Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport to Salt Lake City International MSP → SLC
859 nautical miles (989 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 260°, about 260° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC). Right now MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots; SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 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: 3,535 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 110 to 480 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 460 to 660 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 480 to 799 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 370 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 600 to 650 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 220 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 210 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
- B38M at 30,000 ft, 13 nm northwest, 12:45 am CDT (05:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 620 nm along the route, 13 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIW UA /OV BOY126080/TM 0545/FL300/TP B38M/TB CONS MOD CHOP /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIW
- Where
- 80 nm southeast (126°) of BOY
- Time
- 05:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate chop zlc
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 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, FSD, PIR, RAP, BFF, LND, RKS, SLC). 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 | 200° at 20 kt | +11 kt | 16 °C | 109 kt | 7 h 53 min | 9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +15 kt | 16 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 11 min | 10:16 am MDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 35 min | 10:40 am MDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +23 kt | 9 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 51 min | 10:56 am MDT (16:56 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +25 kt | 3 °C | 95 kt | 9 h 03 min | 11:08 am MDT (17:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 29 kt | +26 kt | -2 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 08 min | 11:13 am MDT (17:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -6 °C | 93 kt | 9 h 14 min | 11:19 am MDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | +28 kt | -10 °C | 92 kt | 9 h 20 min | 11:25 am MDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 36 kt | +34 kt | -22 °C | 86 kt | 9 h 59 min | 12:04 pm MDT (18:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 43 kt | +39 kt | -33 °C | 81 kt | 10 h 36 min | 12:41 pm MDT (18:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 51 kt | +50 kt | -39 °C | 70 kt | 12 h 16 min | 2:21 pm MDT (20:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 55 kt | +56 kt | -46 °C | 64 kt | 13 h 25 min | 3:30 pm MDT (21:30 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° |
| FSD | used from 100 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| PIR | used from 250 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 350 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 450 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| LND | used from 600 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 650 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 799 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -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 18,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 841 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| GYL Glencoe, MN | 40 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 992 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| BKX Brookings, SD | 160 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 1,647 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| HON Huron, SD | 220 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (360°) at 12 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 1,288 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 340 nm out, 23 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 2,724 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| IEN Pine Ridge, SD | 420 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,332 ft | ||||
| LSK Lusk, WY | 500 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,966 ft | ||||
| DGW Douglas, WY | 540 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,932 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 640 nm out, 21 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 | 719 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,900 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 6,764 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| FBR Fort Bridger, WY | 779 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,038 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 1:54 am MDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,038 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SLC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SLC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 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 SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm MDT (01:18 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, Salt Lake City International.