Lehigh Valley International to Asheville Regional ABE → AVL
459 nautical miles (528 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 229°, about 241° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABE is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 6 knots; AVL is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18. 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
- SIGMET E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 60 to 180 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- 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 first 419 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 229 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 180 to 439 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 249 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 last 100 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 ABE.
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 02:00–09:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (AVP, PSB, EKN, ROA, TRI, GSP). 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 | 330° at 19 kt | −5 kt | 12 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 40 min | 6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −6 kt | 11 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 39 min | 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −5 kt | 8 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 40 min | 6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −4 kt | 5 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 42 min | 6:31 am EDT (10:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −3 kt | 2 °C | 123 kt | 3 h 44 min | 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −1 kt | -2 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 48 min | 6:37 am EDT (10:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | 0 | -6 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 50 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 24 kt | +1 kt | -9 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 51 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 25 kt | +11 kt | -21 °C | 109 kt | 4 h 13 min | 7:02 am EDT (11:02 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 30 kt | +12 kt | -34 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 15 min | 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 33 kt | +22 kt | -39 °C | 98 kt | 4 h 41 min | 7:30 am EDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 36 kt | +23 kt | -47 °C | 97 kt | 4 h 44 min | 7:33 am EDT (11:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVP | used from 0 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| PSB | used from 50 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| EKN | used from 150 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| ROA | used from 249 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 349 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| GSP | used from 449 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABE Allentown, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 393 ft | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC) |
| RDG Reading, PA | 30 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 343 ft | 06:22 UTC |
| LNS Lancaster, PA | 50 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 402 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| FDK Frederick, MD | 120 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 308 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 140 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: rain | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 600 ft | 389 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 209 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 640 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HSP Hot Springs, VA | 259 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the west (280°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 | 0.25 mi | none | 3,792 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 289 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 1,175 ft | 06:01 UTC |
| HLX Galax Hillsville, VA | 339 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 2,693 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| GEV Jefferson, NC | 379 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 19 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | none | 3,177 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| FQD Rutherfordton, NC | 439 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,077 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 2:35 am EDT (06:35 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,792 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AVL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC)
Wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for AVL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 16 knots, gusting to 29, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for ABE, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, overcast at 1,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 17 nm from the route, 130 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 130 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at AVL 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at AVL is before sunrise there (7:33 am EDT (11:33 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
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: Lehigh Valley International, Asheville Regional.