Eppley Airfield to Williston Basin International OMA → XWA
535 nautical miles (615 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 324°, about 322° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:02 am CDT (07:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now OMA is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots; XWA is IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 12 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 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 first 69 nm of the route.
- 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 last 188 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 OMA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B789 at 35,000 ft, 5 nm east, 8:57 pm CDT (01:57 UTC): light turbulence. 446 nm along the route, 5 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK040030/TM 0157/FL350/TP B789/TB CONS LGT/ OCNL MOD CHOP/ NEG 370
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (040°) of DIK
- Time
- 01:57 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B789
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop no at 37,000 ft
- CRJ2 at 2,900 ft, 26 nm southwest, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 446 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest 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
- PA24 at 6,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC): light rime icing from 5,000 ft to 6,000 ft, 2 °C. At the destination end, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
XWA UA /OV XWA060040/TM 0048/FL060/TP PA24/TA 02/IC LGT RIME 060-050
- Report
- a routine report filed through XWA
- Where
- 40 nm northeast (060°) of XWA
- Time
- 00:48 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA24
- Temperature
- 2 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 6,000 ft to 5,000 ft
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 4 forecast points nearest it (OMA, FSD, PIR, DIK). 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 | 190° at 21 kt | −15 kt | 12 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 58 min | 2:02 am CDT (07:02 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 200° at 21 kt | −13 kt | 14 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 01 min | 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | −10 kt | 11 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 07 min | 2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −8 kt | 7 °C | 128 kt | 4 h 11 min | 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | −5 kt | 3 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 17 min | 2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −1 kt | -1 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 25 min | 2:29 am CDT (07:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | +2 kt | -6 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 32 min | 2:36 am CDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 33 kt | +5 kt | -9 °C | 115 kt | 4 h 39 min | 2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 37 kt | +6 kt | -21 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 42 min | 2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 41 kt | +11 kt | -36 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 54 min | 2:58 am CDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 48 kt | +18 kt | -42 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 15 min | 3:19 am CDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 58 kt | +27 kt | -48 °C | 93 kt | 5 h 45 min | 3:49 am CDT (08:49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| FSD | used from 99 nm out; 52 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 198 nm out; 58 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° | |
| DIK | used from 347 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMA Omaha, NE | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 984 ft | 9:52 pm CDT (02:52 UTC) |
| TQE Tekamah, NE | 30 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 69 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| YKN Yankton, SD | 119 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,305 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| MHE Mitchell, SD | 178 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,304 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| MKA Miller, SD | 238 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,569 ft | ||||
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 317 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 1,716 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| XWA Williston, ND | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (040°) at 12 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 2,356 ft | 9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,356 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At XWA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:02 am CDT (07:02 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for XWA
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
The forecast for OMA, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at OMA 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC), at XWA 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at XWA is before sunrise there (8:09 am CDT (13:09 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
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: Eppley Airfield, Williston Basin International.