Plan a flight · Mon 10:23 am MDT (16:23 UTC)

Missoula Montana Airport to Des Moines International MSO → DSM

933 nautical miles (1,074 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 103°, about 090° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 38-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:17 pm CDT (22:17 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 4 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 129 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 89 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 268 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 40 to 774 nm out.
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 last 79 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 MSO.

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

C25B at 11,000 ft, 1 nm southeast, 8:13 am MDT (14:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 1413/FL110/TP C25B/SK TOP 110
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
14:13 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
top 11,000 ft
GLF4 descending, 37 nm south, 7:48 am MDT (13:48 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 139 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 1348/FLDURD/TP GLF4/SK 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
13:48 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
GLF4
Sky
at 4,700 ft
CL35 at 45,000 ft, 37 nm north, 9:42 am MDT (15:42 UTC): light chop turbulence. 218 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIL UA /OV BIL345045/TM 1542/FL450/TP CL35/TB CONS LGT CHOP /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIL
Where
45 nm north (345°) of BIL
Time
15:42 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Turbulence
continuous light chop zlc
CL35 at 43,000 ft, 36 nm north, 9:53 am MDT (15:53 UTC): no chop turbulence. 328 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MLS UA /OV MLS195024/TM 1553/FL430/TP CL35/TB NEG CHOP /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MLS
Where
24 nm south (195°) of MLS
Time
15:53 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Turbulence
no chop zlc
BE9L at 15,000 ft, 10 nm northeast, 8:41 am MDT (14:41 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 536 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHP UA /OV PHP340020/TM 1441/FL150/TP BE9L/SK TOP 155 BKN/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHP
Where
20 nm north (340°) of PHP
Time
14:41 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
top 15,500 ft broken
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
BE9L at 15,000 ft, 27 nm north, 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 566 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR270040/TM 1453/FL150/TP BE9L/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
40 nm west (270°) of PIR
Time
14:53 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
SF50 at 4,000 ft, 35 nm north, 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 606 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 1347/FL040/TP SF50/SK BASE008-TOP040/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
over PIR
Time
13:47 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
BASE008-TOP040
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
PC12 at 15,000 ft, 46 nm south, 8:52 am MDT (14:52 UTC): no icing, remarks: during the climb. 705 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONL UA /OV ONL/TM 1452/FL150/TP PC12/SK TOP032/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONL
Where
over ONL
Time
14:52 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP032
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 35,000 ft, 9 nm south, 9:21 am MDT (15:21 UTC): no turbulence. 804 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SUX UA /OV SUX/TM 1521/FL350/TP B737/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SUX
Where
over SUX
Time
15:21 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
E170 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm north, 10:07 am MDT (16:07 UTC): no turbulence. 883 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD/TM 1607/FL330/TP E170/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
over FOD
Time
16:07 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
none

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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, OMA, DSM). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
5,500 ft	270° at 10 kt	−9 kt	7 °C	129 kt	7 h 14 min	6:37 pm CDT (23:37 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 13 kt	−10 kt	9 °C	130 kt	7 h 11 min	6:34 pm CDT (23:34 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	−11 kt	5 °C	131 kt	7 h 07 min	6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−12 kt	2 °C	132 kt	7 h 04 min	6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−13 kt	-2 °C	133 kt	7 h 01 min	6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−14 kt	-7 °C	134 kt	6 h 58 min	6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	−15 kt	-11 °C	135 kt	6 h 55 min	6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 30 kt	−15 kt	-12 °C	135 kt	6 h 55 min	6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 38 kt	−19 kt	-25 °C	139 kt	6 h 43 min	6:06 pm CDT (23:06 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 49 kt	−32 kt	-34 °C	152 kt	6 h 08 min	5:31 pm CDT (22:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 56 kt	−36 kt	-37 °C	156 kt	5 h 59 min	5:22 pm CDT (22:22 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 58 kt	−38 kt	-45 °C	158 kt	5 h 54 min	5:17 pm CDT (22:17 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
GPI	used from 0 nm out; 94 nm from the line		L/V -3°	L/V -4°	L/V -6°	210/19 -17°	220/26 -32°	190/23 -40°	220/25 -39°	220/34 -42°
GTF	used from 50 nm out; 65 nm from the line		L/V	L/V -4°	230/12 -3°	210/12 -17°	190/23 -29°	200/48 -39°	210/69 -39°	220/66 -42°
BIL	used from 149 nm out; 66 nm from the line		L/V	250/11 -1°	240/20 -2°	230/28 -15°	220/28 -28°	220/53 -34°	220/55 -39°	220/63 -44°
MLS	used from 298 nm out; 65 nm from the line		320/9 -2°	270/14 0°	260/22 -1°	220/30 -14°	210/43 -26°	230/53 -34°	230/54 -38°	230/59 -44°
RAP	used from 397 nm out; 78 nm from the line		310/18 6°	270/15 6°	260/20 2°	240/28 -11°	240/42 -23°	240/47 -35°	230/47 -36°	240/56 -44°
PIR	used from 546 nm out; 42 nm from the line		300/15 10°	270/10 10°	220/18 4°	220/36 -11°	230/43 -21°	240/48 -33°	240/51 -37°	240/55 -44°
ONL	used from 645 nm out; 58 nm from the line		270/16 17°	250/25 13°	230/34 7°	230/46 -9°	240/57 -22°	250/72 -31°	250/87 -36°	250/75 -46°
FSD	used from 745 nm out; 52 nm from the line	260/9	210/16 18°	220/27 14°	230/28 6°	240/39 -9°	240/48 -22°	260/52 -32°	260/61 -38°	260/60 -46°
OMA	used from 794 nm out; 65 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°
DSM	used from 893 nm out; 20 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°

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 1,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	3,205 ft	9:53 am MDT (15:53 UTC)
HLN Helena, MT	89 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet	from the west (280°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	3,877 ft	16:09 UTC
HWQ Harlowton, MT	179 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	no report just now				4,311 ft
BIL Billings, MT	238 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,500 ft	3,662 ft	16:09 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD	447 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,190 ft
PHP Philip, SD	556 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	2,209 ft	16:05 UTC
ICR Winner, SD	635 nm out, 15 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	500 ft	2,032 ft	15:53 UTC
YKN Yankton, SD	745 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	400 ft	1,305 ft	15:56 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	804 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	15:52 UTC
CIN Carroll, IA	874 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25	8 mi	none	1,203 ft	16:15 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	10:54 am CDT (15:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,311 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:17 pm CDT (22:17 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

The forecast for MSO, the departure

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 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

6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC

Daylight

Sunset at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Missoula Montana Airport, Des Moines International.