Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Denver International SDF → DEN
887 nautical miles (1,021 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 282°, about 287° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 1:57 pm MDT (19:57 UTC). Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 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: 3,935 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 279 to 698 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 818 to 877 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 50 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 0 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 SDF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E550 at 8,700 ft, 25 nm south, 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 80 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through EVV
- Where
- over EVV
- Time
- 10:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,700 ft
- Aircraft
- E550
- Sky
- clear
- Remarks
- visual conditions clear during the climb
- B763 at 23,000 ft, 36 nm west, 6:26 am EDT (10:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. At the destination end, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN278037/TM 1026/FL230/TP B763/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 37 nm west (278°) of DEN
- Time
- 10:26 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (LOU, EVV, STL, COU, MKC, SLN, GLD, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 250° at 30 kt | +27 kt | 93 kt | 9 h 32 min | 2:57 pm MDT (20:57 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +22 kt | 17 °C | 98 kt | 9 h 03 min | 2:28 pm MDT (20:28 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 13 °C | 103 kt | 8 h 37 min | 2:02 pm MDT (20:02 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 32 min | 1:57 pm MDT (19:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 5 °C | 103 kt | 8 h 37 min | 2:02 pm MDT (20:02 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | +21 kt | 1 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 58 min | 2:23 pm MDT (20:23 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | +25 kt | -4 °C | 95 kt | 9 h 20 min | 2:45 pm MDT (20:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 30 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 9 h 38 min | 3:03 pm MDT (21:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 38 kt | +34 kt | -20 °C | 86 kt | 10 h 19 min | 3:44 pm MDT (21:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 58 kt | +58 kt | -31 °C | 62 kt | 14 h 18 min | 7:43 pm MDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 64 kt | +64 kt | -38 °C | 56 kt | 15 h 50 min | 9:15 pm MDT (03:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 58 kt | +60 kt | -49 °C | 60 kt | 14 h 47 min | 8:12 pm MDT (02:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| EVV | used from 50 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| STL | used from 150 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| COU | used from 249 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKC | used from 349 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SLN | used from 499 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| GLD | used from 648 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| DEN | used from 798 nm out; 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | none | 500 ft | 6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC) |
| HNB Huntingburg, IN | 60 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | none | 529 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| FOA Flora, IL | 130 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 472 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 209 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 309 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| MCI Kansas City, MO | 429 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 1,027 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TOP Topeka, KS | 469 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 881 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CNK Concordia, KS | 558 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (180°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 638 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 758 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| AKO Akron, CO | 818 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,716 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| DEN Denver, CO | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:57 pm MDT (19:57 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for DEN
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
The forecast for SDF, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 309 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Denver International.