Pocatello Regional to Northern Colorado Regional PIH → FNL
371 nautical miles (426 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 111°, about 097° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 23-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:39 am MDT (14:39 UTC). Right now PIH is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 13 knots; FNL is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 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 W23W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC). Near the route, 29 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121155 MKCW WST 121155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 23W VALID UNTIL 1355Z UT ID FROM 20WSW PIH-20NE MLD-30SW SLC-20NW BVL-20WSW PIH AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- 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 first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 283 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 322 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 195 nm of 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 234 to 332 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 117 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 254 to 263 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 PIH.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 5:49 am MDT (11:49 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 332 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN304074/TM 1149/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 74 nm northwest (304°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:49 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-13
- CRJ2 at 24,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 5:45 am MDT (11:45 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 351 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN314057/TM 1145/FL240/TP CRJ2/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 57 nm northwest (314°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ2
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-13
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 35 nm south, 5:24 am MDT (11:24 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. At the destination end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN277039/TM 1124/FL210/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP BLO 180 NEG ABV 180/RM DURC. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 39 nm west (277°) of DEN
- Time
- 11:24 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop below 18,000 ft no above 18,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb zdvwc
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 34 nm south, 4:26 am MDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 3 forecast points nearest it (PIH, RKS, DEN). 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 8 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 58 min | 9:01 am MDT (15:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 11 kt | −4 kt | 4 °C | 124 kt | 3 h | 9:03 am MDT (15:03 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | −3 kt | 1 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 01 min | 9:04 am MDT (15:04 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | −4 kt | -4 °C | 124 kt | 3 h | 9:03 am MDT (15:03 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | −6 kt | -9 °C | 126 kt | 2 h 57 min | 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 210° at 42 kt | −8 kt | -13 °C | 128 kt | 2 h 54 min | 8:57 am MDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 44 kt | −9 kt | -14 °C | 129 kt | 2 h 53 min | 8:56 am MDT (14:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 50 kt | −14 kt | -24 °C | 134 kt | 2 h 46 min | 8:49 am MDT (14:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 61 kt | −17 kt | -31 °C | 137 kt | 2 h 42 min | 8:45 am MDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 61 kt | −23 kt | -35 °C | 143 kt | 2 h 36 min | 8:39 am MDT (14:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 57 kt | −22 kt | -45 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 37 min | 8:40 am MDT (14:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 98 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| DEN | used from 293 nm out; 87 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH Pocatello, ID | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: rain | from the west-southwest (250°) at 13 knots | 7 mi | 1,300 ft | 4,451 ft | 5:53 am MDT (11:53 UTC) |
| AFO Afton, WY | 68 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 6,220 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 107 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,600 feet | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,600 ft | 6,993 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 176 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,700 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 6,764 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 254 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 6,548 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | destination | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 5:56 am MDT (11:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FNL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:39 am MDT (14:39 UTC)
FNL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for PIH, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
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 PIH 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC), at FNL 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 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: Pocatello Regional, Northern Colorado Regional.