Salt Lake City International to Williston Basin International SLC → XWA
570 nautical miles (656 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 035°, about 024° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 65-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:31 am CDT (10:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SLC is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots; XWA is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 16 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: 4 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 460 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 380 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 320 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 160 to 330 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 370 nm of the route.
- 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). Near the route, 250 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 SLC.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (SLC, LND, BIL, MLS, DIK). 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 | 140° at 14 kt | −3 kt | 4 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 38 min | 7:04 am CDT (12:04 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 180° at 17 kt | −14 kt | 5 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 15 min | 6:41 am CDT (11:41 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 3 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 01 min | 6:27 am CDT (11:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | −33 kt | 1 °C | 153 kt | 3 h 44 min | 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −37 kt | -2 °C | 157 kt | 3 h 38 min | 6:04 am CDT (11:04 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −39 kt | -6 °C | 159 kt | 3 h 35 min | 6:01 am CDT (11:01 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −40 kt | -10 °C | 160 kt | 3 h 34 min | 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 41 kt | −41 kt | -11 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 32 min | 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 42 kt | −42 kt | -22 °C | 162 kt | 3 h 31 min | 5:57 am CDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 51 kt | −51 kt | -33 °C | 171 kt | 3 h 20 min | 5:46 am CDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 64 kt | −64 kt | -38 °C | 184 kt | 3 h 06 min | 5:32 am CDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 68 kt | −65 kt | -46 °C | 185 kt | 3 h 05 min | 5:31 am CDT (10:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| LND | used from 100 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° | ||
| BIL | used from 250 nm out; 81 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 350 nm out; 55 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° | |
| DIK | used from 500 nm out; 87 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° |
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 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 12:54 am MDT (06:54 UTC) |
| OGD Ogden, UT | 20 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 4,472 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| EMM Kemmerer, WY | 90 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,288 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 140 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 6,993 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 190 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 7,298 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| GEY Greybull, WY | 280 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet Weather: light rain | from the northwest (310°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 3,941 ft | 07:00 UTC |
| MLS Miles City, MT | 430 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 2,634 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GDV Glendive, MT | 490 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: rain | from the northeast (050°) at 12 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 2,458 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| SDY Sidney, MT | 530 nm out, 9 nm east of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: rain | from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots | 8 mi | 1,000 ft | 1,985 ft | 07:13 UTC |
| XWA Williston, ND | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: rain | from the northeast (050°) at 16 knots | 8 mi | 700 ft | 2,356 ft | 2:18 am CDT (07:18 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At XWA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:31 am CDT (10:31 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 11 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for XWA
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 11 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 13 knots, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, light rain snow, mist
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
The forecast for SLC, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 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 XWA 7:10 pm CDT (00:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:41 pm CDT (00:41 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at XWA is before sunrise there (8:09 am CDT (13:09 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: Salt Lake City International, Williston Basin International.