Buffalo Niagara International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport BUF → DCA
257 nautical miles (296 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 162°, about 173° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (5,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 12:04 am EDT (04:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 2,157 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 TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the whole 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 last 228 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 40 to 198 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 BUF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over ROC
- Time
- 23:35 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- DH8D
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate chop
- Remarks
- zob
- B38M at 500 ft, 48 nm east, 7:52 pm EDT (23:52 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2352/FL005/TP B38M/SK BKN005-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over ROC
- Time
- 23:52 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 500 ft, tops unknown
- A319 at 4,300 ft, 20 nm west, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): overcast above 4,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 20 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF270020/TM 2314/FL043/TP A319/SK OVC 043/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 20 nm west (270°) of BUF
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 4,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- overcast from 4,300 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B738 at 4,700 ft, 6 nm northeast, 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC): a broken layer from 4,700 ft to 5,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF140010/TM 0059/FL047/TP B738/SK BKN 047 TOPS 053/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (140°) of BUF
- Time
- 00:59 UTC
- Height
- at 4,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,700 ft, tops 5,300 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- A21N at 30,000 ft, 9 nm west, 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. 30 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
JHW UA /OV JHW050025/TM 2336/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JHW
- Where
- 25 nm northeast (050°) of JHW
- Time
- 23:36 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- zob
- CRJ7 at 1,600 ft, 4 nm south, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): overcast above 1,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 06 KUNV. 129 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
UNV UA /OV KUNV240002/TM 0020/FL016/TP CRJ7/SK BKN-OVC016/RM DURD RY06 KUNV
- Report
- a routine report filed through UNV
- Where
- 2 nm southwest (240°) of KUNV
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,600 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- BKN-OVC016
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 06 KUNV
- E145 at 2,000 ft, 4 nm south, 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC): overcast above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 06 KUNV. 129 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
UNV UA /OV KUNV240002/TM 2310/FL020/TP E145/SK OVC020/RM DURD RY06 KUNV
- Report
- a routine report filed through UNV
- Where
- 2 nm southwest (240°) of KUNV
- Time
- 23:10 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 06 KUNV
- C25B at 800 ft, 32 nm east, 9:41 pm EDT (01:41 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 178 nm along the route, 32 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
MDT UA /OV CXY/TM 0141/FL008/TP C25B/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through MDT
- Where
- over CXY
- Time
- 01:41 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- C25B
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- E145 at 8,000 ft, 42 nm east, 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): light chop turbulence. 188 nm along the route, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
MDT UA /OV 10 SE MDT/TM 0030/FL080/TP E145/TB LIGHT CHOP GOING THROUGH THE MODERATE RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through MDT
- Where
- 10 southeast mdt
- Time
- 00:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- light chop going through the moderate rain
- B738 at 7,000 ft, 13 nm east, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft, remarks: top 6,500 ft. 237 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 2340/FL070/TP B738/SK OVC004/RM TOP 065
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 10 nm west (280°) of BAL
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- Remarks
- top 6,500 ft
- B39M at 2,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 700 ft. 237 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML320005/TM 2303/FL020/TP B39M/SK BASES OVC 007
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 5 nm northwest (320°) of AML
- Time
- 23:03 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Sky
- bases overcast at 700 ft
- A320 at 2,000 ft, 22 nm east, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the destination end, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- CONLE5 sid
- B738 at 2,000 ft, 20 nm northeast, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the destination end, 20 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm west (260°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:43 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
- Remarks
- TERPZ8 sid
- FA8X climbing, 22 nm west, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. At the destination end, 22 nm west 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
9 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 3 forecast points nearest it (BUF, PSB, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 11 kt | 0 | 13 °C | 120 kt | 2 h 08 min | 12:04 am EDT (04:04 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 9 kt | +2 kt | 10 °C | 118 kt | 2 h 11 min | 12:07 am EDT (04:07 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | +5 kt | 7 °C | 115 kt | 2 h 14 min | 12:10 am EDT (04:10 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 11 kt | +6 kt | 5 °C | 114 kt | 2 h 15 min | 12:11 am EDT (04:11 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 2 h 16 min | 12:12 am EDT (04:12 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +8 kt | -5 °C | 112 kt | 2 h 18 min | 12:14 am EDT (04:14 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +9 kt | -10 °C | 111 kt | 2 h 19 min | 12:15 am EDT (04:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 25 kt | +10 kt | -11 °C | 110 kt | 2 h 20 min | 12:16 am EDT (04:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 33 kt | +21 kt | -21 °C | 99 kt | 2 h 36 min | 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 68 kt | +37 kt | -32 °C | 83 kt | 3 h 06 min | 1:02 am EDT (05:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 71 kt | +37 kt | -40 °C | 83 kt | 3 h 06 min | 1:02 am EDT (05:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 65 kt | +25 kt | -50 °C | 95 kt | 2 h 42 min | 12:38 am EDT (04:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 170/19 | L/V 10° | 040/9 6° | 220/8 2° | 230/15 -11° | 220/33 -22° | 220/47 -35° | 230/55 -41° | 230/56 -50° |
| PSB | used from 49 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 247 nm out; 86 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Buffalo, NY | departure | no report just now | 726 ft | ||||
| OLE Olean, NY | 49 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,135 ft | ||||
| OYM St Marys, PA | 89 nm out, 19 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,934 ft | ||||
| UNV State College, PA | 129 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,231 ft | ||||
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 198 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 703 ft | ||||
| FDK Frederick, MD | 218 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 308 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,135 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, 12:04 am EDT (04:04 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 25 nm from the route, 237 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 237 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 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
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: Buffalo Niagara International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.