Rapid City Regional to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport RAP → MSP
424 nautical miles (488 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 080°, about 072° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 65-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:05 pm CDT (04:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the east (090°) at 6 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) 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: 2,514 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 39 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 20 to 128 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 296 nm along 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
- B763 at 32,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:29 pm MDT (01:29 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 79 nm along the route, 28 nm south 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
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 45 nm north, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): light chop turbulence. 197 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABR UA /OV ABR230015/TM 2328/FL350/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABR
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (230°) of ABR
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- light chop
- BE20 at 14,000 ft, 27 nm south, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 266 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
- Report
- a routine report filed through FSD
- Where
- 35 nm north (340°) of FSD
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Turbulence
- continuous light no at 12,000 ft
- B39M at 34,000 ft, 16 nm south, 5:25 pm MDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 385 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
- Time
- 23:25 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- light chop
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 6 forecast points nearest it (RAP, PIR, ABR, FSD, AXN, MSP). 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 | 210° at 10 kt | −5 kt | 125 kt | 3 h 24 min | 12:11 am CDT (05:11 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | −6 kt | 16 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 22 min | 12:09 am CDT (05:09 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 14 kt | −11 kt | 14 °C | 131 kt | 3 h 14 min | 12:01 am CDT (05:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −16 kt | 11 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 07 min | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 6 °C | 138 kt | 3 h 04 min | 11:51 pm CDT (04:51 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −21 kt | 2 °C | 141 kt | 3 h | 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -3 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 55 min | 11:42 pm CDT (04:42 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | −28 kt | -9 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 52 min | 11:39 pm CDT (04:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 30 kt | −29 kt | -10 °C | 149 kt | 2 h 51 min | 11:38 pm CDT (04:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -21 °C | 154 kt | 2 h 45 min | 11:32 pm CDT (04:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 45 kt | −45 kt | -35 °C | 165 kt | 2 h 34 min | 11:21 pm CDT (04:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 51 kt | −51 kt | -43 °C | 171 kt | 2 h 29 min | 11:16 pm CDT (04:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 65 kt | −65 kt | -52 °C | 185 kt | 2 h 18 min | 11:05 pm CDT (04:05 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 49 nm out; 47 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° | |
| ABR | used from 197 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 030/24 | 220/5 16° | 230/18 12° | 230/32 5° | 240/38 -10° | 250/37 -20° | 240/40 -35° | 240/56 -44° | 250/72 -52° |
| FSD | used from 247 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| AXN | used from 296 nm out; 68 nm from the line | L/V | 220/23 17° | 230/24 12° | 240/25 5° | 260/32 -11° | 260/40 -21° | 270/50 -35° | 270/57 -45° | 270/81 -55° |
| MSP | used from 345 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/28 | 240/30 19° | 240/24 12° | 240/17 5° | 270/24 -10° | 270/33 -20° | 280/48 -35° | 290/55 -45° | 280/84 -54° |
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 6 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 7:42 pm MDT (01:42 UTC) |
| PHP Philip, SD | 59 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 900 ft | 2,209 ft | 01:28 UTC |
| PIR Pierre, SD | 118 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 1,744 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MKA Miller, SD | 178 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,569 ft | ||||
| CNB Canby, MN | 296 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,194 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| GDB Granite Falls, MN | 326 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,047 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| OVL Olivia, MN | 345 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,079 ft | 01:44 UTC |
| GYL Glencoe, MN | 385 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 992 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 841 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 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 MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:05 pm CDT (04:05 UTC)
Wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
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
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSP is after sunset there (6:35 pm CDT (23:35 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, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.