Missoula Montana Airport to Montrose Regional MSO → MTJ
574 nautical miles (660 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 149°, about 136° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (7,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 1:21 pm MDT (19:21 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 knots; MTJ is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 7 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
- SIGMET W27W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the west at 45 knots, until 9:55 am MDT (15:55 UTC). Over the route from 287 to 307 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121355 MKCW WST 121355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 27W VALID UNTIL 1555Z WY UT ID FROM 40E PIH-20NW BPI-50E SLC-20SW SLC-40E PIH DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 26045KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole 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 49 to 307 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 129 to 524 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 148 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, 524 nm along 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
- PC12 at 5,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 5:23 am MDT (11:23 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 524 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 1123/FL050/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD/IC NEG/RM DURD. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 11:23 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
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 4 forecast points nearest it (DLN, PIH, RKS, GJT). 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 | 200° at 11 kt | +8 kt | 1 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 08 min | 1:21 pm MDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 13 kt | +10 kt | -1 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 13 min | 1:26 pm MDT (19:26 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 190° at 19 kt | +14 kt | -4 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 25 min | 1:38 pm MDT (19:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 200° at 24 kt | +16 kt | -6 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 31 min | 1:44 pm MDT (19:44 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | +17 kt | -11 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 34 min | 1:47 pm MDT (19:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | +18 kt | -15 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 38 min | 1:51 pm MDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 35 kt | +19 kt | -16 °C | 101 kt | 5 h 41 min | 1:54 pm MDT (19:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 52 kt | +29 kt | -27 °C | 91 kt | 6 h 18 min | 2:31 pm MDT (20:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 69 kt | +31 kt | -31 °C | 89 kt | 6 h 27 min | 2:40 pm MDT (20:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 68 kt | +27 kt | -37 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 10 min | 2:23 pm MDT (20:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 60 kt | +24 kt | -44 °C | 96 kt | 5 h 59 min | 2:12 pm MDT (20:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLN | used from 0 nm out; 94 nm from the line | L/V -3° | 170/16 -6° | 180/21 -18° | 190/27 -30° | 210/63 -33° | 210/62 -36° | 210/51 -42° | ||
| PIH | used from 198 nm out; 68 nm from the line | L/V | 180/8 -1° | 190/21 -6° | 210/56 -18° | 190/64 -28° | 210/68 -31° | 210/60 -36° | 210/54 -42° | |
| RKS | used from 297 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 210/15 | 220/17 -1° | 220/32 -14° | 220/69 -25° | 220/70 -30° | 220/70 -39° | 220/56 -44° | ||
| GJT | used from 445 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 190/30 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/50 -13° | 220/69 -22° | 220/81 -30° | 230/84 -39° | 230/88 -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: overcast at 6,500 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| HRF Hamilton, MT | 30 nm out, 22 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 3,635 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| RVF Twin Bridges, MT | 109 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 4,788 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| DLN Dillon, MT | 119 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 5,244 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| RXE Rexburg, ID | 208 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, scattered clouds at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the west (260°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 3,300 ft | 4,862 ft | 14:04 UTC |
| AFO Afton, WY | 287 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,300 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 6,220 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| FBR Fort Bridger, WY | 366 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 3,600 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 7,038 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| VEL Vernal, UT | 435 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,274 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 524 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,861 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| MTJ Montrose, CO | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 5,758 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,038 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MTJ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:21 pm MDT (19:21 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MTJ
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 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 MTJ 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 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, Montrose Regional.