Plan a flight · Sun 8:09 pm PDT (03:09 UTC)

Seattle-Tacoma International to Joe Foss Field SEA → FSD

1,095 nautical miles (1,260 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 093°, about 077° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:16 am CDT (10:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SEA is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots; FSD is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 4 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 159 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the route from 60 to 508 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 587 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 458 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 route from 279 to 946 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 577 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Near the route, 747 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

A321 at 13,500 ft, 33 nm south, 6:54 pm PDT (01:54 UTC): remarks: zse. At the departure end, 33 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SEA UA /OV SEA120045/TM 0154/FL135/TP A321/SK TOP130/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through SEA
Where
45 nm southeast (120°) of SEA
Time
01:54 UTC
Height
at 13,500 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 13,000 ft, 34 nm south, 5:42 pm PDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the departure end, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL130/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 15,000 ft, 34 nm south, 5:42 pm PDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the departure end, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL150/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
SB20 at 16,000 ft, 27 nm north, 6:52 pm PDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: zse. 50 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAE UA /OV PAE075045/TM 0152/FL160/TP SB20/SK TOP120/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAE
Where
45 nm east (075°) of PAE
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
SB20
Sky
TOP120
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 13,500 ft, 37 nm south, 6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC): no turbulence, a trace of icing, overcast from 9,000 ft to 13,500 ft, -10 °C. 139 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSC UA /OV PSC360025/TM 0108/FL135/TP PC12/SK OVC090-TOP135/TA M10/TB NEG /IC TRACE RM 135-090
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSC
Where
25 nm north (360°) of PSC
Time
01:08 UTC
Height
at 13,500 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 9,000 ft, tops 13,500 ft
Temperature
−10 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
trace remarks from 13,500 ft to 9,000 ft
BCS1 at 3,700 ft, 2 nm northwest, 6:47 pm PDT (01:47 UTC): snow, rain, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 339 nm along the route, 2 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0147/FL037/TP BCS1/SK 037/WX SN RA/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
01:47 UTC
Height
at 3,700 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Sky
at 3,700 ft
Weather
snow, rain
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
C25B at 4,100 ft, 2 nm northwest, 5:36 pm PDT (00:36 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,100 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 339 nm along the route, 2 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0036/FL041/TP C25B/SK OVC041/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,100 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
overcast from 4,100 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
E75L descending, 44 nm south, 6:04 pm PDT (01:04 UTC): remarks: had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground. 468 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0104/FLDURD/TP E75L/RM HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AT 400-500FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground
B737 descending, 44 nm south, 5:28 pm PDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. 468 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins
A306 at 4,700 ft, 21 nm south, 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 568 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIL
Where
1 nm west (280°) of BIL
Time
00:51 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
A306
Sky
base 4,700 ft
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 33 nm north, 5:20 pm PDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. At the destination end, 33 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft

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 11 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, LWS, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD). 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	130° at 9 kt	+9 kt	8 °C	111 kt	9 h 52 min	8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC)
7,500 ft	150° at 8 kt	+7 kt	5 °C	113 kt	9 h 41 min	7:50 am CDT (12:50 UTC)
9,500 ft	180° at 8 kt	+4 kt	1 °C	116 kt	9 h 26 min	7:35 am CDT (12:35 UTC)
11,500 ft	200° at 13 kt	+1 kt	-2 °C	119 kt	9 h 12 min	7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	200° at 14 kt	−2 kt	-5 °C	122 kt	8 h 59 min	7:08 am CDT (12:08 UTC)
15,500 ft	210° at 15 kt	−4 kt	-9 °C	124 kt	8 h 50 min	6:59 am CDT (11:59 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	−7 kt	-13 °C	127 kt	8 h 37 min	6:46 am CDT (11:46 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 17 kt	−7 kt	-14 °C	127 kt	8 h 37 min	6:46 am CDT (11:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 18 kt	−8 kt	-24 °C	128 kt	8 h 33 min	6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 25 kt	−13 kt	-37 °C	133 kt	8 h 14 min	6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 37 kt	−28 kt	-40 °C	148 kt	7 h 24 min	5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 45 kt	−34 kt	-44 °C	154 kt	7 h 07 min	5:16 am CDT (10:16 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; 48 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 149 nm out; 31 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°
LWS	used from 249 nm out; 70 nm from the line	070/10	080/12 -2°	030/12 -6°	080/7 -10°	170/34 -21°	160/46 -32°	200/33 -35°	220/22 -35°	230/18 -38°
GPI	used from 299 nm out; 84 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 348 nm out; 86 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°
BIL	used from 498 nm out; 56 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
MLS	used from 647 nm out; 42 nm from the line		150/23 2°	190/29 4°	210/44 2°	220/32 -10°	210/36 -21°	200/48 -37°	230/63 -40°	240/71 -47°
RAP	used from 747 nm out; 84 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°
PIR	used from 846 nm out; 64 nm from the line		170/22 19°	190/25 13°	210/32 6°	240/23 -9°	250/32 -21°	250/38 -36°	260/44 -40°	260/52 -47°
FSD	used from 996 nm out; 75 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°

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 Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	432 ft	7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC)
EAT Wenatchee, WA	90 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	1,248 ft	02:55 UTC
MWH Moses Lake, WA	119 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	1,188 ft	02:52 UTC
HLN Helena, MT	428 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots	1 mi	900 ft	3,877 ft	02:53 UTC
HWQ Harlowton, MT	518 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				4,311 ft
BIL Billings, MT	577 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light rain, light snow	from the north (360°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	3,662 ft	02:53 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	936 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the east (090°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,744 ft	02:53 UTC
MHE Mitchell, SD	1035 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,304 ft	02:53 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	9:56 pm CDT (02:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,311 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FSD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:16 am CDT (10:16 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FSD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for SEA, the departure

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the 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 northwest at 5 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 FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FSD is before sunrise there (7:37 am CDT (12:37 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

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Joe Foss Field.