Rafael Hernandez Airport to Washington Dulles International BQN → IAD
1,341 nautical miles (1,543 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 338°, about 348° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 5:10 pm EDT (21:10 UTC). Right now BQN is VFR, wind from the east (080°) at 4 knots; IAD is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 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 E31E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, until 6:55 am AST (10:55 UTC). Over the route from 1271 to 1331 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120855 MKCE WST 120855 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 31E VALID UNTIL 1055Z MD VA DC FROM 20NNE DCA-30WSW SBY-RIC-CSN-20NNE DCA AREA TS MOV LTL. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 1013 to 1033 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 1132 to 1281 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, fog). Over the last 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the last 20 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 BQN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 33 nm southwest, 2:07 am AST (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 1261 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- B737 at 800 ft, 39 nm east, 3:30 am AST (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the destination end, 39 nm east 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 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (MIA, MLB, ILM, ORF, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 310° at 12 kt | +11 kt | 109 kt | 12 h 18 min | 5:23 pm EDT (21:23 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 14 °C | 109 kt | 12 h 18 min | 5:23 pm EDT (21:23 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +12 kt | 11 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 25 min | 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +12 kt | 8 °C | 108 kt | 12 h 25 min | 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 5 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 32 min | 5:37 pm EDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 0 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 32 min | 5:37 pm EDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | +13 kt | -3 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 32 min | 5:37 pm EDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 22 kt | +13 kt | -7 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 32 min | 5:37 pm EDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 24 kt | +10 kt | -18 °C | 110 kt | 12 h 11 min | 5:16 pm EDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 31 kt | +9 kt | -32 °C | 111 kt | 12 h 05 min | 5:10 pm EDT (21:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 35 kt | +10 kt | -40 °C | 110 kt | 12 h 11 min | 5:16 pm EDT (21:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 29 kt | +13 kt | -50 °C | 107 kt | 12 h 32 min | 5:37 pm EDT (21:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIA | used from 0 nm out; 832 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 17° | L/V 13° | L/V 8° | 270/6 -6° | 250/9 -17° | 290/17 -32° | 280/25 -41° | 280/21 -52° |
| MLB | used from 596 nm out; 489 nm from the line | 290/10 | 260/15 18° | 290/12 13° | 280/13 8° | 250/20 -7° | 260/18 -18° | 240/17 -32° | 250/20 -41° | 250/22 -52° |
| ILM | used from 646 nm out; 453 nm from the line | 300/18 | 300/22 13° | 300/21 8° | 290/28 4° | 280/38 -7° | 270/40 -18° | 250/49 -32° | 250/50 -40° | 270/33 -50° |
| ORF | used from 1043 nm out; 136 nm from the line | 310/30 | 320/27 11° | 310/30 8° | 320/30 3° | 290/36 -8° | 270/40 -21° | 250/52 -32° | 250/50 -39° | 260/42 -48° |
| RIC | used from 1241 nm out; 33 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BQN Aguadilla, PR | departure | VFR | from the east (080°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 237 ft | 1:50 am AST (05:50 UTC) |
| ORF Norfolk, VA | 1202 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the west (260°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 26 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| PHF Newport News, VA | 1222 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 42 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| IAD Washington, DC | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots | 6 mi | 1,000 ft | 312 ft | 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 312 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:10 pm EDT (21:10 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAD
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 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 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for BQN, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am AST (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet (thunderheads), a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am AST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am AST (13:00 UTC): wind from the east at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm AST (17:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet (thunderheads), scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 2:00 pm AST (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm AST (21:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, a broken layer at 2,000 feet (thunderheads), a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm AST (23:00 UTC): wind from the east at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 3 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BQN 6:08 pm AST (22:08 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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: Rafael Hernandez Airport, Washington Dulles International.