Plan a flight · Sun 8:40 pm CDT (01:40 UTC)

Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Fairbanks International MSP → FAI

2,138 nautical miles (2,460 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 323°, about 323° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 17 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:55 am AKDT (18:55 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots; FAI is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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: 185 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 150 to 310 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

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
CRJ7 at 18,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent. 140 nm along the route, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR090050/TM 2341/FL180/TP CRJ7/SK BASE180-TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME 180-200/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
50 nm east (090°) of FAR
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASE180-TOP200
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
light rime from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
A320 descending, 43 nm southwest, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 36. 190 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0101/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC012-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
C56X at 1,300 ft, 43 nm southwest, 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. 190 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 8:02 pm CDT (01:02 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,800 ft, 11 °C, remarks: during the climb. 240 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK170008/TM 0102/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK OVC015-TOP048/TA 11/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
8 nm south (170°) of GFK
Time
01:02 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,800 ft
Temperature
11 °C
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ7 at 1,500 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. 250 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK090002/TM 0001/FL015/TP CRJ7/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
2 nm east (090°) of GFK
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
PC12 at 1,500 ft, 15 nm southwest, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft, 6 °C. 250 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK350001/TM 2345/FL015/TP PC12/SK OVC015/TA 06
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
1 nm north (350°) of GFK
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
Temperature
6 °C
B789 at 37,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 6:10 pm CDT (23:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 280 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK340040/TM 2310/FL370/TP B789/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
40 nm north (340°) of GFK
Time
23:10 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
light chop
C208 at 9,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 7:35 pm CDT (00:35 UTC): no icing above 9,000 ft, haze, snow, remarks: fai atct akfss. At the destination end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAI UA /OV PAFA315015 /TM 0035 /FL090 /TP C208 /WX HZ SN /IC NEG 090 /RM FAI ATCT AKFSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAI
Where
15 nm northwest (315°) of PAFA
Time
00:35 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
C208
Weather
haze, snow
Icing
no at 9,000 ft
Remarks
fai atct akfss

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 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, AXN, GFK, MOT, GGW, GPI, SEA). 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	050° at 8 kt	−3 kt	0 °C	123 kt	17 h 23 min	11:03 am AKDT (19:03 UTC)
6,500 ft	050° at 6 kt	−3 kt	2 °C	123 kt	17 h 23 min	11:03 am AKDT (19:03 UTC)
8,500 ft	110° at 2 kt	−3 kt	-1 °C	123 kt	17 h 23 min	11:03 am AKDT (19:03 UTC)
10,500 ft	170° at 1 kt	−4 kt	-4 °C	124 kt	17 h 15 min	10:55 am AKDT (18:55 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 1 kt	−4 kt	-7 °C	124 kt	17 h 15 min	10:55 am AKDT (18:55 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 4 kt	−3 kt	-10 °C	123 kt	17 h 23 min	11:03 am AKDT (19:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 6 kt	−2 kt	-13 °C	122 kt	17 h 31 min	11:11 am AKDT (19:11 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 9 kt	−1 kt	-15 °C	121 kt	17 h 40 min	11:20 am AKDT (19:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 20 kt	+7 kt	-24 °C	113 kt	18 h 55 min	12:35 pm AKDT (20:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 34 kt	+17 kt	-38 °C	103 kt	20 h 45 min	2:25 pm AKDT (22:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 35 kt	+19 kt	-44 °C	101 kt	21 h 10 min	2:50 pm AKDT (22:50 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 41 kt	+21 kt	-47 °C	99 kt	21 h 36 min	3:16 pm AKDT (23:16 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°
AXN	used from 50 nm out; 46 nm from the line	L/V	220/23 17°	230/24 12°	240/25 5°	260/32 -11°	260/40 -21°	270/50 -35°	270/57 -45°	270/81 -55°
GFK	used from 150 nm out; 73 nm from the line	050/18	L/V 10°	240/20 7°	240/36 1°	250/47 -11°	260/53 -21°	270/59 -36°	270/65 -47°	260/88 -56°
MOT	used from 350 nm out; 128 nm from the line		070/8 6°	180/7 2°	220/18 -1°	240/37 -11°	250/55 -20°	250/64 -36°	250/70 -46°	250/80 -54°
GGW	used from 649 nm out; 323 nm from the line		090/18 0°	140/12 -2°	150/13 -3°	200/35 -12°	230/56 -22°	240/75 -37°	240/81 -46°	240/78 -49°
GPI	used from 949 nm out; 522 nm from the line		060/19 -3°	110/11 -8°	130/6 -8°	200/40 -19°	190/58 -28°	200/101 -39°	220/73 -43°	230/41 -43°
SEA	used from 1398 nm out; 815 nm from the line	360/9	350/10 1°	010/10 -5°	030/20 -11°	020/60 -17°	010/86 -26°	360/90 -40°	010/68 -42°	360/31 -43°

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)
STC St Cloud, MN	50 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,030 ft	00:53 UTC
GFK Grand Forks, ND	250 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20	6 mi	700 ft	845 ft	00:53 UTC
CYDA Dawson City,	1908 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 4 knots	20 mi	10,000 ft	1,215 ft	23:00 UTC
CKX Chicken, AK	1978 nm out, 19 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,640 ft
FAI Fairbanks, AK	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	439 ft	4:53 pm AKDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,640 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FAI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:55 am AKDT (18:55 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FAI

From Sun 4:00 pm AKDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm AKDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am AKDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
At times between Mon 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC) and 10:00 am AKDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 700 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 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
6/4348 GRAND FORKS AFB, ND, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 260 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at FAI 6:39 pm AKDT (02:39 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:29 pm AKDT (03:29 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, Alaska · 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, Fairbanks International.