Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Columbia Regional MSP → COU
367 nautical miles (422 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 173°, about 173° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 5 knots; COU is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 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: 12 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 2W: 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 268 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
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 30 nm west, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 129 nm along the route, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 35 nm east (075°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:35 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 43 nm east, 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 178 nm along the route, 43 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CID UA /OV CID360010/TM 1225/FL320/TP A321/TB INTMT LGT CHOP CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through CID
- Where
- 10 nm north (360°) of CID
- Time
- 12:25 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop continuous light chop
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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, MCW, DSM, BRL, COU). 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 33 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 3 h 15 min | 11:24 am CDT (16:24 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +4 kt | 116 kt | 3 h 10 min | 11:19 am CDT (16:19 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +5 kt | 15 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 11 min | 11:20 am CDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +6 kt | 10 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 13 min | 11:22 am CDT (16:22 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +6 kt | 6 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 13 min | 11:22 am CDT (16:22 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 10 min | 11:19 am CDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | +2 kt | -3 °C | 118 kt | 3 h 07 min | 11:16 am CDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 23 kt | −1 kt | -7 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 02 min | 11:11 am CDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 23 kt | −1 kt | -8 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 02 min | 11:11 am CDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 35 kt | 0 | -20 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 04 min | 11:13 am CDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 44 kt | −4 kt | -35 °C | 124 kt | 2 h 58 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 56 kt | −14 kt | -39 °C | 134 kt | 2 h 44 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 61 kt | −19 kt | -48 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 38 min | 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| MCW | used from 50 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| DSM | used from 149 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| BRL | used from 248 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| COU | used from 297 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -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 few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 8 mi | none | 841 ft | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| LVN Minneapolis, MN | 20 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 960 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 59 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 7 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| CCY Charles City, IA | 109 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,125 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 139 nm out, 19 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| GGI Grinnell, IA | 188 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 1,008 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| OTM Ottumwa, IA | 228 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | no report just now | 845 ft | ||||
| TVK Centerville, IA | 248 nm out, 18 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,023 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| IRK Kirksville, MO | 288 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| MBY Moberly, MO | 327 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 866 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 7:54 am CDT (12:54 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 COU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:47 am CDT (15:47 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for COU
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, 347 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 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, Columbia Regional.