Missoula Montana Airport to Denver International MSO → DEN
589 nautical miles (678 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 133°, about 120° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (7,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:27 am MDT (15:27 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind calm; DEN is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 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: 2,403 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 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 150 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 499 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). Over the route from 30 to 250 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 160 to 410 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 210 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 400 to 449 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 410 to 519 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 170 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 MSO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 559 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest 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
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 2:10 am MDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm south 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
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 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 (DLN, LND, RKS, DEN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 11 kt | −3 kt | 2 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 47 min | 9:27 am MDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | −3 kt | 2 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 47 min | 9:27 am MDT (15:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −2 kt | 0 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 50 min | 9:30 am MDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −1 kt | -4 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 52 min | 9:32 am MDT (15:32 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +1 kt | -8 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 57 min | 9:37 am MDT (15:37 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +3 kt | -13 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 02 min | 9:42 am MDT (15:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 36 kt | +4 kt | -14 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 05 min | 9:45 am MDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 48 kt | +2 kt | -24 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 59 min | 9:39 am MDT (15:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 58 kt | +7 kt | -32 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 13 min | 9:53 am MDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 64 kt | +4 kt | -36 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 05 min | 9:45 am MDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 62 kt | +4 kt | -45 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 05 min | 9:45 am MDT (15:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLN | used from 0 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 200 nm out; 112 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| RKS | used from 400 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| DEN | used from 449 nm out; 115 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSO Missoula, MT | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 3,205 ft | 3:53 am MDT (09:53 UTC) |
| BTM Butte, MT | 90 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 500 ft | 5,550 ft | 10:33 UTC |
| EKS Ennis, MT | 140 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 2 mi | 700 ft | 5,432 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | 180 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow | calm | 9 mi | 1,200 ft | 6,649 ft | 10:10 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 270 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,298 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| RIW Riverton, WY | 330 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,000 feet | from the north (360°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 5,516 ft | 10:36 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 429 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LAR Laramie, WY | 489 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,283 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 549 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | destination | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 3:53 am MDT (09:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:27 am MDT (15:27 UTC)
Wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for DEN
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
The forecast for MSO, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the east at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 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 MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC), at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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: Missoula Montana Airport, Denver International.