Plan a flight · Mon 6:12 am MDT (12:12 UTC)

Missoula Montana Airport to General Mitchell International MSO → MKE

1,133 nautical miles (1,304 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 093°, about 080° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:47 pm CDT (18:47 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots; MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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

SIGMET C18C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC). Over the route from 527 to 596 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 121155
MKCC WST 121155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18C
VALID UNTIL 1355Z
SD ND
FROM 50NE BIS-70W FAR-40N PIR-40N DPR-50NE BIS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
```
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 288 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 229 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 805 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 308 to 398 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 MSO.

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

C340 at 24,000 ft, 27 nm north, 4:59 am MDT (10:59 UTC): light to moderate icing, -22 °C. 417 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK240054/TM 1059/FL240/TP C340/TA M22/IC LGT-MOD CLR /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
54 nm southwest (240°) of DIK
Time
10:59 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
C340
Temperature
−22 °C
Icing
light to moderate clear zlc
C441 at 5,000 ft, 6 nm northeast, 5:52 am MDT (11:52 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 656 nm along the route, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABR UA /OV ABR/TM 1152/FL050/TP C441/SK BASEUNKN-TOP032/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABR
Where
over ABR
Time
11:52 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C441
Sky
BASEUNKN-TOP032
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
B739 at 34,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 4:58 am MDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
10:58 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none

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 12 forecast points nearest it (GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, DBQ, GRB). 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	250° at 10 kt	−8 kt	3 °C	128 kt	8 h 51 min	4:03 pm CDT (21:03 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 15 kt	−10 kt	10 °C	130 kt	8 h 43 min	3:55 pm CDT (20:55 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	−13 kt	5 °C	133 kt	8 h 31 min	3:43 pm CDT (20:43 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−15 kt	2 °C	135 kt	8 h 24 min	3:36 pm CDT (20:36 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−17 kt	-2 °C	137 kt	8 h 16 min	3:28 pm CDT (20:28 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−18 kt	-6 °C	138 kt	8 h 13 min	3:25 pm CDT (20:25 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	−19 kt	-10 °C	139 kt	8 h 09 min	3:21 pm CDT (20:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 26 kt	−19 kt	-11 °C	139 kt	8 h 09 min	3:21 pm CDT (20:21 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 34 kt	−25 kt	-23 °C	145 kt	7 h 49 min	3:01 pm CDT (20:01 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 40 kt	−29 kt	-36 °C	149 kt	7 h 36 min	2:48 pm CDT (19:48 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 48 kt	−39 kt	-40 °C	159 kt	7 h 08 min	2:20 pm CDT (19:20 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 58 kt	−52 kt	-46 °C	172 kt	6 h 35 min	1:47 pm CDT (18:47 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
GPI	used from 0 nm out; 91 nm from the line		090/8 -4°	140/7 -7°	090/10 -8°	110/10 -19°	210/25 -30°	200/24 -40°	210/31 -39°	210/35 -42°
GTF	used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line		L/V	L/V -7°	240/8 -8°	240/30 -14°	240/40 -28°	210/52 -38°	210/76 -38°	220/72 -43°
BIL	used from 199 nm out; 49 nm from the line		300/14	270/19 -2°	260/26 -2°	220/28 -13°	210/51 -25°	220/56 -33°	220/61 -39°	220/72 -45°
MLS	used from 298 nm out; 16 nm from the line		290/17 -1°	250/18 0°	230/25 0°	220/31 -11°	220/32 -24°	220/50 -32°	220/60 -38°	230/71 -46°
DIK	used from 398 nm out; 60 nm from the line		190/12 5°	230/29 7°	220/33 1°	220/43 -11°	210/47 -23°	220/53 -33°	240/56 -40°	250/72 -47°
PIR	used from 547 nm out; 77 nm from the line		230/15 15°	220/22 14°	220/24 6°	200/32 -10°	210/48 -22°	240/45 -33°	240/43 -37°	250/55 -46°
ABR	used from 596 nm out; 36 nm from the line	080/12	210/12 17°	220/22 12°	230/26 5°	220/28 -10°	230/41 -21°	250/36 -36°	260/47 -39°	260/63 -47°
AXN	used from 745 nm out; 63 nm from the line	110/6	260/10 16°	240/17 12°	250/20 5°	260/29 -10°	260/35 -22°	260/29 -38°	270/48 -41°	270/61 -48°
MSP	used from 795 nm out; 66 nm from the line	250/12	250/17 17°	240/26 12°	250/26 5°	280/26 -9°	280/32 -22°	270/37 -38°	280/47 -41°	280/55 -48°
LSE	used from 944 nm out; 8 nm from the line	250/25	240/21 17°	240/28 11°	250/28 5°	280/24 -10°	280/31 -21°	260/35 -37°	270/45 -43°	280/59 -47°
DBQ	used from 1044 nm out; 84 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
GRB	used from 1093 nm out; 86 nm from the line	250/32	250/22 17°	240/18 8°	280/21 6°	280/34 -11°	280/35 -21°	280/39 -37°	270/52 -45°	290/60 -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
MSO Missoula, MT	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	3,205 ft	5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC)
HLN Helena, MT	89 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	4,600 ft	3,877 ft	11:53 UTC
HWQ Harlowton, MT	179 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	no report just now				4,311 ft
MLS Miles City, MT	338 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots	6 mi	1,000 ft	2,634 ft	12:05 UTC
BWW Bowman, ND	447 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: unknown precipitation	from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots	0.75 mi	300 ft	2,965 ft	11:55 UTC
LEM Lemmon, SD	497 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	no report just now				2,572 ft
ABR Aberdeen, SD	656 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots	2.5 mi	300 ft	1,301 ft	11:53 UTC
GDB Granite Falls, MN	785 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: mist	calm	1.75 mi	100 ft	1,047 ft	11:55 UTC
FBL Faribault, MN	884 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,060 ft	11:55 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	974 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	11:53 UTC
UES Waukesha, WI	1113 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	911 ft	11:45 UTC
MKE Milwaukee, WI	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	23,000 ft	728 ft	6:52 am CDT (11:52 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 MKE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:47 pm CDT (18:47 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MKE

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 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 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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, General Mitchell International.