Plan a flight · Mon 4:59 am MDT (10:59 UTC)

Missoula Montana Airport to Raleigh-Durham International MSO → RDU

1,705 nautical miles (1,962 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 100°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 7 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 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 269 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 259 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 738 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 279 to 379 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 route from 797 to 1047 nm out.
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 route from 1276 to 1585 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1465 to 1605 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1545 to 1635 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 1575 to 1595 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 1605 to 1685 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

E75L at 30,000 ft, 15 nm north, 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. At the destination end, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDU
Where
20 nm north (360°) of RDU
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at F300
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
A21N at 31,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 1226 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAF
Where
over BVT
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 100 ft, 10 nm northeast, 4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 1366 nm along the route, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
10:24 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
B739 climbing, 9 nm northeast, 4:19 am MDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 1366 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 west cvg
Time
10:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
tops 1,100 ft
B763 at 100 ft, 9 nm northeast, 3:05 am MDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 1366 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B763 at 200 ft, 9 nm northeast, 2:05 am MDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 1366 nm along the route, 9 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
08:05 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft
Remarks
during the climb
E170 at 100 ft, 39 nm southwest, 4:11 am MDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 1396 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 39 nm southwest, 4:11 am MDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 1396 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 34 nm southwest, 3:37 am MDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 1396 nm along the route, 34 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb

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 16 forecast points nearest it (GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND, CVG, CRW, ROA, RDU). 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	270° at 22 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	12 h 11 min	7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC)
5,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	−15 kt	10 °C	135 kt	12 h 38 min	7:37 pm EDT (23:37 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	−15 kt	12 °C	135 kt	12 h 38 min	7:37 pm EDT (23:37 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	−15 kt	6 °C	135 kt	12 h 38 min	7:37 pm EDT (23:37 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 17 kt	−16 kt	3 °C	136 kt	12 h 32 min	7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)
13,500 ft	260° at 18 kt	−17 kt	-1 °C	137 kt	12 h 27 min	7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 19 kt	−17 kt	-4 °C	137 kt	12 h 27 min	7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 20 kt	−18 kt	-8 °C	138 kt	12 h 21 min	7:20 pm EDT (23:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 20 kt	−18 kt	-9 °C	138 kt	12 h 21 min	7:20 pm EDT (23:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 28 kt	−24 kt	-22 °C	144 kt	11 h 50 min	6:49 pm EDT (22:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 34 kt	−31 kt	-34 °C	151 kt	11 h 17 min	6:16 pm EDT (22:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 40 kt	−39 kt	-39 °C	159 kt	10 h 43 min	5:42 pm EDT (21:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 48 kt	−46 kt	-47 °C	166 kt	10 h 16 min	5:15 pm EDT (21:15 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; 93 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; 61 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 150 nm out; 66 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 299 nm out; 49 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°
RAP	used from 399 nm out; 87 nm from the line		250/28 16°	260/31 10°	240/25 4°	210/35 -10°	200/45 -23°	230/47 -31°	230/47 -36°	230/51 -46°
PIR	used from 548 nm out; 25 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°
FSD	used from 698 nm out; 38 nm from the line	210/20	230/23 21°	220/25 14°	230/30 5°	230/26 -9°	240/30 -21°	270/33 -36°	260/47 -37°	270/58 -47°
MCW	used from 847 nm out; 60 nm from the line	250/36	250/24 19°	240/26 11°	250/30 5°	270/22 -9°	260/30 -21°	260/31 -36°	280/53 -38°	280/66 -48°
DSM	used from 897 nm out; 46 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
BRL	used from 997 nm out; 50 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
SPI	used from 1097 nm out; 60 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
IND	used from 1196 nm out; 60 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
CVG	used from 1346 nm out; 13 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
CRW	used from 1445 nm out; 66 nm from the line	320/17	340/23 12°	340/32 8°	340/35 4°	330/40 -7°	340/45 -20°	340/57 -34°	340/64 -42°	320/38 -50°
ROA	used from 1545 nm out; 56 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
RDU	used from 1645 nm out; 35 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -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 broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the east (090°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	3,205 ft	4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC)
HLN Helena, MT	90 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	2,300 ft	3,877 ft	10:53 UTC
BIL Billings, MT	239 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	3,662 ft	10:53 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	598 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots	4 mi	400 ft	1,744 ft	10:53 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	758 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	09:56 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	1007 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	09:52 UTC
BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL	1156 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	871 ft	10:56 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	1306 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	100 ft	656 ft	10:45 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	1366 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	0.06 mi	200 ft	896 ft	10:52 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	1655 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	925 ft	10:54 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,877 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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

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
6/8925 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 · ZOB
6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 1366 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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 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: Missoula Montana Airport, Raleigh-Durham International.