Plan a flight · Sun 5:57 pm PDT (00:57 UTC)

Portland International to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field PDX → MSN

1,425 nautical miles (1,640 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 068° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDX is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) 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: 4 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 339 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 149 to 618 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 817 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 route from 319 to 927 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 558 to 578 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 PDX.

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

E75L at 10,000 ft, 23 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, 23 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
E75L at 14,000 ft, 37 nm north, 4:22 pm PDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 359 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV 32S/TM 2322/FL140/TP E75L/TB MOD 140-210/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over 32S
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zlc
C182 at 8,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 3:52 pm PDT (22:52 UTC): light rime icing, -2 °C. At the departure end, 9 nm northwest 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, 22 nm south, 3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC): light rime icing, -13 °C, remarks: base 080-ZSE. 120 nm along the route, 22 nm south 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
C172 at 5,500 ft, 50 nm north, 3:17 pm PDT (22:17 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: zse. 199 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUW UA /OV PUW250030/TM 2217/FL055/TP C172/TA 00/IC TRACE RIME/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUW
Where
30 nm west (250°) of PUW
Time
22:17 UTC
Height
at 5,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
trace rime
Remarks
zse
B738 at 24,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 4:13 pm PDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. 448 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN270030/TM 2313/FL240/TP B738/RM SN TOP FL 240 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BZN
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc
B737 descending, 5 nm south, 5:28 pm PDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. 478 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
A306 at 4,700 ft, 4 nm northwest, 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 588 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIL
Where
1 nm west (280°) of BIL
Time
00:51 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
A306
Sky
base 4,700 ft
PC12 at 100 ft, 39 nm south, 3:34 pm PDT (22:34 UTC): no icing. 947 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIR UA /OV PIR/TM 2234/FL001/TP PC12/SK BASE030-TOP045/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIR
Where
over PIR
Time
22:34 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE030-TOP045
Icing
none
B39M at 35,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:28 pm PDT (23:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1006 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABR UA /OV ABR230015/TM 2328/FL350/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABR
Where
15 nm southwest (230°) of ABR
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 22 nm south, 5:20 pm PDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 1086 nm along the route, 22 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft
B39M at 34,000 ft, 27 nm north, 4:25 pm PDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1206 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
E295 at 37,000 ft, 46 nm east, 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 46 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
E295
Turbulence
occasional light chop
B737 at 32,000 ft, 16 nm east, 3:42 pm PDT (22:42 UTC): light clear-air turbulence. At the destination end, 16 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE270030/TM 2242/FL320/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BAE
Time
22:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light clear-air turbulence

1 more routine reports are on the map.

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 14 forecast points nearest it (PDX, YKM, LWS, DLN, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ABR, FSD, MSP, MCW, LSE, DBQ). 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	220° at 7 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	11 h 41 min	7:38 am CDT (12:38 UTC)
5,500 ft	160° at 3 kt	+3 kt	11 °C	117 kt	12 h 11 min	8:08 am CDT (13:08 UTC)
7,500 ft	180° at 3 kt	+2 kt	6 °C	118 kt	12 h 05 min	8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 5 kt	−1 kt	3 °C	121 kt	11 h 47 min	7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC)
11,500 ft	210° at 11 kt	−4 kt	0 °C	124 kt	11 h 30 min	7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	−7 kt	-4 °C	127 kt	11 h 13 min	7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 17 kt	−10 kt	-8 °C	130 kt	10 h 58 min	6:55 am CDT (11:55 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 19 kt	−13 kt	-12 °C	133 kt	10 h 43 min	6:40 am CDT (11:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 20 kt	−14 kt	-13 °C	134 kt	10 h 38 min	6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 30 kt	−23 kt	-22 °C	143 kt	9 h 58 min	5:55 am CDT (10:55 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 33 kt	−25 kt	-36 °C	145 kt	9 h 50 min	5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 43 kt	−37 kt	-42 °C	157 kt	9 h 05 min	5:02 am CDT (10:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 55 kt	−53 kt	-48 °C	173 kt	8 h 14 min	4:11 am CDT (09:11 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°
YKM	used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line	030/16	020/18 0°	030/30 -8°	030/23 -13°	020/40 -23°	010/73 -29°	010/54 -36°	360/29 -37°	330/16 -40°
LWS	used from 149 nm out; 68 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°
DLN	used from 349 nm out; 61 nm from the line			080/10 -3°	180/8 -3°	180/23 -14°	200/58 -22°	200/80 -36°	220/85 -41°	230/81 -45°
BIL	used from 498 nm out; 66 nm from the line		080/24	130/14 -1°	180/33 0°	210/43 -10°	220/58 -21°	200/55 -36°	220/75 -44°	240/83 -48°
MLS	used from 648 nm out; 54 nm from the line		120/22 5°	170/18 4°	200/33 1°	230/49 -10°	230/58 -21°	220/54 -37°	230/64 -44°	250/74 -49°
RAP	used from 797 nm out; 79 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°
PIR	used from 847 nm out; 85 nm from the line		L/V 17°	230/13 12°	220/22 6°	250/31 -9°	250/34 -21°	240/50 -35°	230/61 -43°	240/62 -51°
ABR	used from 996 nm out; 38 nm from the line	030/24	220/5 16°	230/18 12°	230/32 5°	240/38 -10°	250/37 -20°	240/40 -35°	240/56 -44°	250/72 -52°
FSD	used from 1046 nm out; 67 nm from the line	200/16	220/20 17°	240/26 13°	230/19 6°	240/25 -9°	240/28 -20°	250/39 -33°	250/44 -43°	260/63 -52°
MSP	used from 1146 nm out; 84 nm from the line	200/28	240/30 19°	240/24 12°	240/17 5°	270/24 -10°	270/33 -20°	280/48 -35°	290/55 -45°	280/84 -54°
MCW	used from 1245 nm out; 49 nm from the line	200/35	240/33 18°	250/20 10°	260/10 6°	270/18 -8°	260/28 -19°	280/30 -34°	290/49 -43°	280/70 -54°
LSE	used from 1295 nm out; 22 nm from the line	220/33	250/29 17°	250/15 9°	260/12 6°	280/21 -9°	280/33 -20°	300/43 -36°	310/56 -45°	300/79 -53°
DBQ	used from 1395 nm out; 67 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°

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 3,900 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	30 ft	5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)
CZK Cascade Locks, OR	30 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	no report just now				151 ft
PDT Pendleton, OR	159 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet	from the north (360°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	1,494 ft	23:53 UTC
BTM Butte, MT	418 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots	0.75 mi	1,500 ft	5,550 ft	00:53 UTC
BZN Bozeman, MT	478 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: snow, fog	calm	0.5 mi	1,100 ft	4,473 ft	23:56 UTC
BIL Billings, MT	588 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (010°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	3,662 ft	00:53 UTC
MKA Miller, SD	996 nm out, 22 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,569 ft
MML Marshall, MN	1136 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,182 ft	23:56 UTC
RST Rochester, MN	1275 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	00:54 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	1335 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	00:53 UTC
MSN Madison, WI	destination	VFR	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	886 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,550 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:11 am CDT (09:11 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MSN

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSN is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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 Pacific Northwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Portland International, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.