Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall BHM → BWI
592 nautical miles (681 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 052°, about 055° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 18-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC). Right now BHM is VFR, wind calm; BWI is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) 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: 669 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 last 533 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 118 to 474 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 178 to 326 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 257 to 572 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 BHM.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 800 ft, 0 nm south, 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south 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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (BHM, HSV, TYS, TRI, ROA, 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 | 310° at 21 kt | −6 kt | 126 kt | 4 h 42 min | 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −1 kt | 11 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 54 min | 8:59 am EDT (12:59 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +1 kt | 10 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 58 min | 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | +1 kt | 7 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 58 min | 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +1 kt | 5 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 58 min | 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −1 kt | 1 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 54 min | 8:59 am EDT (12:59 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −3 kt | -3 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 49 min | 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | −6 kt | -7 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 42 min | 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 26 kt | −7 kt | -8 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 40 min | 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 27 kt | −10 kt | -19 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 33 min | 8:38 am EDT (12:38 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 34 kt | −14 kt | -33 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 25 min | 8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 39 kt | −18 kt | -39 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 17 min | 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 33 kt | −15 kt | -48 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 23 min | 8:28 am EDT (12:28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/19 | 330/20 17° | 320/28 11° | 340/21 6° | 310/22 -7° | 330/33 -17° | 330/50 -32° | 330/57 -41° | 330/41 -50° |
| HSV | used from 49 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| TYS | used from 99 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| TRI | used from 247 nm out; 15 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° | |
| ROA | used from 345 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| EKN | used from 444 nm out; 67 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 493 nm out; 69 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHM Birmingham, AL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| GAD Gadsden, AL | 39 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 569 ft | 15:56 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 118 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| DZJ Blairsville, GA | 158 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 1,906 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| RHP Andrews, NC | 178 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet | from the north (360°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 1,698 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 276 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA | 335 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the west (270°) at 17 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 2,558 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 405 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a few clouds at 3,500 feet | from the west (280°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,175 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| HSP Hot Springs, VA | 424 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the west (280°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 | 0.25 mi | none | 3,792 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 483 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 640 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 543 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,700 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 1,100 ft | 192 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | 900 ft | 143 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,792 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BWI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC)
Wind from the north at 9 knots, gusting to 16, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BWI
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, gusting to 16, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for BHM, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 562 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 562 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC), at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 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: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.