Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal MSP → COS
629 nautical miles (724 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 239°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 5:44 am MDT (11:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 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: 198 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
- SIGMET 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 0 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C VALID UNTIL 0655Z TX OK CO NM FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 250 to 519 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 319 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 last 0 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
- BE9L at 24,500 ft, 47 nm southwest, 9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 40 nm west (250°) of PUB
- Time
- 02:21 UTC
- Height
- at 24,500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-41
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 0 nm southwest, 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 40 nm along the route, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 16,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb
- A320 descending, 46 nm northwest, 10:19 pm CDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 589 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 03:19 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 descending, 46 nm northwest, 9:29 pm CDT (02:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 589 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 02:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- CL60 at 33,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK080015/TM 0235/FL330/TP CL60/RM MTW +/-100FT ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm east (080°) of BRK
- Time
- 02:35 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Remarks
- mtw +/-100FT zdvwc
- E170 at 22,500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. At the destination end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
- Time
- 05:06 UTC
- Height
- at 22,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
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 7 forecast points nearest it (MSP, FSD, ONL, GRI, GLD, DEN, PUB). 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 33 kt | +33 kt | 20 °C | 87 kt | 7 h 14 min | 6:29 am MDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +34 kt | 18 °C | 86 kt | 7 h 19 min | 6:34 am MDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 14 °C | 91 kt | 6 h 55 min | 6:10 am MDT (12:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 10 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 41 min | 5:56 am MDT (11:56 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 6 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 29 min | 5:44 am MDT (11:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 1 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 33 min | 5:48 am MDT (11:48 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 37 min | 5:52 am MDT (11:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | +25 kt | -8 °C | 95 kt | 6 h 37 min | 5:52 am MDT (11:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 32 kt | +32 kt | -21 °C | 88 kt | 7 h 09 min | 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 50 kt | +49 kt | -33 °C | 71 kt | 8 h 52 min | 8:07 am MDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 53 kt | +51 kt | -39 °C | 69 kt | 9 h 07 min | 8:22 am MDT (14:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | +52 kt | -48 °C | 68 kt | 9 h 15 min | 8:30 am MDT (14:30 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° |
| FSD | used from 100 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| ONL | used from 200 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| GRI | used from 349 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| GLD | used from 399 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| DEN | used from 549 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| PUB | used from 599 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° |
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 | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| ULM New Ulm, MN | 60 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,011 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MWM Windom, MN | 100 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,410 ft | 05:01 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 170 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 220 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| ONL O'Neill, NE | 279 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,033 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 319 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| LBF North Platte, NE | 399 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,777 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| IML Imperial, NE | 449 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,276 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 519 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 569 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 6,187 ft | 10:54 pm MDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:44 am MDT (11:44 UTC)
Wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for COS
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 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 COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COS is before sunrise there (7:04 am MDT (13:04 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, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.