Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Central IL Rgnl/Bloomington-Normal Airport MSP → BMI
326 nautical miles (375 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 143°, about 143° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:42 am CDT (16:42 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind calm; BMI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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
- C510 at 17,000 ft, 47 nm northeast, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 47 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LNR UA /OV LNR/TM 1327/FL170/TP C510/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through LNR
- Where
- over LNR
- Time
- 13:27 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C510
- Turbulence
- none
- PC12 at 20,000 ft, 47 nm northeast, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 47 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LNR UA /OV 0WI4/TM 1327/FL200/TP PC12/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through LNR
- Where
- over 0WI4
- Time
- 13:27 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- none
- B752 at 34,000 ft, 7 nm west, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DBQ UA /OV DBQ300020/TM 1223/FL340/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DBQ
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (300°) of DBQ
- Time
- 12:23 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B752
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
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 5 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, DBQ, JOT, SPI). 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 | 240° at 20 kt | −1 kt | 121 kt | 2 h 42 min | 12:22 pm CDT (17:22 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 2 h 43 min | 12:23 pm CDT (17:23 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −4 kt | 15 °C | 124 kt | 2 h 38 min | 12:18 pm CDT (17:18 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 30 kt | −9 kt | 11 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 32 min | 12:12 pm CDT (17:12 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 30 kt | −13 kt | 6 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 30 kt | −15 kt | 2 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 25 min | 12:05 pm CDT (17:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 30 kt | −15 kt | -3 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 25 min | 12:05 pm CDT (17:05 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 30 kt | −16 kt | -8 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 24 min | 12:04 pm CDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 30 kt | −16 kt | -9 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 24 min | 12:04 pm CDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 37 kt | −20 kt | -21 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 20 min | 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 40 kt | −23 kt | -35 °C | 143 kt | 2 h 17 min | 11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 47 kt | −34 kt | -37 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 07 min | 11:47 am CDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 55 kt | −40 kt | -47 °C | 160 kt | 2 h 02 min | 11:42 am CDT (16:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 140/8 | 210/22 19° | 230/31 13° | 240/31 5° | 240/29 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/46 -38° | 270/55 -47° |
| LSE | used from 49 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 240/16 | 230/27 20° | 250/35 12° | 260/28 5° | 260/30 -9° | 260/37 -21° | 260/38 -36° | 280/44 -37° | 280/52 -47° |
| DBQ | used from 148 nm out; 12 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/32 19° | 250/35 11° | 260/37 5° | 270/35 -9° | 270/40 -21° | 270/43 -35° | 280/49 -37° | 280/58 -46° |
| JOT | used from 247 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/30 | 250/26 16° | 270/27 11° | 280/34 5° | 290/32 -8° | 280/37 -21° | 280/40 -36° | 290/46 -37° | 290/56 -47° |
| SPI | used from 296 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/21 15° | 260/11 12° | 280/19 6° | 270/23 -8° | 280/34 -20° | 290/55 -33° | 290/62 -37° | 290/55 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 8 mi | none | 841 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
| SYN Stanton, MN | 30 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 920 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 69 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 7 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 13:54 UTC |
| DEH Decorah, IA | 118 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,157 ft | 14:15 UTC |
| PDC Prairie du Chien, WI | 148 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 17:15 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 187 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| CWI Clinton, IA | 227 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 707 ft | 13:56 UTC |
| EZI Kewanee, IL | 266 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| PIA Peoria, IL | 296 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 13:54 UTC |
| BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 871 ft | 8:56 am CDT (13:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BMI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:42 am CDT (16:42 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for BMI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 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 3,500 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 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 BMI 6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 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, Central IL Rgnl/Bloomington-Normal Airport.