Portland International to Idaho Falls Regional PDX → IDA
467 nautical miles (537 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 102°, about 086° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 25-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:04 pm MDT (04:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDX is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots; IDA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 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: 238 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 W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 71W VALID UNTIL 0155Z WY UT ID FROM 40S DBS-40WNW BPI-30WSW MTU-30SSW DTA-30SE TWF-40S DBS AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 20040KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 248 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 348 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 219 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 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 129 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 PDX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E75L at 10,000 ft, 25 nm north, 3:04 pm PDT (22:04 UTC): moderate rime icing, -9 °C, remarks: from 10,000 ft to 7,500 ft during the descent. At the departure end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PDX UA /OV PDX360025/TM 2204/FL100/TP E75L/TA M9/IC MOD RIME /RM 100-075 DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PDX
- Where
- 25 nm north (360°) of PDX
- Time
- 22:04 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- moderate rime
- Remarks
- from 10,000 ft to 7,500 ft during the descent
- C182 at 8,000 ft, 12 nm north, 3:52 pm PDT (22:52 UTC): light rime icing, -2 °C. At the departure end, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PDX UA /OV PDX040017/TM 2252/FL080/TP C182/TA M02/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through PDX
- Where
- 17 nm northeast (040°) of PDX
- Time
- 22:52 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C182
- Temperature
- −2 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- C210 at 9,000 ft, 15 nm north, 3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC): light rime icing, -13 °C, remarks: base 080-ZSE. 119 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PDT UA /OV PDT230040/TM 2251/FL090/TP C210/TA M13/IC LGT RIME/RM BASE 080-ZSE
- Report
- a routine report filed through PDT
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (230°) of PDT
- Time
- 22:51 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C210
- Temperature
- −13 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- base 080-ZSE
- E550 at 21,000 ft, 31 nm south, 4:27 pm PDT (23:27 UTC): light turbulence, a few clouds above 7,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 377 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
SUN UA /OV SUN/TM 2327/FL210/TP E550/SK FEW070/TB CONS LGT/RM DURC /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through SUN
- Where
- over SUN
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E550
- Sky
- a few clouds from 7,000 ft
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb zlc
- PC12 at 15,000 ft, 47 nm east, 4:47 pm PDT (23:47 UTC): light rime icing above 15,000 ft. At the destination end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAC UA /OV JAC200025/TM 2347/FL150/TP PC12/IC LGT RIME 150 /ZLC
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAC
- Where
- 25 nm south (200°) of JAC
- Time
- 23:47 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Icing
- light rime at 15,000 ft zlc
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 (PDX, RDM, LWS, BOI, PIH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 10 kt | −5 kt | 2 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 44 min | 10:35 pm MDT (04:35 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 350° at 8 kt | −3 kt | -2 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 48 min | 10:39 pm MDT (04:39 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 350° at 4 kt | −1 kt | -4 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:43 pm MDT (04:43 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 2 kt | −2 kt | -7 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 50 min | 10:41 pm MDT (04:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 5 kt | −1 kt | -10 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:43 pm MDT (04:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 9 kt | −1 kt | -14 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:43 pm MDT (04:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 12 kt | −1 kt | -17 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:43 pm MDT (04:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 13 kt | −1 kt | -18 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 52 min | 10:43 pm MDT (04:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 13 kt | −4 kt | -25 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 46 min | 10:37 pm MDT (04:37 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 25 kt | −5 kt | -34 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 44 min | 10:35 pm MDT (04:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 39 kt | −19 kt | -36 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 22 min | 10:13 pm MDT (04:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 40 kt | −25 kt | -42 °C | 145 kt | 3 h 13 min | 10:04 pm MDT (04:04 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/7 | 360/13 0° | 040/22 -6° | 030/23 -12° | 020/64 -18° | 010/93 -25° | 010/91 -39° | 360/62 -40° | 350/41 -43° |
| RDM | used from 50 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 010/15 -2° | 030/21 -8° | 020/26 -12° | 020/46 -22° | 010/72 -27° | 360/47 -34° | 340/31 -35° | 320/20 -40° | |
| LWS | used from 149 nm out; 109 nm from the line | 010/5 | 050/14 -2° | 040/12 -6° | 160/7 -10° | 190/30 -22° | 200/54 -27° | 200/48 -35° | 210/40 -37° | 230/32 -41° |
| BOI | used from 199 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 330/14 4° | 230/5 -2° | 220/20 -7° | 210/37 -20° | 200/59 -26° | 200/67 -34° | 210/73 -35° | 220/62 -41° | |
| PIH | used from 348 nm out; 94 nm from the line | 270/10 | 270/13 1° | 210/16 -2° | 200/56 -11° | 200/51 -23° | 200/68 -33° | 220/77 -37° | 230/73 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX Portland, OR | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 30 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| CZK Cascade Locks, OR | 30 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 151 ft | ||||
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 60 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 246 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| BKE Baker City, OR | 209 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 18 knots, gusting to 27 | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,373 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| AOC Arco, ID | 417 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,334 ft | ||||
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 3,300 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots | 5 mi | 3,300 ft | 4,743 ft | 6:27 pm MDT (00:27 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,334 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IDA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:04 pm MDT (04:04 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for IDA
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
The forecast for PDX, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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 PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC), at IDA 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IDA is after sunset there (6:52 pm MDT (00:52 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: Portland International, Idaho Falls Regional.