Plan a flight · Mon 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC)

Lehigh Valley International to Des Moines International ABE → DSM

825 nautical miles (949 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 280°, about 292° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 1:32 pm CDT (18:32 UTC). Right now ABE is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 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: 1 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). Over the first 457 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 30 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 30 to 199 nm out.
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 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 ABE.

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

urgent SF50 descending, 47 nm east, 6:50 am EDT (10:50 UTC): light turbulence, overcast above 1,200 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 5. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MMU UUA /OV MMU/TM 1050/FLDURD/TP SF50/SK OVC012/TB LGT/RM DURD RWY 5
```
Report
an urgent report filed through MMU
Where
over MMU
Time
10:50 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft
Turbulence
light
Remarks
during the descent runway 5
C208 at 2,700 ft, 47 nm north, 6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC): remarks: zob. 149 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BFD UA /OV BFD/TM 1001/FL027/TP C208/SK BASE027 TOP043/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BFD
Where
over BFD
Time
10:01 UTC
Height
at 2,700 ft
Aircraft
C208
Sky
BASE027 TOP043
Remarks
zob
NMRS at 31,000 ft, 42 nm south, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): light to moderate turbulence from 29,000 ft to 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 179 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIT UA /OV PIT-JST/TM 1042/FL310/TP NMRS/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 290-330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIT
Where
between PIT and JST
Time
10:42 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
NMRS
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate from 29,000 ft to 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
CL30 at 2,600 ft, 49 nm south, 6:41 am EDT (10:41 UTC): overcast above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 24 KLBE. 179 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBE UA /OV KLBE/TM 1041/FL026/TP CL30/SK OVC026-TOPUNKN/RM DURC RWY 24 KLBE
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBE
Where
over KLBE
Time
10:41 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
CL30
Sky
overcast from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the climb runway 24 KLBE
GL7T at 1,500 ft, 47 nm south, 5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 199 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AGC UA /OV KAGC/TM 0902/FL015/TP GL7T/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through AGC
Where
over KAGC
Time
09:02 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
GL7T
Sky
B015
A21N descending, 3 nm northeast, 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC): no turbulence, 12 °C. 298 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLE UA /OV CLE230005/TM 1011/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK B018 T035/TA +12/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLE
Where
5 nm southwest (230°) of CLE
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
B018 T035
Temperature
+12
Turbulence
smooth
MD83 at 2,500 ft, 11 nm north, 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. 378 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
10:43 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
MD83
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
CRJ2 at 5,500 ft, 31 nm south, 5:45 am EDT (09:45 UTC): mist. 437 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 0945/FL055/TP CRJ2/WX MIST
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
09:45 UTC
Height
at 5,500 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Weather
shallow st

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 9 forecast points nearest it (AVP, PSB, AGC, CLE, FWA, JOT, DBQ, BRL, DSM). 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	290° at 13 kt	+13 kt	12 °C	107 kt	7 h 43 min	1:41 pm CDT (18:41 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	+11 kt	13 °C	109 kt	7 h 34 min	1:32 pm CDT (18:32 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	+11 kt	10 °C	109 kt	7 h 34 min	1:32 pm CDT (18:32 UTC)
10,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	+14 kt	6 °C	106 kt	7 h 47 min	1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	+17 kt	2 °C	103 kt	8 h 01 min	1:59 pm CDT (18:59 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+18 kt	-2 °C	102 kt	8 h 05 min	2:03 pm CDT (19:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+20 kt	-6 °C	100 kt	8 h 15 min	2:13 pm CDT (19:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 25 kt	+21 kt	-8 °C	99 kt	8 h 20 min	2:18 pm CDT (19:18 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 30 kt	+27 kt	-20 °C	93 kt	8 h 52 min	2:50 pm CDT (19:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 35 kt	+32 kt	-36 °C	88 kt	9 h 22 min	3:20 pm CDT (20:20 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 50 kt	+45 kt	-42 °C	75 kt	11 h	4:58 pm CDT (21:58 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 52 kt	+46 kt	-50 °C	74 kt	11 h 09 min	5:07 pm CDT (22:07 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
AVP	used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line	010/20	020/24 11°	360/19 8°	350/23 2°	320/24 -11°	330/25 -22°	330/27 -37°	310/28 -42°	290/30 -50°
PSB	used from 50 nm out; 47 nm from the line		020/21 12°	360/28 7°	360/29 1°	350/33 -10°	350/42 -22°	350/49 -37°	340/63 -43°	350/39 -52°
AGC	used from 199 nm out; 52 nm from the line	340/11	350/12 11°	360/25 7°	340/30 2°	340/41 -8°	340/44 -21°	350/59 -36°	340/68 -42°	340/50 -51°
CLE	used from 248 nm out; 22 nm from the line	310/7	350/20 14°	340/16 9°	320/21 2°	320/32 -8°	330/34 -20°	330/45 -36°	320/60 -45°	320/64 -51°
FWA	used from 348 nm out; 76 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
JOT	used from 497 nm out; 57 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 646 nm out; 53 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°
BRL	used from 696 nm out; 49 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 745 nm out; 55 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°

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 north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	393 ft	6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
RDG Reading, PA	20 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	343 ft	10:54 UTC
UNV State College, PA	109 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,231 ft	09:53 UTC
YNG Youngstown/Warren, OH	238 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots	8 mi	1,500 ft	1,191 ft	10:51 UTC
CLE Cleveland, OH	298 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	6 mi	1,600 ft	799 ft	10:51 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	378 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots	2 mi	200 ft	683 ft	10:52 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	477 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	777 ft	10:35 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	576 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	10:45 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	596 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	9 mi	none	712 ft	10:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	686 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	10:52 UTC
TNU Newton, IA	795 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 feet	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	952 ft	10:35 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 19,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	957 ft	5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,231 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:32 pm CDT (18:32 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 209 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 229 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 238 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Lehigh Valley International, Des Moines International.