Plan a flight · Sun 7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)

Williston Basin International to Merrill Field XWA → MRI

1,729 nautical miles (1,990 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 314°, about 306° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now XWA is IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 14 knots; MRI is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 60 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the first 50 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 50 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

C172 at 2,000 ft, 43 nm south, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC): overcast above 2,000 ft, remarks: inbound to jnu east side of canal bases OVC020 jnut akfss. 1270 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JNU UA /OV SGY-JNU /TM 2240 /FL020 /TP C172 /SK OVC020 /RM INBOUND TO JNU EAST SIDE OF CANAL BASES OVC020 JNUT AKFSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through JNU
Where
between SGY and JNU
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
overcast from 2,000 ft
Remarks
inbound to jnu east side of canal bases OVC020 jnut akfss
B737 at 3,500 ft, 27 nm south, 6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb zan. 1599 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDV UA /OV CDV/TM 2307/FL035/TP B737/SK TOP 035/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG/RM DURC ZAN
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDV
Where
over CDV
Time
23:07 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
top 3,500 ft
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb zan
B737 at 14,000 ft, 7 nm south, 5:45 pm CDT (22:45 UTC): light rime icing up to 14,000 ft, remarks: during the descent peter arrival. At the destination end, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED090015/TM 2245/FL140/TP B737/IC LGT RIME 140 BLO/RM DURD PETER ARR
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
15 nm east (090°) of TED
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Icing
light rime at 14,000 ft below
Remarks
during the descent peter arrival
C172 at 2,500 ft, 13 nm north, 4:50 pm CDT (21:50 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, a broken layer above 2,500 ft, light rain, haze, remarks: akfss. At the destination end, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BCV UA /OV BCV /TM 2150 /FL025 /TP C172 /SK BKN025 /WX -RA HZ /TB NEG /IC NEG /RM AKFSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BCV
Where
over BCV
Time
21:50 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
a broken layer from 2,500 ft
Weather
light rain, haze
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
akfss
B738 at 12,500 ft, 2 nm southeast, 4:21 pm CDT (21:21 UTC): no turbulence, light icing, -16 °C. At the destination end, 2 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED070015/TM 2121/FL125/TP B738/SK TOPS 120/TA M16/TB NEG/IC LGT RM
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
15 nm east (070°) of TED
Time
21:21 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
tops 12,000 ft
Temperature
−16 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light remarks
PC12 at 4,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb northwest bound. At the destination end, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED300020/TM 2330/FL040/TP PC12/SK TOP070/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC NORTHWEST BOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of TED
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP070
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb northwest bound
B737 at 5,000 ft, 14 nm southwest, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent gasto. At the destination end, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED230010/TM 2330/FL050/TP B737/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD GASTO
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
10 nm southwest (230°) of TED
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent gasto
C207 at 1,000 ft, 3 nm west, 6:08 pm CDT (23:08 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MRI UA /OV MRI260003/TM 2308/FL010/TP C207/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MRI
Where
3 nm west (260°) of MRI
Time
23:08 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C207
Turbulence
none
B747 at 5,800 ft, 17 nm southwest, 5:48 pm CDT (22:48 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, overcast from 4,000 ft to 5,500 ft; a broken layer above 2,000 ft, -11 °C, remarks: clear between layers, clear above. At the destination end, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED200013/TM 2248/FL058/TP B747/SK BKN020 OVC040 TOP055/WX M11/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM CLEAR BETWEEN LAYERS, CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
13 nm south (200°) of TED
Time
22:48 UTC
Height
at 5,800 ft
Aircraft
B747
Sky
BKN020 OVC040 TOP055
Weather
−11 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
clear between layers, clear above
B777 at 6,400 ft, 16 nm southwest, 5:17 pm CDT (22:17 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the destination end, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED222012/TM 2217/FL064/TP B777/SK TOP065/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
12 nm southwest (222°) of TED
Time
22:17 UTC
Height
at 6,400 ft
Aircraft
B777
Sky
TOP065
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B77L at 7,500 ft, 17 nm west, 4:43 pm CDT (21:43 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 17 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED280015/TM 2143/FL075/TP B77L/SK TOPS 075/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
15 nm west (280°) of TED
Time
21:43 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
B77L
Sky
tops 7,500 ft
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
C208 at 800 ft, 4 nm southwest, 4:26 pm CDT (21:26 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft during the descent runway 15 anc. At the destination end, 4 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED 25006/TM 2126/FL008/TP C208 /RM BASES 008 DURD RWY 15 ANC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
ted wind from 250° at 6 knots
Time
21:26 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
C208
Remarks
bases 800 ft during the descent runway 15 anc

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (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	040° at 11 kt	−3 kt	-2 °C	123 kt	14 h 03 min	6:20 am AKDT (14:20 UTC)
6,500 ft	040° at 10 kt	−3 kt	-1 °C	123 kt	14 h 03 min	6:20 am AKDT (14:20 UTC)
8,500 ft	060° at 6 kt	−4 kt	-4 °C	124 kt	13 h 57 min	6:14 am AKDT (14:14 UTC)
10,500 ft	060° at 8 kt	−5 kt	-7 °C	125 kt	13 h 50 min	6:07 am AKDT (14:07 UTC)
12,500 ft	050° at 10 kt	−6 kt	-10 °C	126 kt	13 h 43 min	6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC)
14,500 ft	040° at 11 kt	−6 kt	-12 °C	126 kt	13 h 43 min	6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC)
16,500 ft	030° at 13 kt	−6 kt	-15 °C	126 kt	13 h 43 min	6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	020° at 15 kt	−6 kt	-17 °C	126 kt	13 h 43 min	6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	350° at 24 kt	+2 kt	-26 °C	118 kt	14 h 39 min	6:56 am AKDT (14:56 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 27 kt	+14 kt	-39 °C	106 kt	16 h 19 min	8:36 am AKDT (16:36 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 24 kt	+12 kt	-43 °C	108 kt	16 h 01 min	8:18 am AKDT (16:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 22 kt	+13 kt	-44 °C	107 kt	16 h 10 min	8:27 am AKDT (16:27 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
GGW	used from 0 nm out; 98 nm from the line		090/18 0°	140/12 -2°	150/13 -3°	200/35 -12°	230/56 -22°	240/75 -37°	240/81 -46°	240/78 -49°
GPI	used from 350 nm out; 272 nm from the line		060/19 -3°	110/11 -8°	130/6 -8°	200/40 -19°	190/58 -28°	200/101 -39°	220/73 -43°	230/41 -43°
SEA	used from 800 nm out; 547 nm from the line	360/9	350/10 1°	010/10 -5°	030/20 -11°	020/60 -17°	010/86 -26°	360/90 -40°	010/68 -42°	360/31 -43°

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	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (040°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	2,356 ft	6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC)
PWD Plentywood, MT	40 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the northeast (050°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20	8 mi	900 ft	2,263 ft	23:50 UTC
CYDL Dease Lake,	1110 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 9,100 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	9 mi	9,100 ft	2,634 ft	00:00 UTC
CYSQ Atlin,	1240 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,351 ft
VDZ Valdez, AK	1629 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,200 feet Weather: rain	from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,400 ft	128 ft	23:56 UTC
MRI Anchorage, AK	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,400 feet	calm	10+ mi	4,400 ft	143 ft	3:53 pm AKDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,634 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MRI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:00 am AKDT (14:00 UTC)

MRI has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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

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 on the route, at the destination end · security · starts tomorrow · ZAN

Daylight

Sunset at XWA 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC), at MRI 6:56 pm AKDT (02:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:40 pm AKDT (03:40 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MRI is before sunrise there (8:33 am AKDT (16:33 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, Alaska · 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, Merrill Field.