Plan a flight · Sun 8:10 pm CDT (01:10 UTC)

Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Missoula Montana Airport MSP → MSO

878 nautical miles (1,010 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:52 am MDT (07:52 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots; MSO is marginal VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 3 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: 1,007 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 140 to 150 nm out.
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 349 to 868 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 449 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 219 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the last 10 nm of 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

E75L at 14,000 ft, 24 nm south, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. At the destination end, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV 32S/TM 2322/FL140/TP E75L/TB MOD 140-210/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over 32S
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zlc
B39M at 34,000 ft, 27 nm south, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
B39M at 35,000 ft, 31 nm south, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 229 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABR UA /OV ABR230015/TM 2328/FL350/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABR
Where
15 nm southwest (230°) of ABR
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
CRJ2 at 2,900 ft, 33 nm north, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 419 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 0005/FL029/TP CRJ2/SK BASE029
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
over DIK
Time
00:05 UTC
Height
at 2,900 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
BASE029
BE20 at 3,000 ft, 33 nm north, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 419 nm along the route, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2256/FL030/TP BE20/SK BASE031/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
over DIK
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
BASE031
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
C25B at 4,100 ft, 1 nm southeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,100 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. At the destination end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0036/FL041/TP C25B/SK OVC041/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,100 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
overcast from 4,100 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 8 forecast points nearest it (MSP, AXN, ABR, DIK, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI). 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	100° at 11 kt	−11 kt	5 °C	131 kt	6 h 42 min	1:52 am MDT (07:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	130° at 8 kt	−8 kt	10 °C	128 kt	6 h 52 min	2:02 am MDT (08:02 UTC)
8,500 ft	180° at 10 kt	−2 kt	8 °C	122 kt	7 h 12 min	2:22 am MDT (08:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	210° at 16 kt	+5 kt	2 °C	115 kt	7 h 38 min	2:48 am MDT (08:48 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	+11 kt	0 °C	109 kt	8 h 03 min	3:13 am MDT (09:13 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+16 kt	-4 °C	104 kt	8 h 27 min	3:37 am MDT (09:37 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	+20 kt	-8 °C	100 kt	8 h 47 min	3:57 am MDT (09:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 36 kt	+24 kt	-11 °C	96 kt	9 h 09 min	4:19 am MDT (10:19 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 45 kt	+32 kt	-21 °C	88 kt	9 h 59 min	5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 52 kt	+33 kt	-36 °C	87 kt	10 h 06 min	5:16 am MDT (11:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 61 kt	+47 kt	-44 °C	73 kt	12 h 02 min	7:12 am MDT (13:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 70 kt	+62 kt	-50 °C	58 kt	15 h 08 min	10:18 am MDT (16:18 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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	200/28	240/30 19°	240/24 12°	240/17 5°	270/24 -10°	270/33 -20°	280/48 -35°	290/55 -45°	280/84 -54°
AXN	used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line	L/V	220/23 17°	230/24 12°	240/25 5°	260/32 -11°	260/40 -21°	270/50 -35°	270/57 -45°	270/81 -55°
ABR	used from 150 nm out; 51 nm from the line	030/24	220/5 16°	230/18 12°	230/32 5°	240/38 -10°	250/37 -20°	240/40 -35°	240/56 -44°	250/72 -52°
DIK	used from 299 nm out; 96 nm from the line		110/15 6°	200/17 5°	230/31 1°	240/47 -10°	240/52 -20°	230/52 -36°	240/57 -45°	250/67 -51°
MLS	used from 499 nm out; 18 nm from the line		120/22 5°	170/18 4°	200/33 1°	230/49 -10°	230/58 -21°	220/54 -37°	230/64 -44°	250/74 -49°
BIL	used from 599 nm out; 61 nm from the line		080/24	130/14 -1°	180/33 0°	210/43 -10°	220/58 -21°	200/55 -36°	220/75 -44°	240/83 -48°
GTF	used from 698 nm out; 58 nm from the line		070/21	080/18 -6°	120/5 -5°	180/30 -14°	200/53 -24°	210/80 -38°	220/83 -44°	230/68 -46°
GPI	used from 848 nm out; 87 nm from the line		060/19 -3°	110/11 -8°	130/6 -8°	200/40 -19°	190/58 -28°	200/101 -39°	220/73 -43°	230/41 -43°

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-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	841 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
LJF Litchfield, MN	60 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	1,139 ft	00:55 UTC
BBB Benson, MN	110 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,039 ft	01:05 UTC
BTN Britton, SD	200 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	1,318 ft	00:50 UTC
ASY Ashley, ND	269 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				2,034 ft
BWW Bowman, ND	429 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the east-northeast (060°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20	3 mi	400 ft	2,965 ft	23:35 UTC
BHK Baker, MT	469 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the east (100°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	2,980 ft	00:51 UTC
MLS Miles City, MT	539 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-northeast (060°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	2,634 ft	00:53 UTC
LWT Lewistown, MT	688 nm out, 15 nm north of the line	no report just now				4,170 ft
HLN Helena, MT	788 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots	1 mi	1,200 ft	3,877 ft	01:01 UTC
MSO Missoula, MT	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east (080°) at 3 knots	4 mi	2,600 ft	3,205 ft	6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,170 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:52 am MDT (07:52 UTC)

Wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for MSO

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
At times between Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain snow, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 2,500 feet
30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet

The forecast for MSP, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 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 16 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 MSO 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm MDT (01:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSO is before sunrise there (7:49 am MDT (13:49 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 northern Rockies · 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, Missoula Montana Airport.