Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International to Blue Grass Airport ATL → LEX
264 nautical miles (304 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 358°, about 003° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 12:13 am EDT (04:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots; LEX is IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 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: 4,582 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 196 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Near the route, 69 nm along 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 route from 137 to 245 nm out.
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
- B752 descending, 0 nm west, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. At the departure end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
- Report
- a routine report filed through ATL
- Where
- over ATL
- Time
- 23:03 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B752
- Sky
- bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- final runway 26R atl
- B712 at 3,000 ft, 35 nm west, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 78 nm along the route, 35 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of CHA
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- SCT030-TOP032 C
- B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (ATL, TYS, LOU). 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 | 300° at 19 kt | +11 kt | 109 kt | 2 h 25 min | 12:17 am EDT (04:17 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 104 kt | 2 h 32 min | 12:24 am EDT (04:24 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | +21 kt | 10 °C | 99 kt | 2 h 40 min | 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | +25 kt | 7 °C | 95 kt | 2 h 47 min | 12:39 am EDT (04:39 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 34 kt | +30 kt | 5 °C | 90 kt | 2 h 56 min | 12:48 am EDT (04:48 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 35 kt | +30 kt | 1 °C | 90 kt | 2 h 56 min | 12:48 am EDT (04:48 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 35 kt | +29 kt | -3 °C | 91 kt | 2 h 54 min | 12:46 am EDT (04:46 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 35 kt | +28 kt | -6 °C | 92 kt | 2 h 52 min | 12:44 am EDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 35 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 2 h 50 min | 12:42 am EDT (04:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 35 kt | +23 kt | -19 °C | 97 kt | 2 h 43 min | 12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 35 kt | +20 kt | -34 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 38 min | 12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 31 kt | +12 kt | -39 °C | 108 kt | 2 h 27 min | 12:19 am EDT (04:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 27 kt | +8 kt | -48 °C | 112 kt | 2 h 21 min | 12:13 am EDT (04:13 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 24 nm from the line | 300/23 | 320/26 14° | 320/34 10° | 320/41 5° | 290/32 -6° | 290/31 -18° | 280/28 -33° | 260/32 -41° | 250/28 -50° |
| TYS | used from 49 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| LOU | used from 196 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL Atlanta, GA | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC) |
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 20 nm out, 8 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 01:50 UTC |
| JZP Jasper, GA | 49 nm out, 0 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,535 ft | ||||
| MMI Athens, TN | 108 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 874 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| SCX Oneida, TN | 166 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 400 ft | 1,544 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| SME Somerset, KY | 206 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 927 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| DVK Danville, KY | 235 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,021 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | 800 ft | 979 ft | 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,544 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:13 am EDT (04:13 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ATL, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- 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 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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, Blue Grass Airport.