Plan a flight · Mon 9:38 am CDT (14:38 UTC)

Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Albuquerque International Sunport MSN → ABQ

938 nautical miles (1,079 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 245°, about 248° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 6:30 pm MDT (00:30 UTC). Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots; ABQ is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 9 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 route from 259 to 519 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 209 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 828 to 898 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 MSN.

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

C510 at 17,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV LNR/TM 1327/FL170/TP C510/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over LNR
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
C510
Turbulence
none
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV 0WI4/TM 1327/FL200/TP PC12/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over 0WI4
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
none
B752 at 34,000 ft, 5 nm west, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 80 nm along the route, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DBQ UA /OV DBQ300020/TM 1223/FL340/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DBQ
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of DBQ
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
occasional light chop
A321 at 32,000 ft, 12 nm southeast, 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 130 nm along the route, 12 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CID UA /OV CID360010/TM 1225/FL320/TP A321/TB INTMT LGT CHOP CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CID
Where
10 nm north (360°) of CID
Time
12:25 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
intermittent light chop continuous light chop
P46T at 31,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 140 nm along the route, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO270005/TM 1337/FL310/TP P46T/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
5 nm west (270°) of ALO
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
P46T
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
B38M at 18,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC): light chop turbulence. 299 nm along the route, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVU UA /OV EVU/TM 1304/FL180/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVU
Where
over EVU
Time
13:04 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B38M at 17,000 ft, 38 nm northwest, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 349 nm along the route, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNK UA /OV LNK/TM 1241/FL170/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNK
Where
over LNK
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
BE30 at 15,000 ft, 17 nm northwest, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. At the destination end, 17 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAF UA /OV SAF255015/TM 1327/FL150/TP BE30/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAF
Where
15 nm west (255°) of SAF
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE30
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zab fdcs

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 (DBQ, DSM, OMA, SLN, GCK, PUB, TCC, ABQ). 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 26 kt	+25 kt	20 °C	95 kt	9 h 52 min	6:30 pm MDT (00:30 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+29 kt	19 °C	91 kt	10 h 18 min	6:56 pm MDT (00:56 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	+32 kt	13 °C	88 kt	10 h 40 min	7:18 pm MDT (01:18 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 36 kt	+36 kt	9 °C	84 kt	11 h 10 min	7:48 pm MDT (01:48 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 39 kt	+39 kt	5 °C	81 kt	11 h 35 min	8:13 pm MDT (02:13 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 40 kt	+40 kt	0 °C	80 kt	11 h 44 min	8:22 pm MDT (02:22 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 40 kt	+41 kt	-4 °C	79 kt	11 h 52 min	8:30 pm MDT (02:30 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 41 kt	+41 kt	-8 °C	79 kt	11 h 52 min	8:30 pm MDT (02:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 46 kt	+47 kt	-20 °C	73 kt	12 h 51 min	9:29 pm MDT (03:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 67 kt	+66 kt	-29 °C	54 kt	17 h 22 min	2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 73 kt	+70 kt	-37 °C	50 kt	18 h 46 min	3:24 am MDT (09:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 70 kt	+67 kt	-48 °C	53 kt	17 h 42 min	2:20 am MDT (08:20 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
DBQ	used from 0 nm out; 51 nm from the line	250/26	240/32 19°	250/35 11°	260/37 5°	270/35 -9°	270/40 -21°	270/43 -35°	280/49 -37°	280/58 -46°
DSM	used from 150 nm out; 40 nm from the line	230/34	230/32 20°	220/33 12°	240/35 5°	250/39 -7°	250/43 -21°	280/61 -31°	280/73 -37°	280/67 -47°
OMA	used from 249 nm out; 51 nm from the line	210/23	240/34 20°	230/40 14°	220/43 7°	240/38 -8°	250/47 -21°	270/70 -29°	270/79 -36°	270/68 -48°
SLN	used from 399 nm out; 60 nm from the line	210/26	250/36 22°	240/39 14°	240/38 7°	240/42 -9°	240/49 -20°	260/75 -27°	260/76 -36°	270/71 -48°
GCK	used from 499 nm out; 84 nm from the line		250/23 20°	230/35 13°	240/47 7°	240/42 -7°	250/43 -20°	240/81 -28°	250/87 -37°	250/83 -49°
PUB	used from 698 nm out; 101 nm from the line			250/31 11°	240/42 5°	230/46 -7°	230/59 -20°	240/77 -30°	230/94 -37°	240/95 -49°
TCC	used from 748 nm out; 88 nm from the line		230/14	240/29 12°	220/39 6°	230/48 -6°	230/52 -19°	230/77 -27°	240/77 -37°	250/71 -49°
ABQ	used from 848 nm out; 65 nm from the line			200/19 9°	220/32 3°	230/52 -7°	220/67 -20°	230/86 -26°	230/87 -36°	230/87 -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
MSN Madison, WI	departure	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 23,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	23,000 ft	886 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
DBQ Dubuque, IA	70 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	13:53 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	130 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	13:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	219 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	957 ft	13:54 UTC
AFK Nebraska City, NE	329 nm out, 1 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	1,165 ft	14:15 UTC
RPB Belleville, KS	419 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	no report just now				1,538 ft
HYS Hays, KS	519 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,999 ft	13:56 UTC
GCK Garden City, KS	608 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	2,890 ft	13:54 UTC
JHN Johnson City, KS	658 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	3,325 ft	14:15 UTC
RTN Raton, NM	798 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	6,352 ft	13:53 UTC
SAF Santa Fe, NM	898 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	6,348 ft	13:53 UTC
ABQ Albuquerque, NM	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	5,354 ft	7:52 am MDT (13:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,352 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ABQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:30 pm MDT (00:30 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ABQ

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet

The forecast for MSN, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 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 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at ABQ 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 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 Plains · 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: Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field, Albuquerque International Sunport.