Plan a flight · Mon 7:06 am MDT (13:06 UTC)

Salt Lake City International to Fort Dodge Regional SLC → FOD

803 nautical miles (924 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 077°, about 066° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC). Right now SLC is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23; FOD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 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 W25W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the west at 45 knots, until 8:55 am MDT (14:55 UTC). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 121255
MKCW WST 121255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 25W
VALID UNTIL 1455Z
WY UT ID
FROM PIH-40W BPI-30SE SLC-40E BVL-PIH
AREA TS MOV FROM 26045KT. TOPS TO FL270.
```
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 228 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 268 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 59 to 367 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 198 to 446 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 218 to 327 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 218 to 248 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 407 to 615 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 last 238 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

B38M at 32,000 ft, 28 nm north, 5:45 am MDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 744 nm along the route, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD285060/TM 1145/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
60 nm west (285°) of FOD
Time
11:45 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
B38M at 32,000 ft, 31 nm east, 5:35 am MDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. At the destination end, 31 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
35 nm east (075°) of FOD
Time
11:35 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft

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 6 forecast points nearest it (SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, FSD, MCW). 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 26 kt	−25 kt	22 °C	145 kt	5 h 32 min	1:38 pm CDT (18:38 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	−22 kt	18 °C	142 kt	5 h 39 min	1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	−24 kt	11 °C	144 kt	5 h 35 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−24 kt	6 °C	144 kt	5 h 35 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−24 kt	0 °C	144 kt	5 h 35 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	−24 kt	-5 °C	144 kt	5 h 35 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 33 kt	−24 kt	-10 °C	144 kt	5 h 35 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 33 kt	−24 kt	-11 °C	144 kt	5 h 35 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 45 kt	−34 kt	-22 °C	154 kt	5 h 13 min	1:19 pm CDT (18:19 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 49 kt	−44 kt	-32 °C	164 kt	4 h 54 min	1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 52 kt	−47 kt	-36 °C	167 kt	4 h 49 min	12:55 pm CDT (17:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 51 kt	−49 kt	-45 °C	169 kt	4 h 45 min	12:51 pm CDT (17:51 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 248 nm out; 111 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 496 nm out; 84 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°
FSD	used from 694 nm out; 71 nm from the line	210/20	230/23 21°	220/25 14°	230/30 5°	230/26 -9°	240/30 -21°	270/33 -36°	260/47 -37°	270/58 -47°
MCW	used from 744 nm out; 82 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°

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 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	14,000 ft	4,230 ft	6:54 am MDT (12:54 UTC)
EVW Evanston, WY	50 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	7,142 ft	12:53 UTC
RKS Rock Springs, WY	139 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	6,764 ft	12:54 UTC
SAA Saratoga, WY	238 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,600 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	5,500 ft	7,014 ft	12:50 UTC
GUR Guernsey, WY	337 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	9 mi	9,500 ft	4,401 ft	12:55 UTC
AIA Alliance, NE	416 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	calm	1 mi	200 ft	3,930 ft	12:53 UTC
TIF Thedford, NE	516 nm out, 17 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 3 knots	1.5 mi	300 ft	2,925 ft	12:55 UTC
ONL O'Neill, NE	605 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog	from the north (360°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	300 ft	2,033 ft	12:55 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	704 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	12:52 UTC
SLB Storm Lake, IA	754 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,487 ft	12:55 UTC
FOD Fort Dodge, IA	destination	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,156 ft	7:56 am CDT (12:56 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 FOD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC)

Wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for FOD

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

The forecast for SLC, the departure

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
30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 4 miles, thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 3,000 feet (thunderheads)
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 FOD 6:39 pm CDT (23:39 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 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, Fort Dodge Regional.