Plan a flight · Mon 9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC)

Richmond International to Joe Foss Field RIC → FSD

955 nautical miles (1,099 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 299°, about 309° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 18 knots, gusting to 28; FSD is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) 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: 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 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 149 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 119 to 219 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 129 to 358 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). Over the last 30 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 RIC.

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

C56X at 1,100 ft, 45 nm southeast, 8:48 am EDT (12:48 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the departure end, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1248/FL011/TP C56X/SK OVC011/RM OVC011 DURD RWY25 KPHF
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHF
Where
over KPHF
Time
12:48 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
OVC011 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
BE36 at 2,000 ft, 10 nm south, 8:18 am EDT (12:18 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,000 ft; overcast above 3,500 ft. At the departure end, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC210010/TM 1218/FL020/TP BE36/SK SCT010 OVC035
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
10 nm southwest (210°) of RIC
Time
12:18 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Sky
SCT010 OVC035
A320 at 4,000 ft, 6 nm west, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: TOPS048. At the departure end, 6 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC270006/TM 1103/FL040/TP A320/SK BKN040/RM TOPS048
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
6 nm west (270°) of RIC
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 4,000 ft
Remarks
TOPS048
CRJ9 at 26,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC): light chop turbulence above 26,000 ft. 159 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV EKN/TM 1150/FL260/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 260
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over EKN
Time
11:50 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 26,000 ft
C25A at 36,000 ft, 28 nm southwest, 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 169 nm along the route, 28 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ088045/TM 1154/FL360/TP C25A/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
45 nm east (088°) of HVQ
Time
11:54 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
B38M at 38,000 ft, 34 nm southwest, 7:57 am EDT (11:57 UTC): light chop turbulence. 179 nm along the route, 34 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ090035/TM 1157/FL380/TP B38M/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
35 nm east (090°) of HVQ
Time
11:57 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
SR20 climbing, 46 nm southwest, 8:05 am EDT (12:05 UTC): a broken layer from 1,200 ft to 4,600 ft. 199 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1205/FLDURC/TP SR20/SK BKN012-TOP046
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
12:05 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
SR20
Sky
a broken layer from 1,200 ft, tops 4,600 ft
B350 climbing, 46 nm southwest, 7:12 am EDT (11:12 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 199 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1112/FLDURC/TP B350/SK TOP050
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
11:12 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B350
Sky
TOP050
BE20 climbing, 46 nm southwest, 7:11 am EDT (11:11 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. 199 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1111/FLDURC/TP BE20/SK OVC013-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
11:11 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops unknown
PC12 at 1,100 ft, 10 nm north, 9:15 am EDT (13:15 UTC): no icing, overcast from 1,100 ft to 3,500 ft; clear from 3,500 ft to 60,000 ft, 13 °C, remarks: during the descent. 219 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV PKB/TM 1315/FL011/TP PC12/SK OVC011-TOP035/SKC/TA 13/IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over PKB
Time
13:15 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
OVC011-TOP035 C
Temperature
13 °C
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
E135 at 1,900 ft, 10 nm north, 8:26 am EDT (12:26 UTC): no icing, a broken layer from 1,200 ft to 1,900 ft, 13 °C, remarks: during the climb. 219 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV PKB/TM 1226/FL019/TP E135/SK BKN012-TOP019/TA 13/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over PKB
Time
12:26 UTC
Height
at 1,900 ft
Aircraft
E135
Sky
a broken layer from 1,200 ft, tops 1,900 ft
Temperature
13 °C
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
PC12 at 25,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 9:04 am EDT (13:04 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing. 229 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV HNN/TM 1304/FL250/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over HNN
Time
13:04 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Icing
none
C25A at 3,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 8:05 am EDT (12:05 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 3,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 259 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ZZV UA /OV ZZV/TM 1205/FL030/TP C25A/SK SKC/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ZZV
Where
over ZZV
Time
12:05 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
C25A at 5,000 ft, 33 nm northeast, 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 5,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 259 nm along the route, 33 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ZZV UA /OV ZZV/TM 1156/FL050/TP C25A/SK SKC/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ZZV
Where
over ZZV
Time
11:56 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 9 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, FWA, JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD). 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	280° at 18 kt	+18 kt	10 °C	102 kt	9 h 22 min	6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	+18 kt	14 °C	102 kt	9 h 22 min	6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 16 kt	+17 kt	11 °C	103 kt	9 h 16 min	6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	+19 kt	7 °C	101 kt	9 h 27 min	6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+22 kt	3 °C	98 kt	9 h 45 min	6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-1 °C	96 kt	9 h 57 min	6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 24 kt	+25 kt	-5 °C	95 kt	10 h 03 min	7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 26 kt	+26 kt	-8 °C	94 kt	10 h 10 min	7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 30 kt	+31 kt	-20 °C	89 kt	10 h 44 min	7:41 pm CDT (00:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 34 kt	+35 kt	-35 °C	85 kt	11 h 14 min	8:11 pm CDT (01:11 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 49 kt	+50 kt	-41 °C	70 kt	13 h 39 min	10:36 pm CDT (03:36 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 55 kt	+56 kt	-49 °C	64 kt	14 h 55 min	11:52 pm CDT (04:52 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
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	350/34	340/27 12°	340/36 8°	330/31 3°	310/32 -9°	320/34 -21°	300/37 -34°	290/37 -39°	290/42 -46°
EKN	used from 50 nm out; 72 nm from the line		330/20 10°	350/29 7°	340/32 2°	340/44 -8°	350/50 -21°	350/63 -35°	340/69 -40°	330/42 -50°
CRW	used from 199 nm out; 50 nm from the line	320/17	340/23 12°	340/32 8°	340/35 4°	330/40 -7°	340/45 -20°	340/57 -34°	340/64 -42°	320/38 -50°
CMH	used from 249 nm out; 31 nm from the line	320/12	340/26 15°	340/22 9°	320/24 3°	320/32 -7°	320/36 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/59 -44°	320/57 -50°
FWA	used from 348 nm out; 54 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
JOT	used from 498 nm out; 35 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
DBQ	used from 597 nm out; 61 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
MCW	used from 746 nm out; 39 nm from the line	250/36	250/24 19°	240/26 11°	250/30 5°	270/22 -9°	260/30 -21°	260/31 -36°	280/53 -38°	280/66 -48°
FSD	used from 896 nm out; 35 nm from the line	210/20	230/23 21°	220/25 14°	230/30 5°	230/26 -9°	240/30 -21°	270/33 -36°	260/47 -37°	270/58 -47°

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
RIC Richmond, VA	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 18 knots, gusting to 28	10+ mi	none	167 ft	9:54 am EDT (13:54 UTC)
CHO Charlottesville, VA	70 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	640 ft	13:53 UTC
EKN Elkins, WV	149 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	variable at 3 knots	9 mi	1,900 ft	1,987 ft	13:51 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	219 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	5 mi	900 ft	858 ft	13:22 UTC
LCK Columbus, OH	299 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	743 ft	12:55 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	448 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	12:55 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	557 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	13:45 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	577 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	9 mi	none	712 ft	13:52 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	756 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	13:54 UTC
AXA Algona, IA	846 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,216 ft	13:35 UTC
EGQ Emmetsburg, IA	866 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				1,206 ft
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for FSD

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 300 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 800 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet

The forecast for RIC, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 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 Northeast · 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: Richmond International, Joe Foss Field.