Santa FE Regional to Minot International SAF → MOT
788 nautical miles (907 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 014°, about 006° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 40-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SAF is VFR, wind variable at 3 knots; MOT is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 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 C12C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 25,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am MDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 70 to 160 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120655 MKCC WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12C VALID UNTIL 0855Z CO NM FROM 40W PUB-30SSE PUB-30W CIM-50WSW ALS-40W PUB DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL250.
- SIGMET C13C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am MDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 519 to 619 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120655 MKCC WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13C VALID UNTIL 0855Z SD FROM 50NW DPR-30ESE DPR-20SE RAP-50WNW RAP-50NW DPR AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 140 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 399 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), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 110 to 220 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft, from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 150 to 489 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC). Over the last 329 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 SAF.
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (ABQ, ALS, PUB, DEN, BFF, RAP, DIK, MOT). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 170° at 23 kt | −20 kt | 9 °C | 140 kt | 5 h 38 min | 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 10 °C | 144 kt | 5 h 28 min | 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | −29 kt | 10 °C | 149 kt | 5 h 17 min | 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −33 kt | 5 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 09 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −35 kt | 1 °C | 155 kt | 5 h 05 min | 7:48 am CDT (12:48 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 41 kt | −36 kt | -3 °C | 156 kt | 5 h 03 min | 7:46 am CDT (12:46 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 42 kt | −37 kt | -8 °C | 157 kt | 5 h 01 min | 7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 43 kt | −37 kt | -9 °C | 157 kt | 5 h 01 min | 7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 47 kt | −40 kt | -21 °C | 160 kt | 4 h 56 min | 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 51 kt | −40 kt | -32 °C | 160 kt | 4 h 56 min | 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 57 kt | −39 kt | -38 °C | 159 kt | 4 h 57 min | 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 57 kt | −37 kt | -46 °C | 157 kt | 5 h 01 min | 7:44 am CDT (12:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABQ | used from 0 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| ALS | used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| PUB | used from 150 nm out; 33 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° | ||
| DEN | used from 200 nm out; 39 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° | ||
| BFF | used from 349 nm out; 24 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° | |
| RAP | used from 449 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| DIK | used from 599 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| MOT | used from 748 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 120/14 5° | 200/20 4° | 230/33 1° | 250/39 -11° | 250/50 -21° | 240/61 -37° | 250/56 -45° | 260/68 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 6,348 ft | 12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC) |
| SKX Taos, NM | 50 nm out, 8 nm east of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| ALS Alamosa, CO | 110 nm out, 17 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 8,500 ft | 7,539 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 200 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | 259 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 24 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 5,433 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 389 nm out, 16 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| TOR Torrington, WY | 399 nm out, 12 nm west of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,206 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 529 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 07:38 UTC |
| LEM Lemmon, SD | 649 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,572 ft | ||||
| HZE Hazen, ND | 728 nm out, 6 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain | from the east-northeast (070°) at 13 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 1,814 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| MOT Minot, ND | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,715 ft | 2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,539 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MOT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC)
Wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for MOT
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
The forecast for SAF, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 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 16 nm from the route, 200 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/8911 DENVER, CO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, 269 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at SAF 6:31 pm MDT (00:31 UTC), at MOT 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm CDT (00:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MOT is before sunrise there (8:00 am CDT (13:00 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: Santa FE Regional, Minot International.
