Plan a flight · Mon 1:02 am CDT (06:02 UTC)

Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field to Burke Lakefront Airport MSN → BKL

353 nautical miles (407 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 103°, about 106° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 2 h at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:02 am EDT (08:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots; BKL is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 8 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 216 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 MSN.

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

A333 descending, 17 nm northeast, 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 265 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
05:44 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A333
Sky
tops 2,500 ft
B738 at 1,800 ft, 26 nm southwest, 12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 265 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
05:18 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B739 descending, 17 nm northeast, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 265 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
bases 1,100 ft
B738 at 1,300 ft, 26 nm southwest, 11:45 pm CDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 265 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
A320 descending, 17 nm northeast, 10:27 pm CDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. 265 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
03:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
at 1,400 ft overcast

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (GRB, MKG, FWA, CLE). 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	280° at 16 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	2 h 36 min	4:38 am EDT (08:38 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	2 h 39 min	4:41 am EDT (08:41 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 13 kt	−12 kt	12 °C	132 kt	2 h 40 min	4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 12 kt	−10 kt	8 °C	130 kt	2 h 43 min	4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 10 kt	−8 kt	4 °C	128 kt	2 h 45 min	4:47 am EDT (08:47 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	−12 kt	0 °C	132 kt	2 h 40 min	4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−17 kt	-4 °C	137 kt	2 h 35 min	4:37 am EDT (08:37 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 24 kt	−22 kt	-8 °C	142 kt	2 h 29 min	4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 26 kt	−23 kt	-9 °C	143 kt	2 h 28 min	4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 34 kt	−30 kt	-20 °C	150 kt	2 h 21 min	4:23 am EDT (08:23 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 48 kt	−37 kt	-36 °C	157 kt	2 h 15 min	4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 59 kt	−48 kt	-44 °C	168 kt	2 h 06 min	4:08 am EDT (08:08 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 66 kt	−56 kt	-52 °C	176 kt	2 h	4:02 am EDT (08:02 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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
GRB	used from 0 nm out; 91 nm from the line	250/36	270/23 16°	270/14 9°	240/18 4°	280/26 -9°	280/29 -20°	290/42 -36°	290/51 -45°	290/72 -55°
MKG	used from 49 nm out; 68 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
FWA	used from 196 nm out; 79 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CLE	used from 245 nm out; 79 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -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	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC)
RYV Watertown, WI	29 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	832 ft	05:35 UTC
MKE Milwaukee, WI	69 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	728 ft	05:52 UTC
LWA South Haven, MI	147 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	665 ft	05:55 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	186 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	05:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	226 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	0.5 mi	none	1,000 ft	05:56 UTC
YIP Detroit, MI	265 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	715 ft	05:53 UTC
LPR Lorain/Elyria, OH	334 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	6 mi	2,000 ft	793 ft	05:53 UTC
BKL Cleveland, OH	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	1,900 ft	583 ft	1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BKL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:02 am EDT (08:02 UTC)

BKL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

The forecast for MSN, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 18 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 18 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at BKL 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BKL is before sunrise there (7:35 am EDT (11:35 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 central Great Lakes · 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, Burke Lakefront Airport.