Plan a flight · Mon 4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC)

Lehigh Valley International to Raleigh-Durham International ABE → RDU

327 nautical miles (376 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 210°, about 222° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ABE is marginal VFR, wind calm; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 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: 8 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 218 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 109 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the last 188 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Near the route, 149 nm along 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

C560 at 13,000 ft, 12 nm east, 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. 40 nm along the route, 12 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHL
Where
20 northwest phl
Time
06:38 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
overcast from 19,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
K35R at 400 ft, 45 nm southeast, 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DOV UA /OV KDOV /TM 0745 /FL 004 /TP K35R /SK OVC004-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through DOV
Where
over KDOV
Time
07:45 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
K35R
Sky
overcast from 400 ft, tops unknown
B737 at 800 ft, 7 nm northwest, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 109 nm along the route, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
07:30 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
bases 800 ft
E145 at 800 ft, 15 nm southeast, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 208 nm along the route, 15 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
1 nm north (340°) of RIC
Time
06:07 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
E145

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 4 forecast points nearest it (AVP, ACY, RIC, RDU). 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	350° at 25 kt	−18 kt		138 kt	2 h 22 min	7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC)
6,500 ft	340° at 24 kt	−17 kt	11 °C	137 kt	2 h 23 min	7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC)
8,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−18 kt	8 °C	138 kt	2 h 22 min	7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC)
10,500 ft	340° at 27 kt	−16 kt	5 °C	136 kt	2 h 24 min	7:08 am EDT (11:08 UTC)
12,500 ft	330° at 27 kt	−13 kt	2 °C	133 kt	2 h 28 min	7:12 am EDT (11:12 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	−12 kt	-2 °C	132 kt	2 h 29 min	7:13 am EDT (11:13 UTC)
16,500 ft	320° at 28 kt	−10 kt	-6 °C	130 kt	2 h 31 min	7:15 am EDT (11:15 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 28 kt	−8 kt	-9 °C	128 kt	2 h 33 min	7:17 am EDT (11:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 27 kt	−7 kt	-21 °C	127 kt	2 h 34 min	7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 31 kt	+4 kt	-34 °C	116 kt	2 h 49 min	7:33 am EDT (11:33 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 32 kt	+7 kt	-40 °C	113 kt	2 h 54 min	7:38 am EDT (11:38 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 38 kt	+8 kt	-47 °C	112 kt	2 h 55 min	7:39 am EDT (11:39 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; 63 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°
ACY	used from 50 nm out; 77 nm from the line	350/12	340/12 11°	340/12 6°	340/13 2°	270/10 -10°	240/17 -23°	230/46 -33°	230/46 -40°	240/46 -49°
RIC	used from 99 nm out; 85 nm from the line	350/34	340/27 12°	340/36 8°	330/31 3°	310/32 -9°	320/34 -21°	300/37 -34°	290/37 -39°	290/42 -46°
RDU	used from 248 nm out; 55 nm from the line	330/30	340/24 12°	330/26 7°	320/30 3°	330/39 -8°	310/30 -20°	300/33 -33°	310/34 -39°	310/41 -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 1,200 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,200 ft	393 ft	3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC)
RDG Reading, PA	30 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the north (360°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	343 ft	08:24 UTC
LNS Lancaster, PA	50 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	402 ft	08:35 UTC
MTN Baltimore, MD	89 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: heavy drizzle	from the north (350°) at 6 knots	4 mi	700 ft	22 ft	08:35 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	129 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the north-northwest (340°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	5 mi	1,100 ft	14 ft	08:38 UTC
OFP Richmond/Ashland, VA	198 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	5 mi	800 ft	206 ft	07:54 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	208 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 9 knots	4 mi	700 ft	167 ft	07:54 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	248 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
HNZ Oxford, NC	297 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	526 ft	08:35 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 526 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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

6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 99 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 129 nm along the route · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 129 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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 Southeast · 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, Raleigh-Durham International.