Plan a flight · Mon 1:55 am EDT (05:55 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Montrose Regional RDU → MTJ

1,395 nautical miles (1,606 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 294° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 1:44 pm MDT (19:44 UTC). Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20; MTJ is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21. 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 159 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 169 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 110 to 269 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 route from 120 to 429 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 698 to 1166 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 239 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 209 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 149 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: 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 RDU.

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

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 41 nm north, 12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. At the destination end, 41 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
E170 at 22,500 ft, 34 nm north, 1:06 am EDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 1286 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
B733 at 20,000 ft, 5 nm south, 11:16 pm EDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. At the destination end, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
over HBU
Time
03:16 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B733
Sky
clear
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-12
UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 39 nm north, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. At the destination end, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

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 17 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, TRI, TYS, LOU, EVV, CGI, STL, COU, SGF, MKC, SLN, GCK, GLD, PUB, ALS, 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	250° at 23 kt	+21 kt	15 °C	99 kt	14 h 05 min	2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 20 kt	+21 kt	15 °C	99 kt	14 h 05 min	2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC)
8,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	+20 kt	12 °C	100 kt	13 h 57 min	1:52 pm MDT (19:52 UTC)
10,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	+19 kt	8 °C	101 kt	13 h 49 min	1:44 pm MDT (19:44 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 17 kt	+19 kt	4 °C	101 kt	13 h 49 min	1:44 pm MDT (19:44 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	+21 kt	0 °C	99 kt	14 h 05 min	2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	+23 kt	-4 °C	97 kt	14 h 23 min	2:18 pm MDT (20:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-7 °C	96 kt	14 h 32 min	2:27 pm MDT (20:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 28 kt	+29 kt	-19 °C	91 kt	15 h 20 min	3:15 pm MDT (21:15 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 42 kt	+44 kt	-31 °C	76 kt	18 h 21 min	6:16 pm MDT (00:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 48 kt	+50 kt	-38 °C	70 kt	19 h 56 min	7:51 pm MDT (01:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 44 kt	+45 kt	-48 °C	75 kt	18 h 36 min	6:31 pm MDT (00:31 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
RDU	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	280/33	300/23 11°	300/28 8°	290/28 4°	260/41 -6°	240/52 -18°	230/66 -31°	230/76 -39°	240/52 -49°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line	310/29	330/31 13°	340/28 7°	330/25 3°	310/32 -8°	300/32 -22°	290/32 -31°	270/35 -38°	270/32 -47°
TRI	used from 100 nm out; 55 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
TYS	used from 249 nm out; 70 nm from the line	320/20	340/18 11°	340/32 9°	340/36 4°	330/37 -7°	330/38 -19°	330/50 -34°	330/53 -38°	330/44 -48°
LOU	used from 299 nm out; 68 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -49°
EVV	used from 399 nm out; 37 nm from the line	280/15	290/12 17°	310/16 10°	320/13 5°	310/22 -6°	320/26 -18°	320/38 -33°	310/56 -41°	320/55 -51°
CGI	used from 498 nm out; 29 nm from the line	240/20	270/15 15°	280/15 11°	300/13 6°	290/20 -6°	280/24 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/47 -41°	310/49 -51°
STL	used from 548 nm out; 56 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -51°
COU	used from 598 nm out; 62 nm from the line	230/31	230/30 15°	260/16 11°	270/14 6°	260/24 -6°	270/27 -18°	270/37 -32°	280/49 -41°	290/56 -51°
SGF	used from 698 nm out; 55 nm from the line	230/33	230/28 15°	250/20 13°	240/18 7°	250/20 -6°	250/24 -17°	280/42 -31°	280/49 -40°	290/46 -51°
MKC	used from 747 nm out; 54 nm from the line	220/44	250/28 18°	250/18 13°	240/12 6°	280/24 -6°	240/34 -18°	260/47 -30°	260/51 -40°	270/58 -50°
SLN	used from 847 nm out; 49 nm from the line	210/53	230/41 20°	240/26 14°	230/16 8°	240/25 -7°	240/35 -19°	250/61 -30°	260/65 -38°	260/56 -49°
GCK	used from 997 nm out; 51 nm from the line		220/48 21°	230/37 14°	250/30 8°	230/37 -6°	240/37 -20°	240/69 -28°	250/67 -37°	260/58 -48°
GLD	used from 1096 nm out; 51 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
PUB	used from 1146 nm out; 67 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
ALS	used from 1296 nm out; 70 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
GJT	used from 1345 nm out; 65 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
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	6,500 ft	435 ft	1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC)
GSO Greensboro, NC	60 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	4,000 ft	925 ft	04:54 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	179 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	1,518 ft	04:53 UTC
SME Somerset, KY	289 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	9 mi	1,100 ft	927 ft	05:35 UTC
MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL	518 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	411 ft	05:52 UTC
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO	648 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,159 ft	04:55 UTC
UKL Burlington, KS	827 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,174 ft	05:35 UTC
SLN Salina, KS	917 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	1,288 ft	04:53 UTC
TQK Scott City, KS	1066 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 22 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	2,968 ft	05:35 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	1246 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	18,000 ft	6,187 ft	04:54 UTC
ANK Salida, CO	1306 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (180°) at 19 knots	10+ mi	none	7,523 ft	05:35 UTC
MTJ Montrose, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	5,758 ft	10:53 pm MDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,523 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MTJ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:44 pm MDT (19:44 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MTJ

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet

The forecast for RDU, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 1276 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at MTJ 6:38 pm MDT (00:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:04 pm MDT (01:04 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Montrose Regional.