Plan a flight · Mon 3:44 am MST (10:44 UTC)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Joe Foss Field PHX → FSD

939 nautical miles (1,080 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 045°, about 033° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 78-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC). Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 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: 1,310 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 SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 120 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 549 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 60 nm along the route.
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 80 to 150 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 240 to 489 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 429 to 579 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 739 to 889 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 759 to 879 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 PHX.

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

BE20 at 9,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 12:52 am MST (07:52 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 310 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0752/FL090/TP BE20/SK BASE110 TOP165/TA M05/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM DURD. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
07:52 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
BASE110 TOP165
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime
Remarks
during the descent zdvwc
A359 at 38,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 3:13 am MST (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 369 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
15 nm south (185°) of HBU
Time
10:13 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
A359
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-37
GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 12:47 am MST (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 399 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
46 nm east (105°) of HBU
Time
07:47 UTC
Height
at 47,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Remarks
moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
B38M at 22,000 ft, 35 nm northwest, 1:14 am MST (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 459 nm along the route, 35 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
08:14 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
B737 descending, 40 nm northwest, 1:10 am MST (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 519 nm along the route, 40 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (PHX, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, DEN, GLD, ONL, FSD). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
7,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	−25 kt	11 °C	145 kt	6 h 29 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−25 kt	9 °C	145 kt	6 h 29 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−29 kt	5 °C	149 kt	6 h 18 min	12:02 pm CDT (17:02 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 33 kt	−33 kt	1 °C	153 kt	6 h 08 min	11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 38 kt	−38 kt	-3 °C	158 kt	5 h 57 min	11:41 am CDT (16:41 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 42 kt	−42 kt	-8 °C	162 kt	5 h 48 min	11:32 am CDT (16:32 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 43 kt	−43 kt	-9 °C	163 kt	5 h 46 min	11:30 am CDT (16:30 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 53 kt	−53 kt	-21 °C	173 kt	5 h 26 min	11:10 am CDT (16:10 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 70 kt	−71 kt	-30 °C	191 kt	4 h 55 min	10:39 am CDT (15:39 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 78 kt	−78 kt	-35 °C	198 kt	4 h 45 min	10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 73 kt	−73 kt	-47 °C	193 kt	4 h 52 min	10:36 am CDT (15:36 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
PHX	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	190/15	210/25 12°	200/34 4°	200/34 2°	220/58 -9°	220/75 -19°	220/91 -28°	220/100 -35°	220/95 -47°
PRC	used from 100 nm out; 110 nm from the line			200/37 6°	200/35 0°	220/60 -11°	220/71 -20°	220/88 -29°	220/98 -35°	220/94 -45°
FMN	used from 150 nm out; 98 nm from the line			220/16 6°	220/39 1°	220/50 -10°	230/67 -23°	230/94 -29°	230/102 -35°	230/90 -46°
ALS	used from 349 nm out; 32 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
PUB	used from 449 nm out; 35 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
DEN	used from 499 nm out; 43 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
GLD	used from 599 nm out; 69 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
ONL	used from 699 nm out; 106 nm from the line		250/31 22°	230/27 16°	220/25 8°	230/25 -9°	220/29 -22°	250/42 -33°	250/48 -36°	250/52 -46°
FSD	used from 899 nm out; 20 nm from the line	210/20	230/23 21°	220/25 14°	230/30 5°	230/26 -9°	240/30 -21°	270/33 -36°	260/47 -37°	270/58 -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
PHX Phoenix, AZ	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,134 ft	2:51 am MST (09:51 UTC)
PAN Payson, AZ	60 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 4,700 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	4,700 ft	5,160 ft	10:35 UTC
TYL Taylor, AZ	110 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 14	10+ mi	none	5,823 ft	10:35 UTC
FMN Farmington, NM	270 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,506 ft	09:53 UTC
PSO Pagosa Springs, CO	339 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	7,663 ft	10:35 UTC
RCV Del Norte, CO	379 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	none	7,955 ft	10:35 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	479 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 16 knots, gusting to 28	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	09:54 UTC
HEQ Holyoke, CO	629 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Weather: haze	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	4 mi	none	3,729 ft	10:35 UTC
GGF Grant, NE	659 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	3,424 ft	10:35 UTC
ONL O'Neill, NE	829 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog	from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots	0.25 mi	300 ft	2,033 ft	10:35 UTC
AGZ Wagner, SD	869 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 7 knots	0.75 mi	300 ft	1,477 ft	10:35 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	4:56 am CDT (09:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,955 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC)

Wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FSD

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet

The forecast for PHX, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 459 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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 southern Rockies · 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: Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Joe Foss Field.