Plan a flight · Mon 1:26 am MDT (07:26 UTC)

Rapid City Regional to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International RAP → CVG

877 nautical miles (1,009 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 104°, about 096° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC). Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the east (090°) at 10 knots; CVG is low IFR, 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: 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

SIGMET C13C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am MDT (08:55 UTC). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 120655
MKCC WST 120655
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13C
VALID UNTIL 0855Z
SD
FROM 50NW DPR-30ESE DPR-20SE RAP-50WNW RAP-50NW DPR
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
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 139 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
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 558 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 130 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 RAP.

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

B739 at 35,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 1:05 am MDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 687 nm along the route, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
23 nm north (010°) of RBS
Time
07:05 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none
B38M at 29,000 ft, 16 nm northeast, 10:52 pm MDT (04:52 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft. 687 nm along the route, 16 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 0452/FL290/TP B38M/TB NEG 230-290
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
over RBS
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 29,000 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 (RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND, CVG). 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 20 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	6 h 36 min	10:02 am EDT (14:02 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−13 kt	18 °C	133 kt	6 h 36 min	10:02 am EDT (14:02 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	−14 kt	14 °C	134 kt	6 h 33 min	9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 16 kt	−14 kt	10 °C	134 kt	6 h 33 min	9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC)
11,500 ft	250° at 15 kt	−12 kt	6 °C	132 kt	6 h 39 min	10:05 am EDT (14:05 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 16 kt	−14 kt	2 °C	134 kt	6 h 33 min	9:59 am EDT (13:59 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 18 kt	−16 kt	-3 °C	136 kt	6 h 27 min	9:53 am EDT (13:53 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 21 kt	−19 kt	-7 °C	139 kt	6 h 19 min	9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 21 kt	−20 kt	-8 °C	140 kt	6 h 16 min	9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 28 kt	−27 kt	-20 °C	147 kt	5 h 58 min	9:24 am EDT (13:24 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-34 °C	153 kt	5 h 44 min	9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 47 kt	−48 kt	-41 °C	168 kt	5 h 13 min	8:39 am EDT (12:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 53 kt	−53 kt	-49 °C	173 kt	5 h 04 min	8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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		180/23 12°	200/38 13°	210/38 6°	220/28 -10°	230/34 -21°	230/37 -36°	250/52 -38°	250/59 -46°
PIR	used from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line		170/22 19°	190/25 13°	210/32 6°	240/23 -9°	250/32 -21°	250/38 -36°	260/44 -40°	260/52 -47°
ONL	used from 149 nm out; 54 nm from the line		210/31 20°	230/27 13°	230/18 7°	220/19 -8°	240/26 -20°	250/44 -35°	270/52 -39°	260/57 -47°
FSD	used from 249 nm out; 48 nm from the line	190/9	230/30 18°	240/23 13°	240/20 6°	260/22 -9°	250/31 -21°	250/43 -36°	260/49 -43°	270/53 -47°
DSM	used from 349 nm out; 70 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
BRL	used from 498 nm out; 47 nm from the line	230/24	240/29 15°	290/16 10°	280/15 4°	260/23 -7°	260/32 -19°	260/36 -33°	280/48 -41°	280/59 -52°
SPI	used from 598 nm out; 57 nm from the line	220/21	250/23 16°	260/27 9°	270/14 6°	270/23 -7°	270/31 -19°	270/28 -33°	290/48 -42°	300/55 -52°
IND	used from 697 nm out; 69 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
CVG	used from 847 nm out; 15 nm from the line	320/18	350/32 16°	350/35 10°	350/30 3°	330/30 -7°	340/44 -20°	340/58 -35°	330/72 -41°	320/36 -49°

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 10 knots	0.75 mi	300 ft	3,203 ft	1:19 am MDT (07:19 UTC)
PHP Philip, SD	60 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots	3 mi	400 ft	2,209 ft	06:55 UTC
ICR Winner, SD	149 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots	5 mi	400 ft	2,032 ft	06:53 UTC
YKN Yankton, SD	259 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,305 ft	06:56 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	309 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	06:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	438 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	06:54 UTC
GGI Grinnell, IA	478 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,008 ft	07:15 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	578 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	06:52 UTC
BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL	668 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	871 ft	06:56 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	787 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	none	796 ft	07:11 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	817 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	656 ft	01:45 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	destination	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots	0.75 mi	200 ft	896 ft	3:12 am EDT (07:12 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 CVG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet IFR

At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for CVG

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for RAP, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
At times between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog, overcast at 200 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet

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

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at RAP 6:12 pm MDT (00:12 UTC), at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International.