Plan a flight · Mon 5:25 am MDT (11:25 UTC)

Montrose Regional to Raleigh-Durham International MTJ → RDU

1,395 nautical miles (1,606 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 087°, about 075° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 57-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:18 pm EDT (19:18 UTC). Right now MTJ is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 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 TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 199 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 159 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 30 nm of the route.
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). Near the route, at the departure end.
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 120 to 179 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 329 to 747 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 route from 987 to 1266 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1106 to 1286 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 1226 to 1315 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 1236 to 1306 nm out.
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 1286 to 1375 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 MTJ.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

E75L at 30,000 ft, 18 nm north, 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. At the destination end, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
```
Report
a routine report filed through RDU
Where
20 nm north (360°) of RDU
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at F300
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
A359 at 38,000 ft, 20 nm south, 4:13 am MDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. At the departure end, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
15 nm south (185°) of HBU
Time
10:13 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
A359
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-37
B737 at 36,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 5:14 am MDT (11:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 927 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVV UA /OV PXV225030/TM 1114/FL360/TP B737/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVV
Where
30 nm southwest (225°) of PXV
Time
11:14 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
E550 at 8,700 ft, 35 nm north, 4:30 am MDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 957 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVV
Where
over EVV
Time
10:30 UTC
Height
at 8,700 ft
Aircraft
E550
Sky
clear
Remarks
visual conditions clear during the climb
E75L at 33,000 ft, 37 nm south, 5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 1036 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA045040/TM 1109/FL330/TP E75L/TB NEG/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
40 nm northeast (045°) of BNA
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME62
CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 14 nm southwest, 4:10 am MDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 1216 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
booie
Time
10:10 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 26 nm south, 4:57 am MDT (10:57 UTC): remarks: mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28. 1306 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV BZM100026/TM 1057/FL350/TP BCS3/RM MOUNTAIN WAVE +/- 10KTS ZTLFD 28
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
26 nm east (100°) of BZM
Time
10:57 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
mountain wave + 10 knots ztlfd 28

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 17 forecast points nearest it (GJT, ALS, PUB, GLD, GCK, SLN, MKC, SGF, COU, STL, CGI, EVV, LOU, TYS, TRI, ROA, RDU). 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	260° at 27 kt	−26 kt		146 kt	9 h 33 min	4:58 pm EDT (20:58 UTC)
5,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	−21 kt	15 °C	141 kt	9 h 54 min	5:19 pm EDT (21:19 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 20 kt	−21 kt	13 °C	141 kt	9 h 54 min	5:19 pm EDT (21:19 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	−19 kt	10 °C	139 kt	10 h 02 min	5:27 pm EDT (21:27 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 18 kt	−19 kt	6 °C	139 kt	10 h 02 min	5:27 pm EDT (21:27 UTC)
13,500 ft	260° at 20 kt	−22 kt	2 °C	142 kt	9 h 49 min	5:14 pm EDT (21:14 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 23 kt	−25 kt	-2 °C	145 kt	9 h 37 min	5:02 pm EDT (21:02 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 26 kt	−27 kt	-6 °C	147 kt	9 h 29 min	4:54 pm EDT (20:54 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 27 kt	−28 kt	-7 °C	148 kt	9 h 26 min	4:51 pm EDT (20:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 32 kt	−34 kt	-19 °C	154 kt	9 h 04 min	4:29 pm EDT (20:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 49 kt	−52 kt	-31 °C	172 kt	8 h 07 min	3:32 pm EDT (19:32 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 55 kt	−57 kt	-38 °C	177 kt	7 h 53 min	3:18 pm EDT (19:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 51 kt	−53 kt	-49 °C	173 kt	8 h 04 min	3:29 pm EDT (19:29 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
GJT	used from 0 nm out; 65 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°
ALS	used from 50 nm out; 70 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
PUB	used from 100 nm out; 39 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
GLD	used from 249 nm out; 51 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
GCK	used from 299 nm out; 39 nm from the line		240/40 22°	240/40 14°	240/38 7°	230/39 -7°	230/45 -20°	250/73 -28°	260/74 -36°	260/64 -49°
SLN	used from 399 nm out; 60 nm from the line	230/49	240/41 22°	230/26 15°	220/21 7°	240/38 -8°	240/44 -21°	260/77 -29°	270/70 -36°	270/63 -48°
MKC	used from 548 nm out; 72 nm from the line	240/49	240/21 20°	220/19 13°	230/21 6°	260/26 -7°	250/37 -19°	270/66 -31°	270/65 -38°	280/60 -48°
SGF	used from 648 nm out; 55 nm from the line	230/37	260/20 15°	250/16 13°	250/15 8°	260/28 -7°	250/31 -17°	280/59 -31°	280/59 -39°	290/55 -50°
COU	used from 698 nm out; 49 nm from the line	250/36	260/14 16°	250/5 12°	260/12 6°	260/24 -7°	260/35 -19°	280/58 -31°	280/62 -40°	290/60 -49°
STL	used from 797 nm out; 56 nm from the line	250/26	240/21 15°	240/22 11°	250/23 6°	270/28 -7°	260/30 -19°	280/52 -31°	280/57 -40°	300/57 -49°
CGI	used from 847 nm out; 29 nm from the line	260/22	250/15 15°	250/13 11°	250/16 6°	270/29 -7°	280/30 -18°	290/40 -31°	290/55 -40°	300/51 -51°
EVV	used from 897 nm out; 50 nm from the line	270/25	290/17 15°	260/10 8°	270/16 5°	280/29 -6°	280/33 -19°	290/38 -33°	300/53 -41°	310/54 -51°
LOU	used from 997 nm out; 65 nm from the line	300/16	310/19 15°	310/17 9°	300/15 4°	300/26 -6°	280/34 -19°	290/30 -34°	310/49 -42°	310/58 -51°
TYS	used from 1096 nm out; 70 nm from the line	330/16	350/32 14°	350/37 9°	340/30 5°	330/28 -6°	340/36 -19°	330/40 -33°	330/51 -41°	330/36 -51°
TRI	used from 1146 nm out; 46 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
ROA	used from 1296 nm out; 69 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
RDU	used from 1345 nm out; 25 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -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
MTJ Montrose, CO	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,758 ft	4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC)
ANK Salida, CO	90 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	7,523 ft	11:15 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	149 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	10:54 UTC
TQK Scott City, KS	329 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	2,968 ft	11:15 UTC
SLN Salina, KS	478 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	1,288 ft	10:53 UTC
UKL Burlington, KS	568 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,174 ft	11:15 UTC
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO	747 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,159 ft	10:55 UTC
MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL	877 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	411 ft	10:52 UTC
OWB Owensboro, KY	977 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	407 ft	10:56 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	1216 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	1,518 ft	11:00 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	1335 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	925 ft	10:54 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,523 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:18 pm EDT (19:18 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for MTJ, the departure

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 120 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at MTJ 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Montrose Regional, Raleigh-Durham International.