Rapid City Regional to Grand Junction Regional RAP → GJT
384 nautical miles (442 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 222°, about 214° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 4:40 am MDT (10:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots; GJT is VFR, wind variable at 4 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 C11C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am MDT (07:55 UTC). Over the first 39 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120555 MKCC WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11C VALID UNTIL 0755Z SD WY FROM 60WNW DPR-20SSE DPR-40SSW RAP-60W RAP-60WNW DPR DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 39 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 last 355 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 355 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 305 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 138 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
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 48 nm southeast, 10:33 pm MDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 236 nm along the route, 48 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
- E170 at 4,800 ft, 0 nm west, 12:31 am MDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 06:31 UTC
- Height
- at 4,800 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (RAP, BFF, DEN, RKS, GJT). 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 | 180° at 26 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 48 min | 4:40 am MDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 190° at 26 kt | +22 kt | 12 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 55 min | 4:47 am MDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | +34 kt | 11 °C | 86 kt | 4 h 28 min | 5:20 am MDT (11:20 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | +36 kt | 9 °C | 84 kt | 4 h 34 min | 5:26 am MDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | +38 kt | 3 °C | 82 kt | 4 h 41 min | 5:33 am MDT (11:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | +38 kt | -2 °C | 82 kt | 4 h 41 min | 5:33 am MDT (11:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 38 kt | +38 kt | -6 °C | 82 kt | 4 h 41 min | 5:33 am MDT (11:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 37 kt | +37 kt | -10 °C | 83 kt | 4 h 38 min | 5:30 am MDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 46 kt | +46 kt | -22 °C | 74 kt | 5 h 11 min | 6:03 am MDT (12:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 47 kt | +47 kt | -31 °C | 73 kt | 5 h 16 min | 6:08 am MDT (12:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 54 kt | +51 kt | -36 °C | 69 kt | 5 h 34 min | 6:26 am MDT (12:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 54 kt | +52 kt | -45 °C | 68 kt | 5 h 39 min | 6:31 am MDT (12:31 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° | |
| BFF | used from 98 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 197 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 246 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| GJT | used from 295 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° |
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 northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 12:08 am MDT (06:08 UTC) |
| CUT Custer, SD | 30 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 5,619 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GUR Guernsey, WY | 128 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| EAN Wheatland, WY | 148 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,779 ft | 06:30 UTC |
| LAR Laramie, WY | 197 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 22 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 7,283 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HDN Hayden, CO | 286 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,606 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| EEO Meeker, CO | 325 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 6,415 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RIL Rifle, CO | 345 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 5,536 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,861 ft | 11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,283 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At GJT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:40 am MDT (10:40 UTC)
Wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for GJT
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 27, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC) and 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 19 knots, gusting to 31, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 6,000 feet (thunderheads)
The forecast for RAP, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, a broken layer at 1,000 feet (thunderheads)
- 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, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 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 RAP 6:12 pm MDT (00:12 UTC), at GJT 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:05 pm MDT (01:05 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at GJT is before sunrise there (7:20 am MDT (13:20 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: Rapid City Regional, Grand Junction Regional.