Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall to San Antonio International BWI → SAT
1,221 nautical miles (1,405 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 248°, about 259° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 1:25 pm CDT (18:25 UTC). Right now BWI is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots; SAT is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 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: 1,440 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 546 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 89 to 417 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 119 to 209 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 278 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
- 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
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 14 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, ROA, CRW, TRI, TYS, BNA, HSV, MEM, JAN, LIT, SHV, CLL, SAT). 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 | 280° at 9 kt | +9 kt | 12 °C | 111 kt | 11 h | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | +8 kt | 14 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 54 min | 1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 13 kt | +9 kt | 11 °C | 111 kt | 11 h | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +7 kt | 8 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 48 min | 1:30 pm CDT (18:30 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 10 h 43 min | 1:25 pm CDT (18:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 48 min | 1:30 pm CDT (18:30 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +8 kt | -3 °C | 112 kt | 10 h 54 min | 1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 18 kt | +9 kt | -6 °C | 111 kt | 11 h | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 20 kt | +10 kt | -17 °C | 110 kt | 11 h 06 min | 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 33 kt | +14 kt | -32 °C | 106 kt | 11 h 31 min | 2:13 pm CDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 36 kt | +16 kt | -40 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 44 min | 2:26 pm CDT (19:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 35 kt | +11 kt | -50 °C | 109 kt | 11 h 12 min | 1:54 pm CDT (18:54 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; 91 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; 81 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° | |
| ROA | used from 149 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| CRW | used from 199 nm out; 47 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° |
| TRI | used from 248 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 348 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 447 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| HSV | used from 546 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| MEM | used from 645 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| JAN | used from 745 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| LIT | used from 794 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| SHV | used from 844 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| CLL | used from 993 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
| SAT | used from 1142 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 150/26 | 180/18 19° | 180/18 14° | 200/14 9° | 230/16 -6° | 210/9 -13° | 270/8 -29° | 280/6 -39° | 340/19 -51° |
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 | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 900 ft | 143 ft | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC) |
| IAD Washington, DC | 40 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 4 mi | 900 ft | 312 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 189 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 308 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 7 mi | 400 ft | 2,684 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| SRB Sparta, TN | 457 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,025 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| MQY Smyrna, TN | 506 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | 200 ft | 543 ft | 07:32 UTC | |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 655 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 346 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GLH Greenville, MS | 774 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 130 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SHV Shreveport, LA | 923 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 257 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| CLL College Station, TX | 1092 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 320 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| HYI Austin, TX | 1182 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,500 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 594 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| SAT San Antonio, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 809 ft | 1:51 am CDT (06:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:25 pm CDT (18:25 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAT
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- At times between Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 800 feet
The forecast for BWI, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, gusting to 16, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 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 on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 0 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at SAT 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 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, San Antonio International.