Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Abilene Regional MSP → ABI
807 nautical miles (929 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 204°, about 204° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 6:08 am CDT (11:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 knots; ABI is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 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 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 110 to 508 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 MSP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 9 forecast points nearest it (MSP, MCW, DSM, OMA, SLN, ICT, OKC, SPS, ABI). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | +35 kt | 17 °C | 85 kt | 9 h 30 min | 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +26 kt | 17 °C | 94 kt | 8 h 35 min | 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 14 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 55 min | 6:30 am CDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 41 min | 6:16 am CDT (11:16 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 6 °C | 107 kt | 7 h 33 min | 6:08 am CDT (11:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +14 kt | 2 °C | 106 kt | 7 h 37 min | 6:12 am CDT (11:12 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | +15 kt | -3 °C | 105 kt | 7 h 41 min | 6:16 am CDT (11:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | +16 kt | -7 °C | 104 kt | 7 h 46 min | 6:21 am CDT (11:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 30 kt | +19 kt | -18 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 59 min | 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 48 kt | +30 kt | -31 °C | 90 kt | 8 h 58 min | 7:33 am CDT (12:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 53 kt | +26 kt | -40 °C | 94 kt | 8 h 35 min | 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 53 kt | +21 kt | -50 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 09 min | 6:44 am CDT (11:44 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| MCW | used from 50 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| DSM | used from 149 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 199 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| SLN | used from 349 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| ICT | used from 448 nm out; 8 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| OKC | used from 548 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| SPS | used from 648 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 200/39 | 220/28 17° | 230/27 12° | 240/15 9° | 250/15 -4° | 250/24 -15° | 260/45 -28° | 270/43 -39° | 280/45 -51° |
| ABI | used from 747 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/31 17° | 210/21 15° | 240/15 9° | 250/14 -4° | 250/24 -14° | 250/36 -28° | 270/35 -38° | 290/41 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 841 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| ACQ Waseca, MN | 50 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,126 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| AXA Algona, IA | 120 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,216 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 239 nm out, 23 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 984 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| AFK Nebraska City, NE | 279 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,165 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 379 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 468 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| WDG Enid, OK | 548 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,167 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| RQO El Reno, OK | 608 nm out, 14 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,420 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| LAW Lawton, OK | 668 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,110 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| ONY Olney, TX | 737 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,275 ft | ||||
| ABI Abilene, TX | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,790 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,790 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:08 am CDT (11:08 UTC)
Wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ABI
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 20 knots, gusting to 29, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at ABI 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABI is before sunrise there (7:40 am CDT (12:40 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: Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport, Abilene Regional.