Plan a flight · Sun 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC)

Rapid City Regional to Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International RAP → ATL

1,068 nautical miles (1,229 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 119°, about 111° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the east (090°) at 7 knots; ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 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: 46 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 40 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 40 to 80 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 289 to 479 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.

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 RAP.

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

B763 at 32,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 7:29 pm MDT (01:29 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 80 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RAP UA /OV RAP084081/TM 0129/FL320/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RAP
Where
81 nm east (084°) of RAP
Time
01:29 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B737 at 31,000 ft, 29 nm northeast, 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 769 nm along the route, 29 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAH UA /OV CNG360015/TM 0013/FL310/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME25
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAH
Where
15 nm north (360°) of CNG
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME25
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 789 nm along the route, 45 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
B38M at 25,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 6:12 pm MDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 828 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest 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
B738 at 34,000 ft, 41 nm northeast, 5:41 pm MDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 838 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 858 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 43 nm northeast, 4:56 pm MDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 868 nm along the route, 43 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
B712 at 3,000 ft, 35 nm northeast, 5:13 pm MDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 988 nm along the route, 35 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
5 nm south (180°) of CHA
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
SCT030-TOP032 C
B752 descending, 0 nm west, 5:03 pm MDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl

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 12 forecast points nearest it (RAP, PIR, ONL, GRI, OMA, MKC, COU, STL, CGI, BNA, HSV, ATL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	240° at 14 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	8 h 33 min	6:26 am EDT (10:26 UTC)
5,500 ft	250° at 12 kt	−7 kt	16 °C	127 kt	8 h 25 min	6:18 am EDT (10:18 UTC)
7,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	−12 kt	14 °C	132 kt	8 h 05 min	5:58 am EDT (09:58 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	−17 kt	10 °C	137 kt	7 h 48 min	5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 21 kt	−19 kt	7 °C	139 kt	7 h 41 min	5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC)
13,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	−21 kt	3 °C	141 kt	7 h 34 min	5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC)
15,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	−21 kt	-2 °C	141 kt	7 h 34 min	5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 23 kt	−22 kt	-6 °C	142 kt	7 h 31 min	5:24 am EDT (09:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 23 kt	−22 kt	-7 °C	142 kt	7 h 31 min	5:24 am EDT (09:24 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 25 kt	−24 kt	-19 °C	144 kt	7 h 25 min	5:18 am EDT (09:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 35 kt	−34 kt	-33 °C	154 kt	6 h 56 min	4:49 am EDT (08:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 39 kt	−38 kt	-41 °C	158 kt	6 h 46 min	4:39 am EDT (08:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 44 kt	−42 kt	-50 °C	162 kt	6 h 36 min	4:29 am EDT (08:29 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
RAP	used from 0 nm out; 25 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°
PIR	used from 100 nm out; 84 nm from the line		L/V 17°	230/13 12°	220/22 6°	250/31 -9°	250/34 -21°	240/50 -35°	230/61 -43°	240/62 -51°
ONL	used from 150 nm out; 42 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
GRI	used from 250 nm out; 50 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
OMA	used from 299 nm out; 41 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°
MKC	used from 399 nm out; 71 nm from the line	200/28	220/30 16°	270/20 11°	280/22 7°	260/27 -6°	270/27 -18°	280/38 -32°	270/38 -40°	280/50 -52°
COU	used from 499 nm out; 56 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°
STL	used from 649 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°
CGI	used from 699 nm out; 14 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°
BNA	used from 799 nm out; 75 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
HSV	used from 898 nm out; 35 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°
ATL	used from 998 nm out; 45 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°

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
RAP Rapid City, SD	departure	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the east (090°) at 7 knots	3 mi	300 ft	3,203 ft	7:50 pm MDT (01:50 UTC)
RBE Bassett, NE	180 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				2,349 ft
OLU Columbus, NE	299 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,447 ft	00:56 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	339 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	00:54 UTC
STJ St Joseph, MO	449 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	826 ft	00:53 UTC
COU Columbia, MO	579 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	00:54 UTC
CGI Cape Girardeau, MO	739 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	341 ft	20:53 UTC
PAH Paducah, KY	769 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	410 ft	00:00 UTC
MRC Columbia/Mount Pleasant, TN	888 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	01:35 UTC
RYY Atlanta, GA	1048 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,040 ft	01:50 UTC
ATL Atlanta, GA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ATL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ATL

From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for RAP, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 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

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

6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 569 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:32 pm EDT (23:32 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ATL is before sunrise there (7:39 am EDT (11:39 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Rapid City Regional, Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International.