Plan a flight · Sun 5:08 pm PDT (00:08 UTC)

Portland International to Rapid City Regional PDX → RAP

835 nautical miles (961 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 089°, about 073° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:21 pm MDT (05:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDX is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots; RAP is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) 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 W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 577 to 716 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
MT WY
FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.

AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 318 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 139 to 656 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 587 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 259 to 676 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 467 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 467 to 686 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 497 to 666 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, 24 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, 24 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
B738 at 33,000 ft, 38 nm south, 4:57 pm PDT (23:57 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 31,000 ft to 33,000 ft. 457 nm along the route, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IDA UA /OV DBS015030/TM 2357/FL330/TP B738/TB MOD CHOP 310-330 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through IDA
Where
30 nm north (015°) of DBS
Time
23:57 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate chop from 31,000 ft to 33,000 ft zlc
C182 at 8,000 ft, 10 nm northeast, 3:52 pm PDT (22:52 UTC): light rime icing, -2 °C. At the departure end, 10 nm northeast 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, 10 nm south, 3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC): light rime icing, -13 °C, remarks: base 080-ZSE. 119 nm along the route, 10 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
GL7T at 40,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 2:35 pm PDT (21:35 UTC): light to moderate turbulence from 37,500 ft to 40,000 ft, remarks: durd-zse. 179 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PDT UA /OV PDT100030/TM 2135/FL400/TP GL7T/TB OCNL LGT-MOD 400-375/RM DURD-ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through PDT
Where
30 nm east (100°) of PDT
Time
21:35 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
GL7T
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate from 40,000 ft to 37,500 ft
Remarks
durd-zse
B738 at 24,000 ft, 46 nm north, 4:13 pm PDT (23:13 UTC): remarks: snow top flight level at 24,000 ft zlc. 447 nm along the route, 46 nm north 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
BE9T at 17,500 ft, 22 nm south, 3:40 pm PDT (22:40 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -6 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-22. 696 nm along the route, 22 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV CZI020012/TM 2240/FL175/TP BE9T/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT MIX /RM ZDVWC-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
12 nm north (020°) of CZI
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 17,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9T
Temperature
−6 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light mix
Remarks
ZDVWC-22
A21N at 35,000 ft, 5 nm south, 3:47 pm PDT (22:47 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-32. 726 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GCC UA /OV GCC/TM 2247/FL350/TP A21N/TB NEG /RM ZDVWC-32
```
Report
a routine report filed through GCC
Where
over GCC
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-32

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 6 forecast points nearest it (PDX, YKM, LWS, DLN, BIL, RAP). 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	070° at 14 kt	+13 kt	12 °C	107 kt	7 h 48 min	1:56 am MDT (07:56 UTC)
7,500 ft	080° at 11 kt	+11 kt	0 °C	109 kt	7 h 40 min	1:48 am MDT (07:48 UTC)
9,500 ft	100° at 8 kt	+8 kt	-2 °C	112 kt	7 h 27 min	1:35 am MDT (07:35 UTC)
11,500 ft	170° at 9 kt	+3 kt	-3 °C	117 kt	7 h 08 min	1:16 am MDT (07:16 UTC)
13,500 ft	190° at 12 kt	0	-7 °C	120 kt	6 h 58 min	1:06 am MDT (07:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	200° at 14 kt	−2 kt	-10 °C	122 kt	6 h 51 min	12:59 am MDT (06:59 UTC)
17,500 ft	210° at 16 kt	−4 kt	-14 °C	124 kt	6 h 44 min	12:52 am MDT (06:52 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	210° at 17 kt	−4 kt	-15 °C	124 kt	6 h 44 min	12:52 am MDT (06:52 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 30 kt	−16 kt	-24 °C	136 kt	6 h 08 min	12:16 am MDT (06:16 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	210° at 36 kt	−14 kt	-36 °C	134 kt	6 h 14 min	12:22 am MDT (06:22 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 48 kt	−30 kt	-40 °C	150 kt	5 h 34 min	11:42 pm MDT (05:42 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 51 kt	−40 kt	-45 °C	160 kt	5 h 13 min	11:21 pm MDT (05:21 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; 60 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; 78 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 298 nm out; 100 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 497 nm out; 86 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°
RAP	used from 696 nm out; 114 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°

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)
DLS The Dalles, OR	60 nm out, 2 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
PDT Pendleton, OR	159 nm out, 9 nm north 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
JSY Joseph, OR	229 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	4,126 ft	14:30 UTC
SMN Salmon, ID	368 nm out, 12 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	4,044 ft	23:56 UTC
DLN Dillon, MT	428 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: snow, freezing fog	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	0.5 mi	500 ft	5,244 ft	00:03 UTC
RED Red Lodge, MT	567 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	no report just now				5,762 ft
POY Powell, WY	587 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog	from the northwest (310°) at 20 knots, gusting to 26	0.5 mi	300 ft	5,096 ft	23:50 UTC
GCC Gillette, WY	726 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the north (360°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	4,365 ft	23:53 UTC
SPF Spearfish, SD	795 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	3,933 ft	23:35 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	3,203 ft	6:03 pm MDT (00:03 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,762 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:21 pm MDT (05:21 UTC)

Wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RAP

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 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 RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is before sunrise there (7:02 am MDT (13:02 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, 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, Rapid City Regional.