Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International to Lehigh Valley International ATL → ABE
601 nautical miles (692 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 043°, about 048° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:17 pm EDT (17:17 UTC). Right now ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots; ABE is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 2,081 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 TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 483 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 39 to 266 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 138 to 325 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 route from 296 to 325 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 266 nm of the route.
- 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 148 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 ATL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (ATL, GSP, TRI, ROA, EKN, RIC, PSB, AVP). 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 | 330° at 28 kt | +9 kt | 111 kt | 5 h 25 min | 1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 350° at 26 kt | +13 kt | 11 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 37 min | 1:56 pm EDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 350° at 27 kt | +15 kt | 11 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 43 min | 2:02 pm EDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 350° at 29 kt | +16 kt | 8 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 47 min | 2:06 pm EDT (18:06 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | +14 kt | 5 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 40 min | 1:59 pm EDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | +13 kt | 1 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 37 min | 1:56 pm EDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 340° at 33 kt | +13 kt | -3 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 37 min | 1:56 pm EDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 340° at 36 kt | +13 kt | -7 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 37 min | 1:56 pm EDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 340° at 36 kt | +13 kt | -8 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 37 min | 1:56 pm EDT (17:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 42 kt | +19 kt | -20 °C | 101 kt | 5 h 57 min | 2:16 pm EDT (18:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 52 kt | +23 kt | -34 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 12 min | 2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 340° at 53 kt | +21 kt | -41 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 04 min | 2:23 pm EDT (18:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 35 kt | −1 kt | -49 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 58 min | 1:17 pm EDT (17:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| GSP | used from 49 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 340/30 | 360/24 13° | 350/29 10° | 340/33 6° | 340/40 -7° | 350/44 -19° | 340/59 -31° | 350/55 -41° | 300/29 -50° |
| TRI | used from 148 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| ROA | used from 246 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| EKN | used from 394 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 444 nm out; 100 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° |
| PSB | used from 493 nm out; 92 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° | |
| AVP | used from 542 nm out; 65 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL Atlanta, GA | departure | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 7:52 am EDT (11:52 UTC) |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 30 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| TOC Toccoa, GA | 79 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 996 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 138 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | variable at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 2,163 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 197 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HLX Galax Hillsville, VA | 256 nm out, 4 nm north 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 |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 306 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 1,175 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 394 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 640 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 463 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,600 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 389 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| FDK Frederick, MD | 483 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 308 ft | 11:47 UTC |
| LNS Lancaster, PA | 552 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 402 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| ABE Allentown, PA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 393 ft | 7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,693 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:17 pm EDT (17:17 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ABE
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 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
The forecast for ATL, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8928 Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZTL
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 15 nm from the route, 473 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, 473 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 24 nm from the route, 503 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC), at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 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: Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International, Lehigh Valley International.