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 (8,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots; MTJ is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- 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 20 to 110 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 169 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 159 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 110 to 289 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 130 to 419 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 648 to 1066 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 199 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 route from 1216 to 1276 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 30 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 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
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 | 270° at 23 kt | +23 kt | 15 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 23 min | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +20 kt | 16 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 57 min | 7:27 pm MDT (01:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 13 h 49 min | 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 8 °C | 101 kt | 13 h 49 min | 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | +20 kt | 5 °C | 100 kt | 13 h 57 min | 7:27 pm MDT (01:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | +23 kt | 0 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 23 min | 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 25 kt | +26 kt | -4 °C | 94 kt | 14 h 50 min | 8:20 pm MDT (02:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 27 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 15 h 10 min | 8:40 pm MDT (02:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 32 kt | +33 kt | -19 °C | 87 kt | 16 h 02 min | 9:32 pm MDT (03:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 49 kt | +52 kt | -31 °C | 68 kt | 20 h 31 min | 2:01 am MDT (08:01 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 55 kt | +57 kt | -38 °C | 63 kt | 22 h 09 min | 3:39 am MDT (09:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 51 kt | +53 kt | -49 °C | 67 kt | 20 h 49 min | 2:19 am MDT (08:19 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| TRI | used from 100 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| TYS | used from 249 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| LOU | used from 299 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| EVV | used from 399 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| CGI | used from 498 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 260/22 | 250/15 15° | 250/13 11° | 250/16 6° | 270/29 -7° | 280/30 -18° | 290/40 -31° | 290/55 -40° | 300/51 -51° |
| STL | used from 548 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| COU | used from 598 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| SGF | used from 698 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| MKC | used from 747 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SLN | used from 847 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| GCK | used from 997 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| GLD | used from 1096 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 1146 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 1296 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| GJT | used from 1345 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 220/26 6° | 230/39 0° | 220/55 -13° | 230/60 -23° | 230/78 -31° | 230/80 -35° | 230/74 -44° |
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 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC) |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 60 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 925 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 179 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 1,518 ft | 11:00 UTC |
| SME Somerset, KY | 289 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | variable at 4 knots | 1.75 mi | 200 ft | 927 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL | 518 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 411 ft | 10:52 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 | 10:55 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 | 11:15 UTC |
| SLN Salina, KS | 917 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TQK Scott City, KS | 1066 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,968 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 1246 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| ANK Salida, CO | 1306 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,523 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| MTJ Montrose, CO | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,758 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 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, 7:19 pm MDT (01:19 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 VFR
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 marginal 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 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MTJ is after sunset there (6:38 pm MDT (00:38 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Montrose Regional.