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 11 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 6:36 am MST (13:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RST is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 11 knots; IFP is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 10 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: 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 1W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 666 to 835 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1W VALID UNTIL 0255Z CO NM WY AZ UT FROM 40NNW CHE-40WNW TBE-60WNW CME-40N SJN-40ESE MTU-40NNW CHE AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340. WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.
- SIGMET 4W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 975 to 995 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 4W VALID UNTIL 0255Z AZ FROM 60NE TBC-30S INW-100ESE BZA-70SE EED-50NW TBC-60NE TBC DMSHG AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 21020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- 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 10 to 109 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 517 to 1054 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 637 to 835 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 646 to 736 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 288 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 278 nm of the route.
- 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 985 to 1104 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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 20:00–03:00 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 | 210° at 27 kt | +23 kt | 13 °C | 97 kt | 11 h 48 min | 6:36 am MST (13:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +27 kt | 8 °C | 93 kt | 12 h 18 min | 7:06 am MST (14:06 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +28 kt | 4 °C | 92 kt | 12 h 26 min | 7:14 am MST (14:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -1 °C | 89 kt | 12 h 51 min | 7:39 am MST (14:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 35 kt | +34 kt | -6 °C | 86 kt | 13 h 18 min | 8:06 am MST (15:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | +36 kt | -9 °C | 84 kt | 13 h 37 min | 8:25 am MST (15:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 41 kt | +41 kt | -21 °C | 79 kt | 14 h 29 min | 9:17 am MST (16:17 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 50 kt | +50 kt | -31 °C | 70 kt | 16 h 21 min | 11:09 am MST (18:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 56 kt | +57 kt | -38 °C | 63 kt | 18 h 10 min | 12:58 pm MST (19:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 60 kt | +61 kt | -48 °C | 59 kt | 19 h 23 min | 2:11 pm MST (21:11 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| FSD | used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| ONL | used from 199 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| GLD | used from 398 nm out; 110 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| BFF | used from 448 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 120/24 | 180/31 13° | 210/26 7° | 230/25 -7° | 240/41 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 250/56 -41° | 260/57 -45° | |
| DEN | used from 497 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| GJT | used from 696 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| FMN | used from 845 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 895 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| PRC | used from 1044 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 200/36 6° | 210/46 0° | 220/60 -10° | 220/75 -19° | 220/66 -26° | 230/70 -33° | 230/59 -45° | ||
| LAS | used from 1094 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/25 11° | 230/22 5° | 240/25 -1° | 220/37 -12° | 220/44 -21° | 210/52 -27° | 210/60 -34° | 220/58 -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 | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 8 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC) |
| AEL Albert Lea, MN | 40 nm out, 0 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 27,000 feet, a broken layer at 31,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 31,000 ft | 1,261 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 189 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| 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 | VFR | from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,424 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| FMM Fort Morgan, CO | 547 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 18 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 4,595 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | 597 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 5,433 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ASE Aspen, CO | 706 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 12 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 7,837 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| AIB Nucla, CO | 806 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 | 0.5 mi | 8,500 ft | 5,945 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| PGA Page, AZ | 955 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 4,316 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| IGM Kingman, AZ | 1114 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 3,448 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 707 ft | 6:35 pm MST (01:35 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 IFP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:36 am MST (13:36 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IFP
- From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 18 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm MST (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am MST (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MST (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MST (18:00 UTC): wind from the south at 18 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
The forecast for RST, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
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)). At 120 knots the arrival at IFP is before sunrise there (6:41 am MST (13:41 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.
