Plan a flight · Sun 10:26 pm EDT (02:26 UTC)

Miami-Opa Locka Executive to Helena Regional OPF → HLN

1,952 nautical miles (2,247 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 318°, about 324° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 12:59 pm MDT (18:59 UTC). Right now OPF is VFR, wind calm; HLN is IFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 2 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 8W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1574 to 1733 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO MT WY
FROM 40N SHR-60WNW RAP-20ENE CYS-30SW CYS-10NW BOY-40N SHR
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.

AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 299 to 478 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 1056 to 1285 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 468 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1604 to 1833 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 1663 to 1673 nm out.
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 279 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 239 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1723 to 1813 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 16,000 ft. 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 OPF.

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

UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 1355 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B738 at 19,000 ft, 50 nm northeast, 8:21 pm EDT (00:21 UTC): light chop turbulence above 19,000 ft. At the departure end, 50 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PBI UA /OV PBI344028/TM 0021/FL190/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP 190
```
Report
a routine report filed through PBI
Where
28 nm north (344°) of PBI
Time
00:21 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 19,000 ft
C172 at 4,000 ft, 41 nm northeast, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): clear from 4,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 120 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MLB UA /OV MLB252035/TM 2330/FL040/TP C172/SK SKC 040
```
Report
a routine report filed through MLB
Where
35 nm west (252°) of MLB
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
clear from 4,000 ft
PC12 at 19,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 8:09 pm EDT (00:09 UTC): light rime icing, -7 °C. 129 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MCO UA /OV ORL180030/TM 0009/FL190/TP PC12/TA M07/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through MCO
Where
30 nm south (180°) of ORL
Time
00:09 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−7 °C
Icing
light rime
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 7:38 pm EDT (23:38 UTC): light rime icing, -8 °C. 199 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF180020/TM 2338/FL200/TP PC12/TA M08/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
20 nm south (180°) of OCF
Time
23:38 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−8 °C
Icing
light rime
E170 at 32,000 ft, 44 nm northeast, 8:07 pm EDT (00:07 UTC): light turbulence. 289 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CTY UA /OV CTY320030/TM 0007/FL320/TP E170/TB CONS LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through CTY
Where
30 nm northwest (320°) of CTY
Time
00:07 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light
B39M at 35,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): no turbulence. 329 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH120020/TM 2351/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
20 nm southeast (120°) of TLH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
A321 at 34,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 349 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH/TM 0001/FL340/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
over TLH
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
occasional light chop
B747 at 33,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 9:02 pm EDT (01:02 UTC): no turbulence. 359 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH360025/TM 0102/FL330/TP B747/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
25 nm north (360°) of TLH
Time
01:02 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B747
Turbulence
none
B739 at 36,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC): light chop turbulence. 388 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH345045/TM 2344/FL360/TP B739/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
45 nm north (345°) of TLH
Time
23:44 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light chop
C750 at 43,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 827 nm along the route, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LIT
Where
25 nm north (360°) of LIT
Time
00:50 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
Remarks
zme
B789 at 40,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 1375 nm along the route, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 48 nm southwest, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 1385 nm along the route, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
BE20 at 15,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC): -5 °C, remarks: clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31. 1604 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CUT UA /OV ECS340020/TM 0156/FL150/TP BE20/TA M05/IC T RIME 150-180/RM CLR OUT AT 220 ZDVWC-31
```
Report
a routine report filed through CUT
Where
20 nm north (340°) of ECS
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
T rime from 15,000 ft to 18,000 ft
Remarks
clear out at at 22,000 ft ZDVWC-31

3 more routine reports are on the map.

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 16 forecast points nearest it (MIA, PIE, TLH, MGM, BHM, MEM, LIT, SGF, MKC, SLN, GRI, BFF, RAP, MLS, BIL, GTF). 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	230° at 12 kt	+2 kt	15 °C	118 kt	16 h 33 min	12:59 pm MDT (18:59 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 10 kt	+4 kt	16 °C	116 kt	16 h 50 min	1:16 pm MDT (19:16 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 12 kt	+7 kt	13 °C	113 kt	17 h 16 min	1:42 pm MDT (19:42 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 13 kt	+6 kt	8 °C	114 kt	17 h 07 min	1:33 pm MDT (19:33 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 15 kt	+6 kt	5 °C	114 kt	17 h 07 min	1:33 pm MDT (19:33 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	+7 kt	0 °C	113 kt	17 h 16 min	1:42 pm MDT (19:42 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	+9 kt	-4 °C	111 kt	17 h 35 min	2:01 pm MDT (20:01 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 22 kt	+10 kt	-8 °C	110 kt	17 h 45 min	2:11 pm MDT (20:11 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 24 kt	+13 kt	-19 °C	107 kt	18 h 15 min	2:41 pm MDT (20:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 31 kt	+20 kt	-33 °C	100 kt	19 h 31 min	3:57 pm MDT (21:57 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 39 kt	+29 kt	-40 °C	91 kt	21 h 27 min	5:53 pm MDT (23:53 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 39 kt	+29 kt	-49 °C	91 kt	21 h 27 min	5:53 pm MDT (23:53 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
MIA	used from 0 nm out; 30 nm from the line	150/7	140/5 17°	160/5 14°	L/V 9°	230/8 -5°	230/8 -17°	150/11 -32°	150/25 -41°	180/29 -51°
PIE	used from 100 nm out; 53 nm from the line	350/6	L/V 18°	290/6 14°	280/9 9°	250/18 -6°	250/23 -17°	240/30 -31°	220/31 -41°	220/30 -52°
TLH	used from 249 nm out; 75 nm from the line	320/18	350/31 18°	340/24 13°	310/17 8°	280/22 -7°	300/25 -17°	320/28 -33°	320/24 -41°	320/25 -50°
MGM	used from 398 nm out; 82 nm from the line	310/19	340/24 17°	340/28 11°	330/16 7°	300/23 -7°	320/32 -16°	330/46 -33°	330/55 -42°	330/41 -50°
BHM	used from 548 nm out; 74 nm from the line	310/19	330/20 17°	320/28 11°	340/21 6°	310/22 -7°	330/33 -17°	330/50 -32°	330/57 -41°	330/41 -50°
MEM	used from 647 nm out; 75 nm from the line	230/19	260/16 15°	270/17 12°	300/13 6°	300/15 -5°	300/26 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/41 -40°	310/46 -52°
LIT	used from 797 nm out; 62 nm from the line	220/21	230/17 16°	250/24 12°	260/15 7°	260/13 -5°	280/25 -16°	290/35 -30°	300/42 -40°	300/40 -52°
SGF	used from 847 nm out; 83 nm from the line	230/33	230/28 15°	250/20 13°	240/18 7°	250/20 -6°	250/24 -17°	280/42 -31°	280/49 -40°	290/46 -51°
MKC	used from 1046 nm out; 64 nm from the line	220/44	250/28 18°	250/18 13°	240/12 6°	280/24 -6°	240/34 -18°	260/47 -30°	260/51 -40°	270/58 -50°
SLN	used from 1096 nm out; 63 nm from the line	210/53	230/41 20°	240/26 14°	230/16 8°	240/25 -7°	240/35 -19°	250/61 -30°	260/65 -38°	260/56 -49°
GRI	used from 1245 nm out; 42 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
BFF	used from 1395 nm out; 94 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°
RAP	used from 1544 nm out; 69 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°
MLS	used from 1644 nm out; 134 nm from the line		150/23 2°	190/29 4°	210/44 2°	220/32 -10°	210/36 -21°	200/48 -37°	230/63 -40°	240/71 -47°
BIL	used from 1693 nm out; 91 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
GTF	used from 1893 nm out; 70 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -44°

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
OPF Miami, FL	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	8 ft	9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC)
TPA Tampa, FL	169 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	26 ft	01:53 UTC
MAI Marianna, FL	388 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	110 ft	01:53 UTC
SEM Selma, AL	518 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the east (080°) at 27 knots, gusting to 37		3,300 ft	166 ft	01:30 UTC
GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS	628 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	264 ft	01:56 UTC
BBG Branson, MO	916 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,302 ft	02:15 UTC
MHK Manhattan, KS	1146 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	1,066 ft	01:52 UTC
CYW Clay Center, KS	1175 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				1,208 ft
CDR Chadron, NE	1514 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	3,297 ft	01:53 UTC
BYG Buffalo, WY	1693 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east (080°) at 3 knots	4 mi	200 ft	4,970 ft	01:53 UTC
LVM Livingston, MT	1873 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the east (090°) at 15 knots	1.75 mi	400 ft	4,659 ft	02:23 UTC
HLN Helena, MT	destination	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the west (280°) at 8 knots	1.25 mi	1,400 ft	3,877 ft	7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,970 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At HLN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:59 pm MDT (18:59 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for HLN

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 24, visibility ¾ mile, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility 1½ miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

The forecast for OPF, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet

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 OPF 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at HLN 6:46 pm MDT (00:46 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm MDT (01:17 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Miami-Opa Locka Executive, Helena Regional.