Central Wyoming Regional to Northern Colorado Regional RIW → FNL
220 nautical miles (253 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 134°, about 124° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10E). At 120 knots that is 1 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (7,500 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:43 am MDT (10:43 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIW is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots; FNL is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 38 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 201 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 201 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 182 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 48 to 153 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 57 to 115 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 RIW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 4 nm east, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 211 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
- Time
- 07:24 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- FL180-130
- B737 descending, 42 nm southeast, 2:10 am MDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 08:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- B737 descending, 42 nm southeast, 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 07:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- smooth
- B738 descending, 42 nm southeast, 12:15 am MDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
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 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 3 forecast points nearest it (LND, RKS, DEN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | −8 kt | 7 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 43 min | 4:43 am MDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −7 kt | 6 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 44 min | 4:44 am MDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 3 °C | 125 kt | 1 h 46 min | 4:46 am MDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −2 kt | -1 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 48 min | 4:48 am MDT (10:48 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | 0 | -6 °C | 120 kt | 1 h 50 min | 4:50 am MDT (10:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 42 kt | +2 kt | -10 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 52 min | 4:52 am MDT (10:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 44 kt | +3 kt | -11 °C | 117 kt | 1 h 53 min | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | −2 kt | -22 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 48 min | 4:48 am MDT (10:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 57 kt | +1 kt | -32 °C | 119 kt | 1 h 51 min | 4:51 am MDT (10:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 60 kt | −4 kt | -36 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 46 min | 4:46 am MDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 60 kt | −4 kt | -45 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 46 min | 4:46 am MDT (10:46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LND | used from 0 nm out; 29 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 96 nm out; 113 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| DEN | used from 144 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIW Riverton, WY | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 5,516 ft | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 96 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LAR Laramie, WY | 163 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 18 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 7,283 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | destination | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 2:56 am MDT (08:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,283 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FNL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:43 am MDT (10:43 UTC)
FNL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for RIW, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 15 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet and more above
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 RIW 6:34 pm MDT (00:34 UTC), at FNL 6:23 pm MDT (00:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FNL is before sunrise there (7:07 am MDT (13:07 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: Central Wyoming Regional, Northern Colorado Regional.