTO
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
10 nm southwest (230°) of TED
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent gasto
PC12 at 4,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 3:30 pm AKDT (23:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb northwest bound. At the departure end, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED300020/TM 2330/FL040/TP PC12/SK TOP070/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC NORTHWEST BOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of TED
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP070
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb northwest bound
C207 at 1,000 ft, 3 nm west, 3:08 pm AKDT (23:08 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MRI UA /OV MRI260003/TM 2308/FL010/TP C207/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MRI
Where
3 nm west (260°) of MRI
Time
23:08 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C207
Turbulence
none
B747 at 5,800 ft, 17 nm southwest, 2:48 pm AKDT (22:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 4,000 ft to 5,500 ft; a broken layer above 2,000 ft, -11 °C, remarks: clear between layers, clear above. At the departure end, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED200013/TM 2248/FL058/TP B747/SK BKN020 OVC040 TOP055/WX M11/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM CLEAR BETWEEN LAYERS, CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
13 nm south (200°) of TED
Time
22:48 UTC
Height
at 5,800 ft
Aircraft
B747
Sky
BKN020 OVC040 TOP055
Weather
−11 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
clear between layers, clear above
B777 at 6,400 ft, 16 nm southwest, 2:17 pm AKDT (22:17 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED222012/TM 2217/FL064/TP B777/SK TOP065/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
12 nm southwest (222°) of TED
Time
22:17 UTC
Height
at 6,400 ft
Aircraft
B777
Sky
TOP065
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B737 at 14,000 ft, 7 nm south, 2:45 pm AKDT (22:45 UTC): light rime icing up to 14,000 ft, remarks: during the descent peter arrival. At the departure end, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED090015/TM 2245/FL140/TP B737/IC LGT RIME 140 BLO/RM DURD PETER ARR
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
15 nm east (090°) of TED
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Icing
light rime at 14,000 ft below
Remarks
during the descent peter arrival
B737 at 3,500 ft, 27 nm south, 3:07 pm AKDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb zan. 130 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDV UA /OV CDV/TM 2307/FL035/TP B737/SK TOP 035/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG/RM DURC ZAN
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDV
Where
over CDV
Time
23:07 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
top 3,500 ft
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb zan
C172 at 2,000 ft, 43 nm south, 2:40 pm AKDT (22:40 UTC): overcast above 2,000 ft, remarks: inbound to jnu east side of canal bases OVC020 jnut akfss. 460 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JNU UA /OV SGY-JNU /TM 2240 /FL020 /TP C172 /SK OVC020 /RM INBOUND TO JNU EAST SIDE OF CANAL BASES OVC020 JNUT AKFSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through JNU
Where
between SGY and JNU
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
overcast from 2,000 ft
Remarks
inbound to jnu east side of canal bases OVC020 jnut akfss
PA24 at 6,000 ft, 40 nm east, 4:48 pm AKDT (00:48 UTC): light rime icing from 5,000 ft to 6,000 ft, 2 °C. At the destination end, 40 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
XWA UA /OV XWA060040/TM 0048/FL060/TP PA24/TA 02/IC LGT RIME 060-050
```
Report
a routine report filed through XWA
Where
40 nm northeast (060°) of XWA
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
PA24
Temperature
2 °C
Icing
light rime from 6,000 ft to 5,000 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (ANC, GKN, YAK, JNU, ANN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	200° at 12 kt	+2 kt		118 kt	14 h 39 min	10:44 am CDT (15:44 UTC)
5,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	13 h 50 min	9:55 am CDT (14:55 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 18 kt	−11 kt	-1 °C	131 kt	13 h 12 min	9:17 am CDT (14:17 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	−17 kt	-3 °C	137 kt	12 h 37 min	8:42 am CDT (13:42 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 25 kt	−21 kt	-6 °C	141 kt	12 h 16 min	8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	260° at 29 kt	−23 kt	-10 °C	143 kt	12 h 05 min	8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 32 kt	−25 kt	-14 °C	145 kt	11 h 55 min	8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 36 kt	−26 kt	-18 °C	146 kt	11 h 51 min	7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 37 kt	−27 kt	-19 °C	147 kt	11 h 46 min	7:51 am CDT (12:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 48 kt	−36 kt	-29 °C	156 kt	11 h 05 min	7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 54 kt	−37 kt	-43 °C	157 kt	11 h 01 min	7:06 am CDT (12:06 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 52 kt	−44 kt	-51 °C	164 kt	10 h 33 min	6:38 am CDT (11:38 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 52 kt	−45 kt	-55 °C	165 kt	10 h 29 min	6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
ANC	used from 0 nm out; 29 nm from the line	220/10	220/14 -6°	240/17 -11°	250/18 -18°	270/14 -31°	270/14 -40°	230/28 -51°	230/42 -49°	230/49 -46°
GKN	used from 100 nm out; 73 nm from the line	160/20	220/20 -4°	230/20 -11°	230/20 -18°	200/18 -32°	210/24 -42°	240/43 -47°	230/49 -47°	230/50 -46°
YAK	used from 200 nm out; 103 nm from the line	190/26	230/18 -2°	210/22 -8°	220/33 -13°	230/58 -25°	230/85 -34°	230/101 -46°	240/97 -49°	240/84 -48°
JNU	used from 400 nm out; 93 nm from the line	150/18	210/22 -3°	240/32 -4°	240/39 -10°	250/59 -18°	240/76 -28°	240/83 -43°	250/89 -52°	250/74 -53°
ANN	used from 700 nm out; 236 nm from the line	210/8	240/13 3°	270/21 1°	280/26 -3°	260/33 -15°	270/42 -26°	260/43 -41°	280/38 -51°	280/45 -58°

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
MRI Anchorage, AK	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,600 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	4,600 ft	143 ft	4:53 pm AKDT (00:53 UTC)
VDZ Valdez, AK	100 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: rain	from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	4,500 ft	128 ft	00:56 UTC
CYSQ Atlin,	490 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,351 ft
CYDL Dease Lake,	620 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,100 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	9 mi	9,100 ft	2,634 ft	00:00 UTC
PWD Plentywood, MT	1689 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the northeast (040°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	2,263 ft	00:55 UTC
XWA Williston, ND	destination	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (050°) at 14 knots	8 mi	900 ft	2,356 ft	7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,634 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At XWA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC)

Wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR

The whole forecast for XWA

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet

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

6/8772 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · security · starts tomorrow · ZAN
6/8889 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZAN

Daylight

Sunset at MRI 6:56 pm AKDT (02:56 UTC), at XWA 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at XWA is before sunrise there (8:09 am CDT (13:09 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, Alaska · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Merrill Field, Williston Basin International.