Bellingham International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport BLI → DCA
2,026 nautical miles (2,331 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 090°, about 074° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC). 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the last 160 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120155 MKCE WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E VALID UNTIL 0355Z PA MD VA DC WV OH FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 200 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 16,000 ft. Over the route from 170 to 509 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 269 to 848 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 289 to 519 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 349 to 868 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 998 to 1088 nm out.
- 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 359 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1846 to 1976 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 160 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 BLI.
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 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 18 forecast points nearest it (SEA, GEG, GPI, GTF, GGW, MLS, DIK, ABR, AXN, MSP, LSE, GRB, MKG, FWA, CLE, AGC, 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 9 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 15 h 50 min | 2:33 pm EDT (18:33 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 1 kt | −1 kt | 1 °C | 121 kt | 16 h 45 min | 3:28 pm EDT (19:28 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 260° at 3 kt | −2 kt | 7 °C | 122 kt | 16 h 36 min | 3:19 pm EDT (19:19 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 4 kt | −3 kt | 3 °C | 123 kt | 16 h 28 min | 3:11 pm EDT (19:11 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 7 kt | −5 kt | 0 °C | 125 kt | 16 h 12 min | 2:55 pm EDT (18:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 10 kt | −9 kt | -3 °C | 129 kt | 15 h 42 min | 2:25 pm EDT (18:25 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 14 kt | −13 kt | -7 °C | 133 kt | 15 h 14 min | 1:57 pm EDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | −17 kt | -11 °C | 137 kt | 14 h 47 min | 1:30 pm EDT (17:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 19 kt | −18 kt | -12 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 41 min | 1:24 pm EDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 21 kt | −20 kt | -23 °C | 140 kt | 14 h 28 min | 1:11 pm EDT (17:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -37 °C | 144 kt | 14 h 04 min | 12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 34 kt | −33 kt | -43 °C | 153 kt | 13 h 15 min | 11:58 am EDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -48 °C | 164 kt | 12 h 21 min | 11:04 am EDT (15:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 050/7 | 050/11 1° | 050/12 -5° | 030/31 -7° | 010/61 -15° | 010/69 -26° | 360/73 -40° | 360/62 -47° | 330/21 -43° |
| GEG | used from 100 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 080/16 -2° | 050/17 -7° | 080/9 -10° | 190/33 -21° | 180/31 -32° | L/V -35° | L/V -37° | 270/8 -40° | |
| GPI | used from 249 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 399 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 070/11 | 080/15 -7° | 110/19 -9° | 190/25 -14° | 200/34 -23° | 200/54 -39° | 220/66 -40° | 220/77 -44° | |
| GGW | used from 549 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 110/23 0° | 130/20 -2° | 170/24 -3° | 230/44 -11° | 220/51 -21° | 210/52 -39° | 220/64 -44° | 240/85 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 699 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| DIK | used from 748 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| ABR | used from 898 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| AXN | used from 1048 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 100/14 | 250/21 14° | 240/24 12° | 240/31 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/40 -21° | 250/42 -36° | 260/48 -45° | 260/53 -50° |
| MSP | used from 1148 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| LSE | used from 1297 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| GRB | used from 1397 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/36 | 270/23 16° | 270/14 9° | 240/18 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/29 -20° | 290/42 -36° | 290/51 -45° | 290/72 -55° |
| MKG | used from 1447 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| FWA | used from 1597 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CLE | used from 1697 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| AGC | used from 1796 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| EKN | used from 1946 nm out; 89 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 1996 nm out; 89 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLI Bellingham, WA | departure | no report just now | 171 ft | ||||
| OMK Omak, WA | 120 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,304 ft | ||||
| GPI Kalispell, MT | 329 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,976 ft | ||||
| SBX Shelby, MT | 419 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,442 ft | ||||
| GDV Glendive, MT | 719 nm out, 19 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,458 ft | ||||
| BIS Bismarck, ND | 888 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,661 ft | ||||
| MIC Minneapolis, MN | 1208 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 869 ft | ||||
| STP St Paul, MN | 1228 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 705 ft | ||||
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 1597 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 951 ft | ||||
| CAK Akron, OH | 1786 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,225 ft | ||||
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 1996 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 389 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,442 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, 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6654 28NM W TWISP, WA, Thursday, October 1, 2026 through Thursday, October 15, 2026 UTC 23 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 15 October · ZSE
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 1208 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 1806 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, 1816 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BLI 6:26 pm PDT (01:26 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







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: Bellingham International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.
