St. Louis Lambert International to Ted Stevens Anchorage International STL → ANC
2,546 nautical miles (2,929 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 322°, about 323° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 20 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:55 pm AKDT (05:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now STL is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots; ANC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) 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: 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 route from 80 to 369 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 419 to 829 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 719 to 779 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 789 to 819 nm out.
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 STL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B77W at 30,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 539 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABR UA /OV ABR/TM 0800/FL300/TP B77W/TB LGT-MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABR
- Where
- over ABR
- Time
- 08:00 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B77W
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- B748 at 6,000 ft, 6 nm northwest, 1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ANC UA /OV TED030008/TM 0640/FL060/TP B748/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ANC
- Where
- 8 nm northeast (030°) of TED
- Time
- 06:40 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B748
- 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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even 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 (STL, BRL, DSM, MCW, FSD, ABR, MOT, GGW, GPI, SEA). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 230° at 1 kt | −1 kt | -1 °C | 121 kt | 21 h 02 min | 10:05 pm AKDT (06:05 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 1 kt | −2 kt | 4 °C | 122 kt | 20 h 52 min | 9:55 pm AKDT (05:55 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 3 kt | −2 kt | 1 °C | 122 kt | 20 h 52 min | 9:55 pm AKDT (05:55 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 3 kt | −1 kt | -1 °C | 121 kt | 21 h 02 min | 10:05 pm AKDT (06:05 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 6 kt | +1 kt | -4 °C | 119 kt | 21 h 24 min | 10:27 pm AKDT (06:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 8 kt | +2 kt | -7 °C | 118 kt | 21 h 35 min | 10:38 pm AKDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 10 kt | +2 kt | -10 °C | 118 kt | 21 h 35 min | 10:38 pm AKDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 12 kt | +3 kt | -13 °C | 117 kt | 21 h 46 min | 10:49 pm AKDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 19 kt | +10 kt | -25 °C | 110 kt | 23 h 09 min | 12:12 am AKDT (08:12 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 19 kt | +10 kt | -38 °C | 110 kt | 23 h 09 min | 12:12 am AKDT (08:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 31 kt | +21 kt | -43 °C | 99 kt | 25 h 43 min | 2:46 am AKDT (10:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 35 kt | +21 kt | -46 °C | 99 kt | 25 h 43 min | 2:46 am AKDT (10:46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| BRL | used from 50 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DSM | used from 150 nm out; 52 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 299 nm out; 71 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° |
| FSD | used from 349 nm out; 46 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° |
| ABR | used from 449 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| MOT | used from 649 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 120/14 4° | 190/25 5° | 220/41 1° | 240/43 -11° | 230/39 -22° | 220/44 -38° | 240/62 -42° | 250/73 -48° | |
| GGW | used from 849 nm out; 122 nm from the line | 100/7 -1° | 070/10 -3° | 190/6 -4° | 210/34 -10° | 230/33 -24° | 210/48 -37° | 230/65 -40° | 230/71 -46° | |
| GPI | used from 1198 nm out; 312 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| SEA | used from 1597 nm out; 561 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -45° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL St Louis, MO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 617 ft | 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC) |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 230 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| POH Pocahontas, IA | 309 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,225 ft | ||||
| BIS Bismarck, ND | 659 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,661 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| CYSQ Atlin, | 2056 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,351 ft | ||||
| VDZ Valdez, AK | 2436 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 128 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| ANC Anchorage, AK | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 151 ft | 12:53 am AKDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,351 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ANC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:55 pm AKDT (05:55 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ANC
- From Sun 10:00 pm AKDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am AKDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm AKDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
The forecast for STL, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 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
- 6/8889 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZAN
- 6/8772 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · starts tomorrow · ZAN
Daylight
Sunset at STL 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC), at ANC 6:54 pm AKDT (02:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:37 pm AKDT (03:37 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ANC is after sunset there (6:57 pm AKDT (02:57 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: St. Louis Lambert International, Ted Stevens Anchorage International.