Seattle-Tacoma International to Hector International SEA → FAR
1,036 nautical miles (1,192 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 066° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC). Right now SEA is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots; FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (360°) at 12 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 189 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 130 to 697 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 259 to 399 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). Over the last 757 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 279 to 468 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 687 nm along 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 SEA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 9 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, GPI, GTF, GGW, DIK, MOT, GFK). 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 | 100° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 1 °C | 105 kt | 9 h 52 min | 11:32 am CDT (16:32 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 110° at 11 kt | +11 kt | 0 °C | 109 kt | 9 h 30 min | 11:10 am CDT (16:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 150° at 8 kt | +6 kt | -3 °C | 114 kt | 9 h 05 min | 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 190° at 10 kt | +1 kt | -5 °C | 119 kt | 8 h 42 min | 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 210° at 13 kt | −4 kt | -7 °C | 124 kt | 8 h 21 min | 10:01 am CDT (15:01 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 17 kt | −9 kt | -10 °C | 129 kt | 8 h 02 min | 9:42 am CDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −13 kt | -13 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 47 min | 9:27 am CDT (14:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 22 kt | −15 kt | -14 °C | 135 kt | 7 h 40 min | 9:20 am CDT (14:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 26 kt | −16 kt | -24 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 37 min | 9:17 am CDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 29 kt | −19 kt | -38 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 27 min | 9:07 am CDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 35 kt | −27 kt | -42 °C | 147 kt | 7 h 03 min | 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 49 kt | −42 kt | -46 °C | 162 kt | 6 h 24 min | 8:04 am CDT (13:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 070/10 | 040/15 -1° | 020/27 -8° | 030/25 -13° | 020/48 -20° | 010/83 -27° | 010/77 -37° | 010/49 -40° | 350/14 -41° |
| GEG | used from 100 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 080/16 -2° | 050/17 -7° | 080/9 -10° | 190/33 -21° | 180/31 -32° | L/V -35° | L/V -37° | 270/8 -40° | |
| GPI | used from 249 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 399 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 070/11 | 080/15 -7° | 110/19 -9° | 190/25 -14° | 200/34 -23° | 200/54 -39° | 220/66 -40° | 220/77 -44° | |
| GGW | used from 548 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 110/23 0° | 130/20 -2° | 170/24 -3° | 230/44 -11° | 220/51 -21° | 210/52 -39° | 220/64 -44° | 240/85 -48° | |
| DIK | used from 697 nm out; 85 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 847 nm out; 56 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° | |
| GFK | used from 947 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 070/18 | 100/10 9° | 250/11 6° | 250/27 1° | 250/34 -10° | 260/43 -21° | 260/39 -36° | 260/36 -46° | 260/59 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA Seattle, WA | departure | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 432 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
| EAT Wenatchee, WA | 80 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 1,248 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| SFF Spokane, WA | 199 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,956 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| COE Coeur D'Alene, ID | 219 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 2,320 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| GPI Kalispell, MT | 329 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 2,976 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| OLF Wolf Point, MT | 678 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (050°) at 15 knots | 8 mi | 1,300 ft | 1,988 ft | 06:22 UTC |
| SDY Sidney, MT | 737 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: rain | from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots | 8 mi | 800 ft | 1,985 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| HZE Hazen, ND | 837 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: rain | calm | 4 mi | 800 ft | 1,814 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| BAC Valley City, ND | 986 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,401 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| FAR Fargo, ND | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (360°) at 12 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 901 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,976 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC)
Wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for FAR
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for SEA, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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 SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC), at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 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: Seattle-Tacoma International, Hector International.