Plan a flight · Sun 11:57 pm CDT (04:57 UTC)

Williston Basin International to Detroit Metro Wayne County XWA → DTW

932 nautical miles (1,073 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 105°, about 097° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 59-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now XWA is low IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots; DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 3 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: 3 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 367 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 555 to 664 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 119 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 XWA.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

PC12 at 2,800 ft, 4 nm west, 9:37 pm CDT (02:37 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 2,900 ft, 10 °C. 297 nm along the route, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 0237/FL028/TP PC12/SK OVC012-TOP029/TA 10
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
02:37 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 2,900 ft
Temperature
10 °C
A320 descending, 31 nm northeast, 9:09 pm CDT (02:09 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: on final runway 18 fnt. 892 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 0209/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 - TOP030/RM ON FINAL RY18 FNT
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
over FNT
Time
02:09 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
on final runway 18 fnt
C560 at 3,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 9:28 pm CDT (02:28 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 6 W/TM 0228/FL030/TP C560/SK BASES 019 TOPS 030 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 west
Time
02:28 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
bases 1,900 ft tops 3,000 ft overcast
C25B at 2,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 9:18 pm CDT (02:18 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 2 W/TM 0218/FL020/TP C25B/SK BASES 020 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
2 west
Time
02:18 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
bases 2,000 ft overcast
B739 descending, 0 nm south, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
bases 1,100 ft
B738 at 1,300 ft, 43 nm southwest, 11:45 pm CDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
A320 descending, 0 nm south, 10:27 pm CDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
03:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
at 1,400 ft overcast
PA44 descending, 42 nm southwest, 9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. At the destination end, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
PA44
Sky
BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
Weather
fog
CRJ7 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:07 pm CDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
02:07 UTC
Height
at the surface
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 1,500 ft

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 8 forecast points nearest it (MOT, GFK, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB, MKG, CLE). 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	240° at 13 kt	−8 kt		128 kt	7 h 17 min	8:14 am EDT (12:14 UTC)
5,500 ft	250° at 10 kt	−6 kt	5 °C	126 kt	7 h 24 min	8:21 am EDT (12:21 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 12 kt	−9 kt	10 °C	129 kt	7 h 13 min	8:10 am EDT (12:10 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 15 kt	−10 kt	8 °C	130 kt	7 h 10 min	8:07 am EDT (12:07 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−14 kt	4 °C	134 kt	6 h 57 min	7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	−18 kt	0 °C	138 kt	6 h 45 min	7:42 am EDT (11:42 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 26 kt	−22 kt	-5 °C	142 kt	6 h 34 min	7:31 am EDT (11:31 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 29 kt	−26 kt	-9 °C	146 kt	6 h 23 min	7:20 am EDT (11:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 30 kt	−27 kt	-10 °C	147 kt	6 h 20 min	7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 36 kt	−33 kt	-21 °C	153 kt	6 h 05 min	7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 40 kt	−38 kt	-36 °C	158 kt	5 h 54 min	6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-45 °C	164 kt	5 h 41 min	6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 59 kt	−59 kt	-52 °C	179 kt	5 h 12 min	6:09 am EDT (10:09 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
MOT	used from 0 nm out; 75 nm from the line		120/14 5°	200/20 4°	230/33 1°	250/39 -11°	250/50 -21°	240/61 -37°	250/56 -45°	260/68 -51°
GFK	used from 198 nm out; 71 nm from the line	070/18	100/10 9°	250/11 6°	250/27 1°	250/34 -10°	260/43 -21°	260/39 -36°	260/36 -46°	260/59 -53°
AXN	used from 297 nm out; 55 nm from the line	100/14	250/21 14°	240/24 12°	240/31 5°	260/36 -10°	260/40 -21°	250/42 -36°	260/48 -45°	260/53 -50°
MSP	used from 446 nm out; 49 nm from the line	230/26	240/30 17°	240/24 12°	250/22 5°	250/35 -10°	260/36 -21°	250/41 -36°	250/49 -45°	260/58 -52°
LSE	used from 545 nm out; 70 nm from the line	230/40	240/24 17°	240/13 10°	250/13 6°	280/22 -9°	250/28 -21°	250/41 -34°	260/42 -44°	270/62 -53°
GRB	used from 595 nm out; 68 nm from the line	250/36	270/23 16°	270/14 9°	240/18 4°	280/26 -9°	280/29 -20°	290/42 -36°	290/51 -45°	290/72 -55°
MKG	used from 744 nm out; 27 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
CLE	used from 892 nm out; 102 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -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
XWA Williston, ND	departure	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots	7 mi	400 ft	2,356 ft	11:51 pm CDT (04:51 UTC)
BAC Valley City, ND	248 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the north (010°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	1,401 ft	02:15 UTC
FAR Fargo, ND	288 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 13 knots	4 mi	300 ft	901 ft	04:53 UTC
ROS Rush City, MN	466 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	926 ft	04:55 UTC
EAU Eau Claire, WI	545 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	913 ft	03:56 UTC
CWA Mosinee, WI	615 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,277 ft	04:35 UTC
ATW Appleton, WI	674 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	918 ft	04:35 UTC
MKG Muskegon, MI	793 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm	10+ mi	none	628 ft	03:55 UTC
LAN Lansing, MI	873 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	8 mi	none	860 ft	04:53 UTC
DTW Detroit, MI	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	645 ft	12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,356 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for DTW

From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,600 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet

The forecast for XWA, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 400 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 XWA 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DTW is before sunrise there (7:42 am EDT (11:42 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Williston Basin International, Detroit Metro Wayne County.