Plan a flight · Sun 8:45 pm CDT (01:45 UTC)

Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International MSP → CVG

518 nautical miles (596 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 130°, about 130° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 63-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots; CVG is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) 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: 4,189 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

B39M at 34,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
B39M at 35,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 319 nm along the route, 13 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
E170 at 23,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 408 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light
B744 climbing, 5 nm east, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. At the destination end, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
B737 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B739 climbing, 7 nm west, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
23:31 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
B026 overcast T036

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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, IND, CVG). 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 14 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	4 h 09 min	1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC)
5,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	3 h 54 min	1:39 am EDT (05:39 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 16 kt	−15 kt	13 °C	135 kt	3 h 50 min	1:35 am EDT (05:35 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−16 kt	9 °C	136 kt	3 h 49 min	1:34 am EDT (05:34 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	−16 kt	5 °C	136 kt	3 h 49 min	1:34 am EDT (05:34 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	−17 kt	1 °C	137 kt	3 h 47 min	1:32 am EDT (05:32 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	−18 kt	-4 °C	138 kt	3 h 45 min	1:30 am EDT (05:30 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−19 kt	-8 °C	139 kt	3 h 44 min	1:29 am EDT (05:29 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 20 kt	−20 kt	-9 °C	140 kt	3 h 42 min	1:27 am EDT (05:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 30 kt	−31 kt	-20 °C	151 kt	3 h 26 min	1:11 am EDT (05:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 43 kt	−44 kt	-36 °C	164 kt	3 h 10 min	12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 51 kt	−51 kt	-43 °C	171 kt	3 h 02 min	12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 63 kt	−63 kt	-50 °C	183 kt	2 h 50 min	12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	200/28	240/30 19°	240/24 12°	240/17 5°	270/24 -10°	270/33 -20°	280/48 -35°	290/55 -45°	280/84 -54°
LSE	used from 50 nm out; 30 nm from the line	220/33	250/29 17°	250/15 9°	260/12 6°	280/21 -9°	280/33 -20°	300/43 -36°	310/56 -45°	300/79 -53°
DBQ	used from 149 nm out; 43 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
JOT	used from 249 nm out; 26 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
IND	used from 348 nm out; 67 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
CVG	used from 498 nm out; 10 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -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 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	841 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
RGK Red Wing, MN	40 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	778 ft	01:35 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	100 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	00:53 UTC
OVS Boscobel, WI	149 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	672 ft	00:53 UTC
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	179 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	239 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	00:54 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	299 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	01:30 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	319 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	596 ft	00:50 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	388 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	00:54 UTC
AID Anderson, IN	438 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	919 ft	23:35 UTC
HLB Batesville, IN	488 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,000 feet	calm	7 mi	none	975 ft	01:35 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	896 ft	9:21 pm EDT (01:21 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,170 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CVG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CVG

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for MSP, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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 on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CVG is before sunrise there (7:45 am EDT (11:45 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, 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, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International.