Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall to Norfolk International BWI → ORF
139 nautical miles (160 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 171°, about 182° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 31-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BWI is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots; ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17. 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: 3,078 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 EDT (10:55 UTC). Over the route from 30 to 69 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 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 first 129 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 79 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 BWI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 700 ft, 0 nm south, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 09:33 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- light rain
- B737 at 800 ft, 0 nm south, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south 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
- B738 at 1,200 ft, 0 nm south, 5:07 am EDT (09:07 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 3,000 ft; scattered clouds above 8,500 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ORF UA /OV ORF/TM 0907/FL012/TP B738/SK OVC012-TOP030/SCT085/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ORF
- Where
- over ORF
- Time
- 09:07 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 3,000 ft; scattered clouds from 8,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
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 2 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ORF). 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 | 340° at 29 kt | −28 kt | 148 kt | 56 min | 6:37 am EDT (10:37 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −27 kt | 11 °C | 147 kt | 57 min | 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 32 kt | −31 kt | 9 °C | 151 kt | 55 min | 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 32 kt | −30 kt | 6 °C | 150 kt | 56 min | 6:37 am EDT (10:37 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | −28 kt | 2 °C | 148 kt | 56 min | 6:37 am EDT (10:37 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | −26 kt | -2 °C | 146 kt | 57 min | 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 32 kt | −24 kt | -6 °C | 144 kt | 58 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 33 kt | −22 kt | -9 °C | 142 kt | 59 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 33 kt | −23 kt | -21 °C | 143 kt | 58 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 38 kt | −14 kt | -33 °C | 134 kt | 1 h 02 min | 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 38 kt | −10 kt | -39 °C | 130 kt | 1 h 04 min | 6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 41 kt | −15 kt | -47 °C | 135 kt | 1 h 02 min | 6:43 am EDT (10:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 83 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° |
| ORF | used from 99 nm out; 20 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° |
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: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 1,100 ft | 143 ft | 5:31 am EDT (09:31 UTC) |
| DCA Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 20 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18 | 5 mi | 1,200 ft | 14 ft | 09:25 UTC |
| TGI Tangier, VA | 89 nm out, 19 nm east of the line | no report just now | 5 ft | ||||
| PHF Newport News, VA | 119 nm out, 12 nm southwest 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 |
| ORF Norfolk, VA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the west (260°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 26 ft | 5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 143 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC)
Wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ORF
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for BWI, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 16, visibility 2 miles, light rain, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 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 7 nm from the route, 20 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORF is before sunrise there (7:09 am EDT (11:09 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, Norfolk International.