Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Newport News/Williamsburg International MSP → PHF
887 nautical miles (1,020 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 116°, about 116° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots; PHF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19. 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
- SIGMET 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 558 to 867 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 458 to 827 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 628 to 767 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 707 to 747 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 20:00–03:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, GRB, MKG, FWA, CMH, AGC, EKN, RIC). 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 | 220° at 12 kt | −3 kt | 123 kt | 7 h 13 min | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 13 kt | −10 kt | 13 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 49 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 11 kt | −10 kt | 12 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 49 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 9 kt | −8 kt | 8 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 56 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 8 kt | −7 kt | 5 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 59 min | 4:39 am EDT (08:39 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 1 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 53 min | 4:33 am EDT (08:33 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 13 kt | −12 kt | -4 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 43 min | 4:23 am EDT (08:23 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | −15 kt | -8 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 34 min | 4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 16 kt | −15 kt | -9 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 34 min | 4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 26 kt | −23 kt | -20 °C | 143 kt | 6 h 12 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 33 kt | −28 kt | -35 °C | 148 kt | 6 h | 3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 38 kt | −31 kt | -42 °C | 151 kt | 5 h 52 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 49 kt | −42 kt | -50 °C | 162 kt | 5 h 29 min | 3:09 am EDT (07:09 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° |
| LSE | used from 50 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 220/33 | 250/29 17° | 250/15 9° | 260/12 6° | 280/21 -9° | 280/33 -20° | 300/43 -36° | 310/56 -45° | 300/79 -53° |
| GRB | used from 199 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 240/24 | 260/18 16° | 270/20 11° | 290/14 4° | 280/24 -9° | 300/34 -21° | 310/51 -38° | 310/54 -48° | 300/71 -51° |
| MKG | used from 249 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -49° |
| FWA | used from 349 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| CMH | used from 498 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| AGC | used from 598 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| EKN | used from 648 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| RIC | used from 747 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
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) |
| RGK Red Wing, MN | 40 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 778 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| CMY Sparta, WI | 120 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 839 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| UES Waukesha, WI | 239 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 911 ft | 00:45 UTC |
| ENW Kenosha, WI | 269 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 369 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 4 mi | none | 777 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| MFD Mansfield, OH | 528 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 1,297 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| CDI Cambridge, OH | 598 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet Weather: light rain | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 798 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 668 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,223 ft | 01:18 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 777 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 500 ft | 640 ft | 01:28 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 837 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | 4,000 ft | 167 ft | 00:59 UTC |
| PHF Newport News, VA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 42 ft | 8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,297 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHF
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 2 miles, rain showers
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 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 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 PHF 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHF is before sunrise there (7:10 am EDT (11:10 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, Newport News/Williamsburg International.