Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Bill And Hillary Clinton Ntl/Adams Field MSP → LIT
611 nautical miles (703 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 175°, about 175° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind calm; LIT is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- 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 route from 197 to 454 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
- P46T at 31,000 ft, 20 nm east, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 138 nm along the route, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALO UA /OV ALO270005/TM 1337/FL310/TP P46T/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALO
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of ALO
- Time
- 13:37 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P46T
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop
- PA28 at 3,000 ft, 18 nm east, 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC): remarks: wind shear at at 3,000 ft, 8 west of cou put aircraft in 45 degree bank no damage no injuries. 365 nm along the route, 18 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
COU UA /OV KCOU/TM 1522/FL030/TP PA28/RM WIND SHEAR AT 030, 8 WEST OF COU. PUT ACFT IN 45 DEGREE BANK. NO DAMAGE NO INJURIES
- Report
- a routine report filed through COU
- Where
- over KCOU
- Time
- 15:22 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA28
- Remarks
- wind shear at at 3,000 ft, 8 west of cou put aircraft in 45 degree bank no damage no injuries
- P28A at 4,000 ft, 40 nm west, 10:03 am CDT (15:03 UTC): light turbulence up to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the climb smooth up at at 4,000 ft. 493 nm along the route, 40 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BBG UA /OV KPLK /TM 1503 /FL040 /TP P28A /TB OCNL LGT BLO 030/NEG 040 /RM DURC SMOOTH UP AT 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through BBG
- Where
- over KPLK
- Time
- 15:03 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P28A
- Turbulence
- occasional light below 030/NEG at 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb smooth up at at 4,000 ft
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (MSP, MCW, DSM, BRL, COU, SGF, LIT). 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 | 230° at 24 kt | +14 kt | 106 kt | 5 h 46 min | 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +14 kt | 106 kt | 5 h 46 min | 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +13 kt | 15 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 43 min | 5:04 pm CDT (22:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +11 kt | 11 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 36 min | 4:57 pm CDT (21:57 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +8 kt | 7 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 27 min | 4:48 pm CDT (21:48 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | +7 kt | 3 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 24 min | 4:45 pm CDT (21:45 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | +6 kt | -2 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 22 min | 4:43 pm CDT (21:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | +5 kt | -7 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 19 min | 4:40 pm CDT (21:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 29 kt | +4 kt | -8 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 16 min | 4:37 pm CDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 37 kt | +4 kt | -19 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 16 min | 4:37 pm CDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 57 kt | −14 kt | -31 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 34 min | 3:55 pm CDT (20:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 61 kt | −19 kt | -37 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 24 min | 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 54 kt | −18 kt | -48 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 26 min | 3:47 pm CDT (20:47 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; 32 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° |
| DSM | used from 148 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/34 | 230/32 20° | 220/33 12° | 240/35 5° | 250/39 -7° | 250/43 -21° | 280/61 -31° | 280/73 -37° | 280/67 -47° |
| BRL | used from 246 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 240/28 | 240/25 18° | 250/26 12° | 260/29 5° | 260/24 -8° | 270/36 -20° | 280/57 -33° | 290/65 -37° | 290/54 -46° |
| COU | used from 296 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 240/28 | 240/22 17° | 250/18 12° | 260/22 6° | 270/23 -7° | 260/39 -19° | 290/70 -30° | 290/71 -37° | 290/58 -48° |
| SGF | used from 444 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/29 16° | 240/21 13° | 240/15 7° | 270/28 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 280/67 -29° | 290/59 -37° | 290/51 -49° |
| LIT | used from 542 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 230/23 | 250/23 17° | 250/18 11° | 250/18 7° | 250/27 -7° | 270/23 -15° | 290/50 -30° | 300/43 -38° | 320/38 -50° |
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 | calm | 9 mi | none | 841 ft | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| LVN Minneapolis, MN | 20 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 960 ft | 16:15 UTC |
| AUM Austin, MN | 79 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,233 ft | 16:15 UTC |
| MIW Marshalltown, IA | 168 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 974 ft | 15:53 UTC |
| PEA Pella, IA | 207 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 885 ft | 16:15 UTC |
| TVK Centerville, IA | 256 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Weather: haze | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots | 6 mi | none | 1,023 ft | 15:55 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 365 nm out, 18 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 15:54 UTC |
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 385 nm out, 20 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 15:53 UTC |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 434 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 15:55 UTC |
| BPK Mountain Home, AR | 513 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 928 ft | 15:53 UTC |
| CCA Clinton, AR | 562 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 513 ft | 16:15 UTC |
| LIT Little Rock, AR | destination | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 266 ft | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,233 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LIT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:45 pm CDT (20:45 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LIT
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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 22 nm from the route, 345 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 LIT 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 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, Bill And Hillary Clinton Ntl/Adams Field.