Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to South Bend International MSP → SBN
357 nautical miles (410 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 120°, about 120° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; SBN is VFR, wind calm. 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: 772 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 TANGO 3W: 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 50 to 188 nm out.
- 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 last 30 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
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 40 nm southwest, 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 16,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb
- LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 46 nm southeast, 11:31 pm CDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. At the destination end, 46 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- over OLK
- Time
- 04:31 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- LJ45
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (MSP, LSE, DBQ, JOT, FWA). 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 30 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 2 h 41 min | 4:26 am EDT (08:26 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 2 h 39 min | 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | −12 kt | 13 °C | 132 kt | 2 h 42 min | 4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −9 kt | 9 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 46 min | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | −9 kt | 6 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 46 min | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 15 kt | −11 kt | 2 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 44 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | −15 kt | -3 °C | 135 kt | 2 h 39 min | 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | −19 kt | -7 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 34 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -8 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 33 min | 4:18 am EDT (08:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 28 kt | −22 kt | -20 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 31 min | 4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 34 kt | −27 kt | -34 °C | 147 kt | 2 h 26 min | 4:11 am EDT (08:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 43 kt | −38 kt | -44 °C | 158 kt | 2 h 16 min | 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 60 kt | −56 kt | -52 °C | 176 kt | 2 h 02 min | 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| LSE | used from 50 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| DBQ | used from 198 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| JOT | used from 248 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| FWA | used from 347 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -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 broken layer at 17,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 841 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| RGK Red Wing, MN | 40 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 778 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| ONA Winona, MN | 79 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| CMY Sparta, WI | 119 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 839 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| DLL Baraboo, WI | 168 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 980 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | 198 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ENW Kenosha, WI | 267 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 277 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 04:51 UTC |
| MGC Michigan City, IN | 337 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: mist | calm | 0.75 mi | 500 ft | 654 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | destination | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 798 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 980 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SBN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist IFR
The whole forecast for SBN
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for MSP, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest 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
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SBN is before sunrise there (7:53 am EDT (11:53 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, South Bend International.