Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport MSP → MEM
609 nautical miles (701 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 165°, about 165° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 31-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:01 pm CDT (19:01 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; MEM is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 3,152 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). Near the route, 360 nm along the route.
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, 7 nm southwest, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 140 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest 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
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 18 nm east, 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 180 nm along the route, 18 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CID UA /OV CID360010/TM 1225/FL320/TP A321/TB INTMT LGT CHOP CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through CID
- Where
- 10 nm north (360°) of CID
- Time
- 12:25 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop continuous light chop
- BE33 at 4,500 ft, 41 nm southwest, 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC): clear from 4,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: ZME65. At the destination end, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
UTA UA /OV UTA180015/TM 1305/FL045/TP BE33/SK SKC/RM ZME65
- Report
- a routine report filed through UTA
- Where
- 15 nm south (180°) of UTA
- Time
- 13:05 UTC
- Height
- at 4,500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE33
- Sky
- clear
- Remarks
- ZME65
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 8 forecast points nearest it (MSP, MCW, DBQ, BRL, COU, STL, CGI, MEM). 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 21 kt | +7 kt | 113 kt | 5 h 23 min | 3:22 pm CDT (20:22 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +8 kt | 112 kt | 5 h 26 min | 3:25 pm CDT (20:25 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +6 kt | 15 °C | 114 kt | 5 h 21 min | 3:20 pm CDT (20:20 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | +4 kt | 11 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 15 min | 3:14 pm CDT (20:14 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | 0 | 7 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 04 min | 3:03 pm CDT (20:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | −1 kt | 3 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 02 min | 3:01 pm CDT (20:01 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | −2 kt | -2 °C | 122 kt | 5 h | 2:59 pm CDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 28 kt | −4 kt | -7 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 55 min | 2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 28 kt | −4 kt | -8 °C | 124 kt | 4 h 55 min | 2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 37 kt | −9 kt | -19 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 43 min | 2:42 pm CDT (19:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 53 kt | −25 kt | -32 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 12 min | 2:11 pm CDT (19:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 58 kt | −31 kt | -38 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 02 min | 2:01 pm CDT (19:01 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 54 kt | −29 kt | -47 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 05 min | 2:04 pm CDT (19:04 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 50 nm out; 40 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° |
| DBQ | used from 150 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/32 19° | 250/35 11° | 260/37 5° | 270/35 -9° | 270/40 -21° | 270/43 -35° | 280/49 -37° | 280/58 -46° |
| BRL | used from 200 nm out; 46 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 300 nm out; 63 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° |
| STL | used from 350 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 240/25 | 240/21 15° | 260/21 12° | 270/21 7° | 280/25 -7° | 280/39 -19° | 290/65 -31° | 290/70 -38° | 290/59 -48° |
| CGI | used from 449 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/17 15° | 250/25 11° | 260/27 7° | 270/35 -7° | 280/38 -17° | 300/63 -31° | 300/62 -38° | 300/55 -49° |
| MEM | used from 549 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 240/14 | 260/23 16° | 250/22 11° | 250/20 7° | 270/24 -6° | 270/27 -16° | 310/49 -30° | 310/46 -39° | 320/43 -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 | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 841 ft | 9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC) |
| RST Rochester, MN | 60 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 7 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| CCY Charles City, IA | 110 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 17,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | none | 1,125 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 140 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 190 nm out, 18 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 13:52 UTC |
| EOK Keokuk, IA | 280 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 671 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| HAE Hannibal, MO | 320 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| SUS St Louis, MO | 389 nm out, 19 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 463 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| PYN Piedmont, MO | 479 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | no report just now | 466 ft | ||||
| POF Poplar Bluff, MO | 499 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 330 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| NQA Millington, TN | 589 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 322 ft | 15:50 UTC |
| MEM Memphis, TN | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MEM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:01 pm CDT (19:01 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MEM
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 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, Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport.