Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Monterey Regional MSP → MRY
1,385 nautical miles (1,594 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 259°, about 259° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 8:05 pm PDT (03:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; MRY is VFR, wind from the east (100°) 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: 1 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 30 to 558 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 508 to 688 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 578 to 618 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 608 to 1136 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 638 to 1136 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 239 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1226 to 1286 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
Not fetched just now.
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 12 forecast points nearest it (MSP, FSD, PIR, RAP, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC, ELY, BIH, FAT, SFO). 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 | 270° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 8 °C | 115 kt | 12 h 03 min | 8:05 pm PDT (03:05 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 8 kt | +7 kt | 11 °C | 113 kt | 12 h 15 min | 8:17 pm PDT (03:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 13 kt | +12 kt | 6 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 49 min | 8:51 pm PDT (03:51 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +15 kt | 2 °C | 105 kt | 13 h 11 min | 9:13 pm PDT (04:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +18 kt | -2 °C | 102 kt | 13 h 35 min | 9:37 pm PDT (04:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +20 kt | -6 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 51 min | 9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +22 kt | -10 °C | 98 kt | 14 h 08 min | 10:10 pm PDT (05:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 26 kt | +24 kt | -13 °C | 96 kt | 14 h 26 min | 10:28 pm PDT (05:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 38 kt | +36 kt | -24 °C | 84 kt | 16 h 29 min | 12:31 am PDT (07:31 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 48 kt | +47 kt | -33 °C | 73 kt | 18 h 58 min | 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 52 kt | +50 kt | -38 °C | 70 kt | 19 h 47 min | 3:49 am PDT (10:49 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 51 kt | +50 kt | -44 °C | 70 kt | 19 h 47 min | 3:49 am PDT (10:49 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° |
| FSD | used from 100 nm out; 59 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° |
| PIR | used from 249 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 300/15 10° | 270/10 10° | 220/18 4° | 220/36 -11° | 230/43 -21° | 240/48 -33° | 240/51 -37° | 240/55 -44° | |
| RAP | used from 349 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 310/18 6° | 270/15 6° | 260/20 2° | 240/28 -11° | 240/42 -23° | 240/47 -35° | 230/47 -36° | 240/56 -44° | |
| BFF | used from 448 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 310/15 | 280/27 8° | 250/27 2° | 230/30 -12° | 240/52 -22° | 250/66 -32° | 240/78 -37° | 240/76 -43° | |
| LND | used from 598 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 220/16 3° | 230/26 -1° | 210/30 -14° | 220/57 -26° | 220/60 -31° | 220/62 -38° | 220/52 -44° | ||
| RKS | used from 648 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 210/15 | 220/17 -1° | 220/32 -14° | 220/69 -25° | 220/70 -30° | 220/70 -39° | 220/56 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 797 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 180/7 | 200/22 2° | 200/30 -4° | 210/47 -16° | 200/73 -27° | 210/81 -32° | 210/71 -37° | 210/55 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 947 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 210/17 0° | 220/30 -6° | 190/50 -19° | 200/56 -28° | 210/76 -32° | 210/63 -37° | 210/59 -43° | ||
| BIH | used from 1096 nm out; 103 nm from the line | L/V | 340/7 -3° | L/V -8° | 250/15 -17° | 330/30 -24° | 270/23 -34° | 230/35 -39° | 230/39 -44° | |
| FAT | used from 1246 nm out; 45 nm from the line | L/V | 170/5 2° | 130/10 -4° | L/V -7° | 350/60 -11° | 340/62 -23° | 320/36 -38° | 270/25 -41° | 250/32 -44° |
| SFO | used from 1345 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 010/6 | 360/13 5° | 360/17 -3° | 350/39 -2° | 350/56 -11° | 350/57 -24° | 350/59 -40° | 340/50 -46° | 320/30 -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) |
| GYL Glencoe, MN | 40 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the east (100°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 992 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| BKX Brookings, SD | 159 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 300 ft | 1,647 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 339 nm out, 17 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 1.5 mi | 200 ft | 2,724 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 528 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 638 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 718 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 6,764 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | 857 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, overcast at 14,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| ELY Ely, NV | 1016 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 6,259 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| MMH Mammoth Lakes, CA | 1226 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 7,134 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| MER Atwater, CA | 1305 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 190 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| MRY Monterey, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,600 feet | from the east (100°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 256 ft | 7:54 am PDT (14:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,134 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MRY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:05 pm PDT (03:05 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MRY
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 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
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC on the route, 1256 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC), at MRY 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MRY is after sunset there (6:35 pm PDT (01:35 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, Monterey Regional.