Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to John Glenn Columbus International MSP → CMH
543 nautical miles (625 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 119°, about 119° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; CMH is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) 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: 2,652 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 49 to 188 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 last 217 nm of 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 MSP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 11:31 pm CDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 405 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
- MD83 climbing, 11 nm south, 12:04 am CDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
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 6 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, DBQ, JOT, FWA, CMH). 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 | 250° at 22 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 4 h 03 min | 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 4 h | 7:29 am EDT (11:29 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 13 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 01 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | −12 kt | 9 °C | 132 kt | 4 h 07 min | 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | −11 kt | 5 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 09 min | 7:38 am EDT (11:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | −13 kt | 1 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 05 min | 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -3 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 56 min | 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −22 kt | -7 °C | 142 kt | 3 h 49 min | 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -8 °C | 143 kt | 3 h 48 min | 7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -20 °C | 147 kt | 3 h 42 min | 7:11 am EDT (11:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -35 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 32 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 45 kt | −46 kt | -43 °C | 166 kt | 3 h 16 min | 6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 54 kt | −54 kt | -51 °C | 174 kt | 3 h 07 min | 6:36 am EDT (10:36 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 49 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 197 nm out; 91 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 247 nm out; 64 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° |
| FWA | used from 346 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CMH | used from 494 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -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 broken layer at 17,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 841 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| RGK Red Wing, MN | 39 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 778 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 99 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CMY Sparta, WI | 118 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 839 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | 197 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ENW Kenosha, WI | 267 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 276 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 365 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 777 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 424 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 814 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| AOH Lima, OH | 474 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | none | 975 ft | 07:07 UTC |
| MRT Marysville, OH | 513 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,020 ft | 21:09 UTC |
| CMH Columbus, OH | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 815 ft | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,020 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CMH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR
At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for CMH
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest 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
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 CMH 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CMH is before sunrise there (7:38 am EDT (11:38 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, John Glenn Columbus International.