Tri-Cities Airport to Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport TRI → MSP
704 nautical miles (810 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 319°, about 326° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC). Right now TRI is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 8 knots; MSP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 238 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 79 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 476 to 625 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 TRI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B763 at 200 ft, 19 nm northeast, 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 188 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 1 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 08:05 UTC
- Height
- at 200 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- sky obscured from 200 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B752 climbing, 16 nm northeast, 3:37 am EDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 188 nm along the route, 16 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 07:37 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- B001 overcast T015
- B739 at 35,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 3:05 am EDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 377 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through TIP
- Where
- 23 nm north (010°) of RBS
- Time
- 07:05 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 7 forecast points nearest it (TRI, CVG, IND, JOT, DBQ, LSE, MSP). 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 | 280° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 11 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 42 min | 10:25 am CDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +15 kt | 14 °C | 105 kt | 6 h 42 min | 10:25 am CDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 17 kt | +14 kt | 10 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 38 min | 10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +16 kt | 7 °C | 104 kt | 6 h 46 min | 10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 3 °C | 102 kt | 6 h 54 min | 10:37 am CDT (15:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | +20 kt | -1 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 02 min | 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 24 kt | +23 kt | -5 °C | 97 kt | 7 h 15 min | 10:58 am CDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -8 °C | 95 kt | 7 h 25 min | 11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 33 kt | +31 kt | -20 °C | 89 kt | 7 h 55 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 34 kt | +31 kt | -35 °C | 89 kt | 7 h 55 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 49 kt | +46 kt | -42 °C | 74 kt | 9 h 31 min | 1:14 pm CDT (18:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 57 kt | +54 kt | -49 °C | 66 kt | 10 h 40 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRI | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| CVG | used from 99 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| IND | used from 248 nm out; 8 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| JOT | used from 347 nm out; 34 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° |
| DBQ | used from 446 nm out; 62 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° |
| LSE | used from 545 nm out; 34 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° |
| MSP | used from 644 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC) |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 69 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 1,256 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 139 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 188 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 896 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 268 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 0.75 mi | none | 796 ft | 08:25 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 317 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 605 ft | 08:03 UTC |
| LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL | 407 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 679 ft | 08:35 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 466 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| MRJ Mineral Point, WI | 525 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,170 ft | ||||
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 605 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 644 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 841 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSP
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
The forecast for TRI, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC) and 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 188 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at TRI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at MSP 6:33 pm CDT (23:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 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: Tri-Cities Airport, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport.