Plan a flight · Sun 9:04 pm CDT (02:04 UTC)

Baton Rouge Metro, Ryan Field to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport BTR → DCA

856 nautical miles (985 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 050°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BTR is VFR, wind calm; DCA is low IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) 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: 573 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 408 to 756 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 478 to 686 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 298 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 50 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 BTR.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 7 nm west, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 587 nm along the route, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
B712 at 30,000 ft, 4 nm northwest, 6:09 pm CDT (23:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 219 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2309/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZME46
A21N at 34,000 ft, 4 nm northwest, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 219 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2305/FL340/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZME46
E170 at 33,000 ft, 33 nm southeast, 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 348 nm along the route, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
45 nm west (280°) of ATL
Time
01:53 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
B712 at 3,000 ft, 24 nm northwest, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 398 nm along the route, 24 nm northwest 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
A320 descending, 33 nm northwest, 8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 478 nm along the route, 33 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
4 northeast tys
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Remarks
base 2,100 ft
S22T descending, 20 nm northwest, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 567 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 23 tri
C52C at 12,500 ft, 0 nm southwest, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 657 nm along the route, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none
E145 at 4,000 ft, 0 nm west, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 686 nm along the route, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
E145 at 2,200 ft, 0 nm west, 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 686 nm along the route, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
E170 at 500 ft, 1 nm southeast, 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 776 nm along the route, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
over CHO
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
FA8X climbing, 19 nm northwest, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. At the destination end, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
FA8X
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
CL60 at 500 ft, 5 nm west, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HEF UA /OV KHEF150001/TM 2330/FL005/TP CL60/SK OVC005/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through HEF
Where
1 nm southeast (150°) of KHEF
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
CL60
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
Remarks
during the descent
CL60 descending, 5 nm west, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the destination end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV HEF160001/TM 2330/FLDURD/TP CL60/SK OVC 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
1 nm south (160°) of HEF
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CL60
Sky
overcast from 500 ft

10 more routine reports are on the map.

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 8 forecast points nearest it (MSY, JAN, BHM, ATL, TYS, TRI, ROA, 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	270° at 11 kt	−8 kt		128 kt	6 h 41 min	4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−6 kt	11 °C	126 kt	6 h 48 min	4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−6 kt	12 °C	126 kt	6 h 48 min	4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−6 kt	9 °C	126 kt	6 h 48 min	4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	−6 kt	6 °C	126 kt	6 h 48 min	4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	−7 kt	2 °C	127 kt	6 h 44 min	4:48 am EDT (08:48 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	−10 kt	-2 °C	130 kt	6 h 35 min	4:39 am EDT (08:39 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 23 kt	−13 kt	-6 °C	133 kt	6 h 26 min	4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 23 kt	−14 kt	-7 °C	134 kt	6 h 23 min	4:27 am EDT (08:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 30 kt	−23 kt	-18 °C	143 kt	5 h 59 min	4:03 am EDT (08:03 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 33 kt	−27 kt	-32 °C	147 kt	5 h 49 min	3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 32 kt	−26 kt	-40 °C	146 kt	5 h 52 min	3:56 am EDT (07:56 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 32 kt	−26 kt	-50 °C	146 kt	5 h 52 min	3:56 am EDT (07:56 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
MSY	used from 0 nm out; 55 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -52°
JAN	used from 50 nm out; 60 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°
BHM	used from 199 nm out; 65 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
ATL	used from 348 nm out; 63 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 398 nm out; 64 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°
TRI	used from 497 nm out; 46 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
ROA	used from 647 nm out; 18 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
RIC	used from 746 nm out; 69 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°

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
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	69 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
HDC Hammond, LA	30 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	46 ft	01:55 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	159 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	01:58 UTC
TCL Tuscaloosa, AL	239 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	169 ft	01:53 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	288 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	01:53 UTC
DNN Dalton, GA	408 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,200 ft	709 ft	23:35 UTC
RHP Andrews, NC	458 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,700 ft	1,698 ft	01:55 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	567 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	1,518 ft	01:53 UTC
BCB Blacksburg, VA	667 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light drizzle	calm	4 mi	600 ft	2,119 ft	23:35 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	686 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots	6 mi	2,800 ft	1,175 ft	01:54 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	776 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	5 mi	500 ft	640 ft	01:53 UTC
DCA Washington, DC	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain	from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots	9 mi	400 ft	14 ft	9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,119 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, 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)

Wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet IFR

The whole forecast for DCA

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for BTR, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 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, at the destination end · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at BTR 6:36 pm CDT (23:36 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Baton Rouge Metro, Ryan Field, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.