Rochester International to Laughlin/Bullhead International RST → IFP
1,144 nautical miles (1,316 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 250°, about 251° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 26-knot headwind), arriving about 8:41 am MST (15:41 UTC). 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: 16 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 W11W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 796 to 806 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120255 MKCW WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11W VALID UNTIL 0455Z CO NM FROM 20WNW PUB-10ENE CIM-50WNW ABQ-30NNE DVC-20WNW PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 398 to 487 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 477 to 905 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 527 to 1124 nm out.
- 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 627 to 845 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 656 to 696 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 826 to 1124 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 278 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 915 to 1005 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 995 to 1074 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the last 10 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 RST.
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 02:00–09:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (MCW, FSD, ONL, GLD, BFF, DEN, GJT, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS). 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 | 220° at 27 kt | +26 kt | 12 °C | 94 kt | 12 h 10 min | 8:41 am MST (15:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +27 kt | 7 °C | 93 kt | 12 h 18 min | 8:49 am MST (15:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 3 °C | 91 kt | 12 h 34 min | 9:05 am MST (16:05 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -2 °C | 89 kt | 12 h 51 min | 9:22 am MST (16:22 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 34 kt | +32 kt | -6 °C | 88 kt | 13 h | 9:31 am MST (16:31 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 35 kt | +34 kt | -10 °C | 86 kt | 13 h 18 min | 9:49 am MST (16:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | +42 kt | -21 °C | 78 kt | 14 h 40 min | 11:11 am MST (18:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 53 kt | +52 kt | -31 °C | 68 kt | 16 h 49 min | 1:20 pm MST (20:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 57 kt | +58 kt | -37 °C | 62 kt | 18 h 27 min | 2:58 pm MST (21:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 53 kt | +54 kt | -46 °C | 66 kt | 17 h 20 min | 1:51 pm MST (20:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCW | used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| FSD | used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| ONL | used from 199 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| GLD | used from 398 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 448 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 497 nm out; 73 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° | ||
| GJT | used from 696 nm out; 70 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 845 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 895 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1044 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| LAS | used from 1094 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RST Rochester, MN | departure | no report just now | 1,317 ft | ||||
| AEL Albert Lea, MN | 40 nm out, 0 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,261 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 189 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,098 ft | ||||
| BUB Burwell, NE | 318 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| GGF Grant, NE | 448 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,424 ft | ||||
| FMM Fort Morgan, CO | 547 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,595 ft | ||||
| DEN Denver, CO | 597 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,433 ft | ||||
| ASE Aspen, CO | 706 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,837 ft | ||||
| AIB Nucla, CO | 806 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 5,945 ft | ||||
| PGA Page, AZ | 955 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,316 ft | ||||
| IGM Kingman, AZ | 1114 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 3,448 ft | ||||
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | destination | no report just now | 707 ft |
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 IFP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:41 am MST (15:41 UTC)
IFP has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at RST 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC), at IFP 6:07 pm MST (01:07 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:32 pm MST (01:32 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: Rochester International, Laughlin/Bullhead International.