Rifle Garfield County to Jackson Hole Airport RIL → JAC
280 nautical miles (322 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 332°, about 322° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 2 h at the quickest height in today's winds (18,000 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:57 am MDT (15:57 UTC). Right now RIL is VFR, wind calm; JAC 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: 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
- SIGMET W27W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the west at 45 knots, until 9:55 am MDT (15:55 UTC). Near the route, 230 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121355 MKCW WST 121355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 27W VALID UNTIL 1555Z WY UT ID FROM 40E PIH-20NW BPI-50E SLC-20SW SLC-40E PIH DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 26045KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 110 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 270 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 last 70 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 RIL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PC12 at 5,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 5:23 am MDT (11:23 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. At the departure end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 1123/FL050/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD/IC NEG/RM DURD. ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- over GJT
- Time
- 11:23 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the descent zdvwc
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 3 forecast points nearest it (GJT, RKS, LND). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 12 kt | −1 kt | 4 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 19 min | 10:16 am MDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −2 kt | 2 °C | 122 kt | 2 h 18 min | 10:15 am MDT (16:15 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −5 kt | -2 °C | 125 kt | 2 h 14 min | 10:11 am MDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | −11 kt | -6 °C | 131 kt | 2 h 08 min | 10:05 am MDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −16 kt | -11 °C | 136 kt | 2 h 04 min | 10:01 am MDT (16:01 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 45 kt | −20 kt | -14 °C | 140 kt | 2 h | 9:57 am MDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 57 kt | −17 kt | -23 °C | 137 kt | 2 h 03 min | 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 59 kt | −19 kt | -32 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 01 min | 9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 57 kt | −19 kt | -35 °C | 139 kt | 2 h 01 min | 9:58 am MDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 54 kt | −17 kt | -44 °C | 137 kt | 2 h 03 min | 10:00 am MDT (16:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GJT | used from 0 nm out; 53 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 50 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 200 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIL Rifle, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 5,536 ft | 7:53 am MDT (13:53 UTC) |
| EEO Meeker, CO | 30 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 6,415 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| RKS Rock Springs, WY | 140 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 6,764 ft | 12:54 UTC |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 210 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,300 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 6,993 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 6,451 ft | 6:56 am MDT (12:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:57 am MDT (15:57 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for JAC
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for RIL, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- At times between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 1,500 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 RIL 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC), at JAC 6:43 pm MDT (00:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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: Rifle Garfield County, Jackson Hole Airport.