Lehigh Valley International to Richmond International ABE → RIC
208 nautical miles (240 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 205°, about 217° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC). Right now ABE is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 4 knots; RIC is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17. 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 149 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 30 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
- K35R at 400 ft, 38 nm southeast, 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 38 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 700 ft, 14 nm northwest, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. 109 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 09:33 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- light rain
- B737 at 800 ft, 14 nm northwest, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 109 nm along the route, 14 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
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 3 forecast points nearest it (AVP, ACY, RIC). 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 23 kt | −20 kt | 140 kt | 1 h 29 min | 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 11 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 30 min | 7:35 am EDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −19 kt | 8 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 30 min | 7:35 am EDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −18 kt | 5 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 30 min | 7:35 am EDT (11:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −15 kt | 2 °C | 135 kt | 1 h 32 min | 7:37 am EDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −12 kt | -2 °C | 132 kt | 1 h 35 min | 7:40 am EDT (11:40 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −8 kt | -7 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 38 min | 7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 24 kt | −6 kt | -10 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 39 min | 7:44 am EDT (11:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 25 kt | −8 kt | -22 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 38 min | 7:43 am EDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 30 kt | +5 kt | -34 °C | 115 kt | 1 h 49 min | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 32 kt | +10 kt | -40 °C | 110 kt | 1 h 53 min | 7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 37 kt | +11 kt | -48 °C | 109 kt | 1 h 54 min | 7:59 am EDT (11:59 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; 64 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; 72 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; 84 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° |
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 | from the north (350°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 393 ft | 5:51 am EDT (09:51 UTC) |
| RDG Reading, PA | 30 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 343 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 60 nm out, 19 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the north (360°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 79 ft | 09:51 UTC |
| MTN Baltimore, MD | 89 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 22 ft | 09:45 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 129 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 14 ft | 10:00 UTC |
| XSA Tappahannock, VA | 179 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | 900 ft | 135 ft | 09:55 UTC | |
| RIC Richmond, VA | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17 | 7 mi | 600 ft | 167 ft | 5:54 am EDT (09:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 393 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for RIC
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north 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
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 13 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 8 nm from the route, 129 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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, Richmond International.