Plan a flight · Sun 11:58 pm MDT (05:58 UTC)

Rifle Garfield County to Tampa International RIL → TPA

1,429 nautical miles (1,645 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 111°, about 101° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 36-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:08 am EDT (15:08 UTC). Right now RIL is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots; TPA is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 first 160 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the first 210 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 240 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 220 nm along 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 230 to 620 nm out.

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

urgent E75L at 9,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 10:30 pm MDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. At the departure end, 5 nm southeast 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
BE20 at 16,000 ft, 0 nm east, 9:28 pm MDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. At the departure end, 0 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIL
Where
over RIL
Time
03:28 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−3 °C
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
light rime
Remarks
ZDVWC-11
UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 23 nm south, 9:11 pm MDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. At the departure end, 23 nm south 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
B733 at 20,000 ft, 48 nm south, 9:16 pm MDT (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 departure end, 48 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
E170 at 22,500 ft, 17 nm northeast, 11:06 pm MDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 100 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast 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

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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (GJT, DEN, PUB, GCK, GAG, OKC, TUL, FSM, LIT, JAN, MOB, TLH, PIE). 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	240° at 12 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	11 h 20 min	1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	−10 kt	20 °C	130 kt	11 h	12:58 pm EDT (16:58 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	−11 kt	15 °C	131 kt	10 h 55 min	12:53 pm EDT (16:53 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 16 kt	−12 kt	12 °C	132 kt	10 h 50 min	12:48 pm EDT (16:48 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	−13 kt	8 °C	133 kt	10 h 45 min	12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	−13 kt	4 °C	133 kt	10 h 45 min	12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	−13 kt	-1 °C	133 kt	10 h 45 min	12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 20 kt	−13 kt	-5 °C	133 kt	10 h 45 min	12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 21 kt	−13 kt	-6 °C	133 kt	10 h 45 min	12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 27 kt	−21 kt	-18 °C	141 kt	10 h 08 min	12:06 pm EDT (16:06 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 38 kt	−34 kt	-30 °C	154 kt	9 h 17 min	11:15 am EDT (15:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 38 kt	−36 kt	-39 °C	156 kt	9 h 10 min	11:08 am EDT (15:08 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 34 kt	−34 kt	-50 °C	154 kt	9 h 17 min	11:15 am EDT (15:15 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
GJT	used from 0 nm out; 62 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°
DEN	used from 50 nm out; 87 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°
PUB	used from 100 nm out; 44 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°
GCK	used from 250 nm out; 77 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°
GAG	used from 350 nm out; 54 nm from the line		220/40 19°	230/28 14°	240/23 8°	230/21 -6°	240/31 -19°	250/66 -29°	260/58 -38°	260/47 -49°
OKC	used from 500 nm out; 31 nm from the line	200/44	230/32 18°	240/13 15°	240/10 9°	240/20 -5°	250/27 -16°	260/47 -28°	270/48 -39°	270/45 -50°
TUL	used from 600 nm out; 65 nm from the line	210/37	240/29 17°	260/15 14°	260/11 7°	240/22 -6°	250/29 -16°	270/45 -29°	270/47 -40°	280/44 -50°
FSM	used from 650 nm out; 47 nm from the line	210/27	250/23 16°	250/20 13°	240/17 8°	250/18 -6°	260/31 -16°	280/42 -30°	280/44 -40°	290/38 -51°
LIT	used from 750 nm out; 70 nm from the line	220/21	230/17 16°	250/24 12°	260/15 7°	260/13 -5°	280/25 -16°	290/35 -30°	300/42 -40°	300/40 -52°
JAN	used from 849 nm out; 85 nm from the line	230/10	270/13 18°	270/11 12°	310/11 6°	300/15 -4°	300/22 -16°	310/33 -31°	320/37 -41°	330/41 -52°
MOB	used from 1049 nm out; 37 nm from the line	330/5	330/6 19°	340/6 11°	330/10 7°	320/16 -5°	310/26 -16°	340/40 -32°	340/47 -42°	350/51 -52°
TLH	used from 1199 nm out; 77 nm from the line	320/18	350/31 18°	340/24 13°	310/17 8°	280/22 -7°	300/25 -17°	320/28 -33°	320/24 -41°	320/25 -50°
PIE	used from 1349 nm out; 51 nm from the line	350/6	L/V 18°	290/6 14°	280/9 9°	250/18 -6°	250/23 -17°	240/30 -31°	220/31 -41°	220/30 -52°

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 few clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-southwest (240°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	5,536 ft	11:53 pm MDT (05:53 UTC)
ASE Aspen, CO	40 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	7,837 ft	05:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	170 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	05:53 UTC
JHN Johnson City, KS	300 nm out, 6 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	none	3,325 ft	05:35 UTC
PWA Oklahoma City, OK	540 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	1,299 ft	05:53 UTC
MEZ Mena, AR	710 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,079 ft	05:55 UTC
CDH Camden, AR	800 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	9 mi	none	129 ft	22:15 UTC
JAN Jackson, MS	959 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	346 ft	05:54 UTC
PNS Pensacola, FL	1139 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	120 ft	05:53 UTC
DTS Destin, FL	1179 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	22 ft	05:53 UTC
TPA Tampa, FL	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	26 ft	1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At TPA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:08 am EDT (15:08 UTC)

Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for TPA

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for RIL, the departure

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 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-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 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

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 6 nm from the route, 110 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at RIL 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC), at TPA 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Rifle Garfield County, Tampa International.