Palm Springs International to Des Moines International PSP → DSM
1,175 nautical miles (1,353 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 047° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 78-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC). Right now PSP is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 5 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 10 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 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 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the first 299 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 139 to 398 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). Over the route from 159 to 269 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). Near the route, 219 nm along 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 route from 229 to 697 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 408 to 647 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 598 to 697 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 last 339 nm of the route.
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 PSP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (BLH, PRC, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM). 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 | 240° at 31 kt | −31 kt | 23 °C | 151 kt | 7 h 47 min | 1:29 pm CDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −27 kt | 11 °C | 147 kt | 8 h | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 9 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 06 min | 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | −28 kt | 4 °C | 148 kt | 7 h 56 min | 1:38 pm CDT (18:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | −32 kt | 0 °C | 152 kt | 7 h 44 min | 1:26 pm CDT (18:26 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −37 kt | -4 °C | 157 kt | 7 h 29 min | 1:11 pm CDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 45 kt | −42 kt | -8 °C | 162 kt | 7 h 15 min | 12:57 pm CDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 46 kt | −43 kt | -9 °C | 163 kt | 7 h 13 min | 12:55 pm CDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 57 kt | −55 kt | -21 °C | 175 kt | 6 h 43 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 71 kt | −70 kt | -30 °C | 190 kt | 6 h 11 min | 11:53 am CDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 77 kt | −78 kt | -36 °C | 198 kt | 5 h 56 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 72 kt | −73 kt | -47 °C | 193 kt | 6 h 05 min | 11:47 am CDT (16:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLH | used from 0 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| PRC | used from 149 nm out; 60 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 299 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 349 nm out; 74 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 498 nm out; 55 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 598 nm out; 26 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° | ||
| GLD | used from 697 nm out; 64 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° | |
| GRI | used from 896 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 996 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| DSM | used from 1145 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC) |
| EED Needles, CA | 110 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 983 ft | 09:56 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 120 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, scattered clouds at 4,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 9 mi | 6,500 ft | 707 ft | 10:30 UTC |
| GCN Grand Canyon, AZ | 249 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 6,608 ft | 10:30 UTC |
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 438 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 5,917 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| RCV Del Norte, CO | 548 nm out, 16 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 | 647 nm out, 14 nm northwest 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 |
| ITR Burlington, CO | 757 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,218 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 847 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 1026 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 1076 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 24,000 ft | 957 ft | 4:54 am CDT (09:54 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 DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DSM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PSP, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, 120 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at PSP 6:14 pm PDT (01:14 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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: Palm Springs International, Des Moines International.