Plan a flight · Sun 10:08 pm CDT (03:08 UTC)

Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Charlotte/Douglas International MSP → CLT

808 nautical miles (929 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 132°, about 132° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 knots; CLT is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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: 4,996 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 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 578 to 738 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 618 to 748 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 718 to 798 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

A321 at 32,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 239 nm along the route, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
B39M at 35,000 ft, 24 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 319 nm along the route, 24 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
A21N at 17,000 ft, 38 nm southwest, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 469 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
45 nm south (183°) of IND
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
clear
Icing
none
Remarks
clear since departing KIND southbound
B712 at 600 ft, 20 nm southwest, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 568 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
B737 at 35,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 628 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
S22T descending, 5 nm west, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 708 nm along the route, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 23 tri

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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, DBQ, JOT, IND, CVG, TRI, GSP). 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	260° at 20 kt	−12 kt		132 kt	6 h 07 min	5:15 am EDT (09:15 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−17 kt	11 °C	137 kt	5 h 54 min	5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	−17 kt	12 °C	137 kt	5 h 54 min	5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	−17 kt	8 °C	137 kt	5 h 54 min	5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	−16 kt	5 °C	136 kt	5 h 56 min	5:04 am EDT (09:04 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	−18 kt	1 °C	138 kt	5 h 51 min	4:59 am EDT (08:59 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	−21 kt	-3 °C	141 kt	5 h 44 min	4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 24 kt	−23 kt	-7 °C	143 kt	5 h 39 min	4:47 am EDT (08:47 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 25 kt	−24 kt	-8 °C	144 kt	5 h 37 min	4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 28 kt	−27 kt	-20 °C	147 kt	5 h 30 min	4:38 am EDT (08:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 33 kt	−32 kt	-34 °C	152 kt	5 h 19 min	4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-42 °C	164 kt	4 h 56 min	4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 51 kt	−50 kt	-50 °C	170 kt	4 h 45 min	3:53 am EDT (07:53 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°
LSE	used from 50 nm out; 31 nm from the line	230/40	240/24 17°	240/13 10°	250/13 6°	280/22 -9°	250/28 -21°	250/41 -34°	260/42 -44°	270/62 -53°
DBQ	used from 150 nm out; 36 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
JOT	used from 249 nm out; 26 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
IND	used from 349 nm out; 63 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
CVG	used from 499 nm out; 20 nm from the line	320/18	350/32 16°	350/35 10°	350/30 3°	330/30 -7°	340/44 -20°	340/58 -35°	330/72 -41°	320/36 -49°
TRI	used from 598 nm out; 81 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
GSP	used from 748 nm out; 60 nm from the line	320/22	340/19 13°	320/18 8°	310/24 5°	300/34 -7°	300/36 -18°	290/30 -33°	300/32 -39°	320/42 -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
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)
RST Rochester, MN	60 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	02:54 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	100 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	02:53 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	239 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	02:54 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	279 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	712 ft	02:52 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	389 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	02:54 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	439 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	796 ft	02:54 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	518 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	896 ft	02:52 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	568 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	9 mi	1,800 ft	979 ft	02:54 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	708 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	1,518 ft	02:53 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	768 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	02:53 UTC
CLT Charlotte, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	747 ft	10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CLT

From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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
6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 518 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLT is before sunrise there (7:27 am EDT (11:27 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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: Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport, Charlotte/Douglas International.