Plan a flight · Sun 9:41 pm EDT (01:41 UTC)

St. Pete-Clearwater International to Joe Foss Field PIE → FSD

1,160 nautical miles (1,335 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 328°, about 333° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PIE is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 3 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 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: 218 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 129 to 317 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 922 to 1091 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 PIE.

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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 9 nm west, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 496 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through TUP
Where
41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
BE40
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
zme
MD11 at 35,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ080015/TM 2318/FL350/TP MD11/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
15 nm east (080°) of SRQ
Time
23:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
MD11
Turbulence
none
B737 at 38,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 327 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
B38M at 25,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 8:12 pm EDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 565 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 8:13 pm EDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 595 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 39 nm north, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 39 nm north 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

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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 13 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, MGM, BHM, HSV, MEM, CGI, STL, COU, DSM, OMA, 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
4,500 ft	270° at 13 kt	+8 kt		112 kt	10 h 21 min	7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	+15 kt	16 °C	105 kt	11 h 03 min	7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+18 kt	12 °C	102 kt	11 h 22 min	8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	+19 kt	9 °C	101 kt	11 h 29 min	8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	+19 kt	5 °C	101 kt	11 h 29 min	8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	+18 kt	1 °C	102 kt	11 h 22 min	8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	+18 kt	-4 °C	102 kt	11 h 22 min	8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 22 kt	+18 kt	-7 °C	102 kt	11 h 22 min	8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 22 kt	+16 kt	-18 °C	104 kt	11 h 09 min	7:50 am CDT (12:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 29 kt	+23 kt	-33 °C	97 kt	11 h 58 min	8:39 am CDT (13:39 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 33 kt	+26 kt	-42 °C	94 kt	12 h 20 min	9:01 am CDT (14:01 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 36 kt	+29 kt	-51 °C	91 kt	12 h 45 min	9:26 am CDT (14:26 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
PIE	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	310/7	270/12 17°	270/14 13°	260/14 8°	240/22 -5°	230/24 -16°	220/26 -31°	200/31 -41°	180/33 -53°
TLH	used from 99 nm out; 49 nm from the line	300/17	340/32 17°	320/27 13°	300/27 8°	280/23 -7°	250/37 -17°	230/44 -33°	220/53 -41°	220/48 -51°
CSG	used from 248 nm out; 56 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
MGM	used from 298 nm out; 18 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°
BHM	used from 347 nm out; 29 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
HSV	used from 446 nm out; 49 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°
MEM	used from 545 nm out; 70 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
CGI	used from 595 nm out; 45 nm from the line	250/10	290/12 17°	290/18 11°	300/22 5°	320/25 -8°	330/30 -18°	320/53 -33°	320/66 -42°	320/56 -50°
STL	used from 694 nm out; 58 nm from the line	210/13	260/16 17°	270/21 10°	280/24 5°	310/20 -7°	320/22 -18°	320/44 -33°	320/59 -43°	310/69 -51°
COU	used from 744 nm out; 46 nm from the line	210/16	220/19 15°	240/33 10°	250/29 7°	280/21 -6°	280/19 -18°	300/34 -31°	300/40 -42°	300/60 -52°
DSM	used from 893 nm out; 67 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 1041 nm out; 69 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
FSD	used from 1091 nm out; 45 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°

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
PIE St Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	departure	VFR	from the north (360°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	10 ft	8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC)
CDK Cedar Key, FL	69 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				11 ft
TLH Tallahassee, FL	169 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	83 ft	00:53 UTC
DHN Dothan, AL	248 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	400 ft	23:55 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	397 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	00:53 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	555 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	00:53 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO	655 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	341 ft	20:53 UTC
UUV Sullivan, MO	754 nm out, 3 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	933 ft	23:35 UTC
COU Columbia, MO	813 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	00:54 UTC
GCT Guthrie Center, IA	1012 nm out, 7 nm east of the line	no report just now				1,220 ft
SXK Maurice, IA	1121 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,408 ft	01:35 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,430 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, 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FSD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the 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-southwest at 8 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 at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for PIE, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, 823 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at PIE 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FSD is before sunrise there (7:37 am CDT (12:37 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: St. Pete-Clearwater International, Joe Foss Field.