Portland International to Missoula Montana Airport PDX → MSO
362 nautical miles (416 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 074°, about 058° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:46 pm MDT (03:46 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDX is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; MSO is marginal VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 3 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: 1,029 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 last 274 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 176 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 88 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 route from 303 to 352 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 14,000 ft, 24 nm south, 4:22 pm PDT (23:22 UTC): moderate turbulence from 14,000 ft to 21,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. At the destination end, 24 nm south 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, 6 nm northwest, 3:52 pm PDT (22:52 UTC): light rime icing, -2 °C. 20 nm along the route, 6 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, 41 nm south, 3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC): light rime icing, -13 °C, remarks: base 080-ZSE. 108 nm along the route, 41 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
- PC12 at 6,000 ft, 26 nm southeast, 5:56 pm PDT (00:56 UTC): overcast above 6,000 ft. 166 nm along the route, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALW UA /OV ALW200015/TM 0056/FL060/TP PC12/SK OVC060
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALW
- Where
- 15 nm south (200°) of ALW
- Time
- 00:56 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- overcast from 6,000 ft
- C172 at 5,500 ft, 16 nm north, 3:17 pm PDT (22:17 UTC): a trace of rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: zse. 205 nm along the route, 16 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
- C25B at 4,100 ft, 1 nm southeast, 5:36 pm PDT (00:36 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,100 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. At the destination end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0036/FL041/TP C25B/SK OVC041/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSO
- Where
- over MSO
- Time
- 00:36 UTC
- Height
- at 4,100 ft
- Aircraft
- C25B
- Sky
- overcast from 4,100 ft
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent ils runway 12
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 4 forecast points nearest it (PDX, YKM, LWS, GPI). 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 | 020° at 9 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 3 h 09 min | 10:18 pm MDT (04:18 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 030° at 13 kt | +10 kt | -3 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 17 min | 10:26 pm MDT (04:26 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 040° at 16 kt | +12 kt | -4 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 21 min | 10:30 pm MDT (04:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 040° at 16 kt | +13 kt | -8 °C | 107 kt | 3 h 23 min | 10:32 pm MDT (04:32 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 050° at 9 kt | +8 kt | -10 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 14 min | 10:23 pm MDT (04:23 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 060° at 6 kt | +6 kt | -14 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 11 min | 10:20 pm MDT (04:20 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 070° at 5 kt | +5 kt | -17 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 09 min | 10:18 pm MDT (04:18 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 080° at 3 kt | +4 kt | -21 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 07 min | 10:16 pm MDT (04:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 080° at 3 kt | +4 kt | -22 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 07 min | 10:16 pm MDT (04:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 5 kt | −3 kt | -27 °C | 123 kt | 2 h 57 min | 10:06 pm MDT (04:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 7 kt | −5 kt | -36 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 54 min | 10:03 pm MDT (04:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 14 kt | −13 kt | -38 °C | 133 kt | 2 h 43 min | 9:52 pm MDT (03:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 18 kt | −18 kt | -41 °C | 138 kt | 2 h 37 min | 9:46 pm MDT (03:46 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; 24 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 49 nm out; 42 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 147 nm out; 67 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° |
| GPI | used from 342 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 060/19 -3° | 110/11 -8° | 130/6 -8° | 200/40 -19° | 190/58 -28° | 200/101 -39° | 220/73 -43° | 230/41 -43° |
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 | 29 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 151 ft | ||||
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 59 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 246 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| PSC Pasco, WA | 147 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 410 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ALW Walla Walla, WA | 186 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 1,194 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| LWS Lewiston, ID | 235 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,442 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 2,600 ft | 3,205 ft | 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,205 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:46 pm MDT (03:46 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
At times between Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain snow, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for MSO
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- At times between Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain snow, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 2,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light snow, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 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 MSO 6:54 pm MDT (00:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm MDT (01:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSO is after sunset there (6:56 pm MDT (00:56 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, Missoula Montana Airport.