Plan a flight · Mon 5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC)

Salt Lake City International to Detroit Metro Wayne County SLC → DTW

1,284 nautical miles (1,478 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 077°, about 066° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:34 pm EDT (18:34 UTC). Right now SLC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20; DTW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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: 3,171 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 229 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the first 109 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 259 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 368 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 199 to 448 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 209 to 249 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 219 to 328 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 408 to 607 nm out.
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 567 to 936 nm out.
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 last 70 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 SLC.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B739 at 34,000 ft, 38 nm north, 4:58 am MDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. 1065 nm along the route, 38 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
over BAE
Time
10:58 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none
MD83 at 2,500 ft, 39 nm south, 4:43 am MDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
10:43 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
MD83
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
CL35 at 6,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:47 am MDT (10:47 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 2,600 ft; clear from 2,600 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear above 2,600 ft. At the destination end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270006/TM 1047/FL060/TP CL35/SK OVC014-TOP026/RM CLEAR ABOVE 026
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
10:47 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Sky
overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 2,600 ft
Remarks
clear above 2,600 ft
B739 at 9,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 4:33 am MDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
clear
Wind
from 295° at 13 knots
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent

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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, OMA, MCW, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA). 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	260° at 25 kt	−24 kt	22 °C	144 kt	8 h 55 min	4:04 pm EDT (20:04 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	−21 kt	15 °C	141 kt	9 h 06 min	4:15 pm EDT (20:15 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−22 kt	10 °C	142 kt	9 h 03 min	4:12 pm EDT (20:12 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	−24 kt	6 °C	144 kt	8 h 55 min	4:04 pm EDT (20:04 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	−24 kt	1 °C	144 kt	8 h 55 min	4:04 pm EDT (20:04 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-5 °C	145 kt	8 h 51 min	4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC)
17,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-9 °C	145 kt	8 h 51 min	4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-10 °C	145 kt	8 h 51 min	4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 37 kt	−34 kt	-22 °C	154 kt	8 h 20 min	3:29 pm EDT (19:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 44 kt	−43 kt	-33 °C	163 kt	7 h 53 min	3:02 pm EDT (19:02 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 48 kt	−48 kt	-38 °C	168 kt	7 h 39 min	2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 51 kt	−53 kt	-47 °C	173 kt	7 h 25 min	2:34 pm EDT (18:34 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
SLC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line		200/16	210/23 4°	220/34 -3°	210/40 -16°	220/66 -23°	220/64 -31°	220/57 -36°	220/50 -43°
RKS	used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line			250/9	230/21 -1°	210/43 -14°	220/59 -23°	220/55 -32°	220/53 -35°	220/48 -44°
BFF	used from 249 nm out; 110 nm from the line		280/28	260/39 11°	240/34 5°	210/38 -11°	210/52 -22°	230/61 -31°	230/61 -36°	240/56 -45°
ONL	used from 498 nm out; 82 nm from the line		250/31 22°	230/27 16°	220/25 8°	230/25 -9°	220/29 -22°	250/42 -33°	250/48 -36°	250/52 -46°
OMA	used from 697 nm out; 71 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
MCW	used from 746 nm out; 80 nm from the line	250/36	250/24 19°	240/26 11°	250/30 5°	270/22 -9°	260/30 -21°	260/31 -36°	280/53 -38°	280/66 -48°
DBQ	used from 896 nm out; 38 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
JOT	used from 1045 nm out; 58 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
MKG	used from 1095 nm out; 57 nm from the line	260/28	260/18 15°	250/16 9°	260/22 4°	280/31 -9°	270/35 -21°	270/44 -35°	270/42 -45°	290/61 -51°
FWA	used from 1244 nm out; 99 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°

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
SLC Salt Lake City, UT	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	10,000 ft	4,230 ft	4:54 am MDT (10:54 UTC)
EVW Evanston, WY	50 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	7,142 ft	10:53 UTC
SAA Saratoga, WY	239 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots, gusting to 26	10+ mi	none	7,014 ft	10:50 UTC
GUR Guernsey, WY	338 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 14,000 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	9 mi	14,000 ft	4,401 ft	10:55 UTC
AIA Alliance, NE	418 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots	1 mi	200 ft	3,930 ft	10:53 UTC
ONL O'Neill, NE	607 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	300 ft	2,033 ft	10:55 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	707 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	10:52 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	886 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	10:54 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	955 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	10:53 UTC
UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL	1085 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	728 ft	10:51 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	1234 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	3 mi	none	1,000 ft	10:56 UTC
DTW Detroit, MI	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	8 mi	none	645 ft	6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,142 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:34 pm EDT (18:34 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DTW

From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
From Mon 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet

The forecast for SLC, the departure

From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind variable at 10 knots, gusting to 25, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 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 SLC 6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Salt Lake City International, Detroit Metro Wayne County.