Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall to Blue Grass Airport BWI → LEX
379 nautical miles (436 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 273° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BWI is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16; LEX is IFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 2 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 149 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 110 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 269 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 159 nm along 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 BWI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 20,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 60 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
- B712 descending, 0 nm south, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- runway 15R
- Time
- 03:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B712
- Remarks
- light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft 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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CVG). 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 | 330° at 21 kt | +8 kt | 12 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 23 min | 4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +7 kt | 11 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 21 min | 4:34 am EDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +7 kt | 9 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 21 min | 4:34 am EDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 18 min | 4:31 am EDT (08:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 20 kt | +4 kt | 1 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 16 min | 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +7 kt | -2 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 21 min | 4:34 am EDT (08:34 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +9 kt | -6 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 25 min | 4:38 am EDT (08:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 24 kt | +11 kt | -9 °C | 109 kt | 3 h 29 min | 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 28 kt | +15 kt | -20 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 37 min | 4:50 am EDT (08:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 34 kt | +19 kt | -34 °C | 101 kt | 3 h 45 min | 4:58 am EDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 40 kt | +30 kt | -39 °C | 90 kt | 4 h 13 min | 5:26 am EDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 34 kt | +28 kt | -48 °C | 92 kt | 4 h 07 min | 5:20 am EDT (09:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 97 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° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 75 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° | |
| CRW | used from 199 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| CVG | used from 299 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BWI Baltimore, MD | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 143 ft | 1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC) |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 40 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: rain | from the north (350°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 389 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 60 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 564 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LUA Luray, VA | 90 nm out, 18 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 902 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 149 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | calm | 2 mi | 1,400 ft | 1,987 ft | 05:01 UTC |
| SXL Summersville, WV | 199 nm out, 25 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,819 ft | ||||
| CRW Charleston, WV | 239 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 500 ft | 947 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 279 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 828 ft | 04:58 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 329 nm out, 0 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| IOB Mount Sterling, KY | 349 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | IFR Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 1.25 mi | none | 979 ft | 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:29 am EDT (08:29 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies IFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BWI, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, 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 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 1 nm from the route, 20 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 30 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Blue Grass Airport.