Salina Regional to Houghton County Memorial SLN → CMX
643 nautical miles (740 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 036°, about 029° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:39 am EDT (15:39 UTC). Right now SLN is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22; CMX is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 5 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: 2 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 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 first 346 nm of the route.
- 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 69 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing from 13,000 ft to 24,000 ft. Over the last 40 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 SLN.
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 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 (SLN, OMA, DSM, MCW, LSE, DLH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 143 kt | 4 h 30 min | 11:57 am EDT (15:57 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 4 h 34 min | 12:01 pm EDT (16:01 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −22 kt | 15 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 32 min | 11:59 am EDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −24 kt | 11 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 28 min | 11:55 am EDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −26 kt | 6 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 24 min | 11:51 am EDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | −25 kt | 2 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 26 min | 11:53 am EDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 28 kt | −23 kt | -3 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 30 min | 11:57 am EDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 29 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 32 min | 11:59 am EDT (15:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 29 kt | −21 kt | -9 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 34 min | 12:01 pm EDT (16:01 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 34 kt | −24 kt | -21 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 28 min | 11:55 am EDT (15:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 43 kt | −28 kt | -35 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 21 min | 11:48 am EDT (15:48 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 53 kt | −31 kt | -39 °C | 151 kt | 4 h 15 min | 11:42 am EDT (15:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 63 kt | −33 kt | -48 °C | 153 kt | 4 h 12 min | 11:39 am EDT (15:39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/49 | 240/41 22° | 230/26 15° | 220/21 7° | 240/38 -8° | 240/44 -21° | 260/77 -29° | 270/70 -36° | 270/63 -48° |
| OMA | used from 99 nm out; 52 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° |
| DSM | used from 198 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| MCW | used from 247 nm out; 55 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° |
| LSE | used from 396 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| DLH | used from 495 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 090/31 | 250/7 14° | 250/26 11° | 250/36 4° | 280/36 -11° | 290/35 -22° | 300/39 -38° | 280/41 -44° | 280/66 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLN Salina, KS | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| CYW Clay Center, KS | 40 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,208 ft | ||||
| MYZ Marysville, KS | 79 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,283 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 168 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| AIO Atlantic, IA | 198 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,164 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| CAV Clarion, IA | 297 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,156 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| MCW Mason City, IA | 327 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,213 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 386 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| EAU Eau Claire, WI | 455 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 913 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| PBH Phillips, WI | 525 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,497 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| OGM Ontonagon, MI | 604 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 665 ft | ||||
| CMX Hancock, MI | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,095 ft | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,497 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CMX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:39 am EDT (15:39 UTC)
Wind from the east-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for CMX
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the east at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the east at 14 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Tue 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 11 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for SLN, the departure
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 18 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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 SLN 6:56 pm CDT (23:56 UTC), at CMX 7:12 pm EDT (23:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 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: Salina Regional, Houghton County Memorial.