Plan a flight · Sun 9:41 pm CDT (02:41 UTC)

Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Blue Grass Airport MSP → LEX

564 nautical miles (649 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 134°, about 134° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 52-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:58 am EDT (05:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 knots; LEX is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 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: 23 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.

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

A321 at 32,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 238 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
B39M at 35,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 317 nm along the route, 36 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
A21N at 17,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 475 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
45 nm south (183°) of IND
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
clear
Icing
none
Remarks
clear since departing KIND southbound
B744 climbing, 41 nm northeast, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 505 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast 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, 35 nm northeast, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 515 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast 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
B38M at 21,000 ft, 32 nm southwest, 8:09 pm CDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 535 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over IIU
Time
01:09 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018

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 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, LOU). 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 22 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	4 h 20 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
5,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	4 h 13 min	2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC)
7,500 ft	280° at 17 kt	−14 kt	13 °C	134 kt	4 h 13 min	2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC)
9,500 ft	290° at 14 kt	−13 kt	9 °C	133 kt	4 h 14 min	2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−10 kt	5 °C	130 kt	4 h 20 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 14 kt	−12 kt	1 °C	132 kt	4 h 16 min	2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	−15 kt	-3 °C	135 kt	4 h 11 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	−18 kt	-7 °C	138 kt	4 h 05 min	2:46 am EDT (06:46 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 22 kt	−19 kt	-8 °C	139 kt	4 h 03 min	2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 26 kt	−23 kt	-20 °C	143 kt	3 h 57 min	2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 33 kt	−31 kt	-34 °C	151 kt	3 h 44 min	2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 46 kt	−43 kt	-43 °C	163 kt	3 h 28 min	2:09 am EDT (06:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 55 kt	−52 kt	-51 °C	172 kt	3 h 17 min	1:58 am EDT (05:58 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°
LSE	used from 49 nm out; 32 nm from the line	230/40	240/24 17°	240/13 10°	250/13 6°	280/22 -9°	250/28 -21°	250/41 -34°	260/42 -44°	270/62 -53°
DBQ	used from 148 nm out; 31 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
JOT	used from 247 nm out; 31 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
IND	used from 346 nm out; 66 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
LOU	used from 495 nm out; 30 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -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 broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	841 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
RGK Red Wing, MN	40 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	778 ft	02:35 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	99 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	01:53 UTC
OVS Boscobel, WI	148 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	672 ft	01:53 UTC
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	178 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	238 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	01:54 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	297 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	02:10 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	386 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	01:54 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	436 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	796 ft	01:54 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	465 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	656 ft	01:45 UTC
FFT Frankfort, KY	544 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	812 ft	01:53 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist	from the west (270°) at 4 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	979 ft	9:54 pm EDT (01:54 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 LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:58 am EDT (05:58 UTC)

Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LEX

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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, Blue Grass Airport.