Plan a flight · Mon 12:42 am CDT (05:42 UTC)

Perot Fld/Fort Worth Alliance Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport AFW → DCA

1,044 nautical miles (1,202 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 065°, about 061° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 26-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC). Right now AFW is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20; DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 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

SIGMET E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 129 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120455
MKCE WST 120455
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
VALID UNTIL 0655Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.

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 last 507 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 716 to 975 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 875 to 945 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 99 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 AFW.

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

B38M at 20,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. At the destination end, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
03:11 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
B712 descending, 26 nm northeast, 10:10 pm CDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
runway 15R
Time
03:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B712
Remarks
light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 11 forecast points nearest it (DAL, FSM, LIT, MEM, CGI, BNA, LOU, TRI, CRW, EKN, 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
3,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	7 h 47 min	9:29 am EDT (13:29 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 14 kt	−11 kt	12 °C	131 kt	7 h 58 min	9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−11 kt	13 °C	131 kt	7 h 58 min	9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−11 kt	9 °C	131 kt	7 h 58 min	9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	−8 kt	6 °C	128 kt	8 h 09 min	9:51 am EDT (13:51 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	−8 kt	2 °C	128 kt	8 h 09 min	9:51 am EDT (13:51 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	−9 kt	-2 °C	129 kt	8 h 06 min	9:48 am EDT (13:48 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	−10 kt	-6 °C	130 kt	8 h 02 min	9:44 am EDT (13:44 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 18 kt	−11 kt	-7 °C	131 kt	7 h 58 min	9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 24 kt	−15 kt	-18 °C	135 kt	7 h 44 min	9:26 am EDT (13:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 36 kt	−21 kt	-32 °C	141 kt	7 h 24 min	9:06 am EDT (13:06 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 42 kt	−26 kt	-40 °C	146 kt	7 h 09 min	8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 38 kt	−20 kt	-50 °C	140 kt	7 h 27 min	9:09 am EDT (13:09 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
DAL	used from 0 nm out; 19 nm from the line	190/29	220/23 17°	220/17 13°	250/18 8°	230/18 -5°	240/18 -15°	270/34 -29°	280/33 -39°	300/36 -51°
FSM	used from 99 nm out; 95 nm from the line	210/27	250/23 16°	250/20 13°	240/17 8°	250/18 -6°	260/31 -16°	280/42 -30°	280/44 -40°	290/38 -51°
LIT	used from 199 nm out; 51 nm from the line	220/21	230/17 16°	250/24 12°	260/15 7°	260/13 -5°	280/25 -16°	290/35 -30°	300/42 -40°	300/40 -52°
MEM	used from 348 nm out; 34 nm from the line	230/19	260/16 15°	270/17 12°	300/13 6°	300/15 -5°	300/26 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/41 -40°	310/46 -52°
CGI	used from 448 nm out; 86 nm from the line	240/20	270/15 15°	280/15 11°	300/13 6°	290/20 -6°	280/24 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/47 -41°	310/49 -51°
BNA	used from 497 nm out; 45 nm from the line	310/20	340/20 17°	330/24 10°	340/22 5°	330/26 -6°	340/29 -18°	330/52 -33°	320/62 -41°	340/45 -50°
LOU	used from 646 nm out; 81 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -49°
TRI	used from 696 nm out; 81 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°
CRW	used from 746 nm out; 66 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
EKN	used from 895 nm out; 35 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°
RIC	used from 995 nm out; 76 nm from the line	270/23	280/19 11°	270/18 8°	240/22 4°	230/39 -7°	220/55 -18°	220/75 -30°	230/83 -39°	230/64 -50°

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
AFW Fort Worth, TX	departure	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	723 ft	11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC)
TKI Dallas, TX	40 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	588 ft	04:53 UTC
DEQ De Queen, AR	159 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	354 ft	04:53 UTC
LIT Little Rock, AR	278 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	266 ft	04:53 UTC
NQA Millington, TN	398 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	322 ft	23:50 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	448 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	04:53 UTC
JWN Nashville, TN	547 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	501 ft	05:15 UTC
SME Somerset, KY	666 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	9 mi	1,100 ft	927 ft	05:35 UTC
JKL Jackson, KY	736 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	variable at 3 knots	3 mi	200 ft	1,380 ft	05:20 UTC
LWB Lewisburg, WV	875 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	4 mi	2,100 ft	2,301 ft	02:15 UTC
HEF Washington, DC	1024 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots	3 mi	700 ft	192 ft	04:56 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	14 ft	1:36 am EDT (05:36 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:51 am EDT (12:51 UTC)

Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet IFR

The whole forecast for DCA

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet

The forecast for AFW, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
9/2934 DALLAS, TX 15 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 14 nm from the route, 557 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at AFW 6:59 pm CDT (23:59 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Perot Fld/Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.