Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Central Nebraska Regional MSP → GRI
324 nautical miles (373 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 225°, about 225° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 1:06 pm CDT (18:06 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; GRI is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 12 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 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 49 to 118 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
- SF50 at 13,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 8:36 am CDT (13:36 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 13,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 41 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RWF UA /OV RWF/TM 1336/FL130/TP SF50/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through RWF
- Where
- over RWF
- Time
- 13:36 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- BE36 at 6,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC): no turbulence. 88 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FRM UA /OV FRM/TM 1312/FL060/TP BE36/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through FRM
- Where
- over FRM
- Time
- 13:12 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Turbulence
- none
- B38M at 39,000 ft, 39 nm southwest, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
HSI UA /OV HSI270030/TM 1243/FL390/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through HSI
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of HSI
- Time
- 12:43 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (MSP, MCW, FSD, OMA, GRI). 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 | 240° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 19 °C | 103 kt | 3 h 09 min | 1:06 pm CDT (18:06 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 18 °C | 97 kt | 3 h 20 min | 1:17 pm CDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +30 kt | 14 °C | 90 kt | 3 h 36 min | 1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +33 kt | 10 °C | 87 kt | 3 h 43 min | 1:40 pm CDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | +34 kt | 5 °C | 86 kt | 3 h 46 min | 1:43 pm CDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 35 kt | +35 kt | 0 °C | 85 kt | 3 h 49 min | 1:46 pm CDT (18:46 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 36 kt | +35 kt | -5 °C | 85 kt | 3 h 49 min | 1:46 pm CDT (18:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 37 kt | +36 kt | -9 °C | 84 kt | 3 h 51 min | 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 46 kt | +43 kt | -21 °C | 77 kt | 4 h 12 min | 2:09 pm CDT (19:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 57 kt | +47 kt | -31 °C | 73 kt | 4 h 26 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 66 kt | +51 kt | -37 °C | 69 kt | 4 h 42 min | 2:39 pm CDT (19:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 62 kt | +47 kt | -47 °C | 73 kt | 4 h 26 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | 140/8 | 210/22 19° | 230/31 13° | 240/31 5° | 240/29 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/46 -38° | 270/55 -47° |
| MCW | used from 49 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 220/19 | 210/29 20° | 230/35 13° | 250/35 5° | 250/33 -9° | 260/44 -21° | 260/46 -33° | 270/58 -37° | 270/59 -46° |
| FSD | used from 98 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 260/9 | 210/16 18° | 220/27 14° | 230/28 6° | 240/39 -9° | 240/48 -22° | 260/52 -32° | 260/61 -38° | 260/60 -46° |
| OMA | used from 197 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/23 | 240/34 20° | 230/40 14° | 220/43 7° | 240/38 -8° | 250/47 -21° | 270/70 -29° | 270/79 -36° | 270/68 -48° |
| GRI | used from 246 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 270/26 19° | 230/33 13° | 230/39 8° | 230/43 -9° | 240/55 -21° | 250/76 -28° | 260/84 -36° | 260/68 -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 few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 841 ft | 9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC) |
| FBL Faribault, MN | 29 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,060 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| JYG St James, MN | 79 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 1 mi | 200 ft | 1,067 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| MJQ Jackson, MN | 108 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,445 ft | 14:36 UTC |
| SHL Sheldon, IA | 147 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,419 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| LRJ Le Mars, IA | 177 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,197 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 206 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 14:52 UTC |
| OFK Norfolk, NE | 256 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Weather: haze | variable at 3 knots | 5 mi | none | 1,572 ft | 13:56 UTC |
| BVN Albion, NE | 285 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,806 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,847 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GRI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:06 pm CDT (18:06 UTC)
Wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for GRI
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 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
Daylight
Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at GRI 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm CDT (00:25 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, Central Nebraska Regional.