Charleston Afb/Intl Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall CHS → BWI
411 nautical miles (473 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 022°, about 029° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 72-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:46 am EDT (08:46 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CHS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots; BWI is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 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: 2,431 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 E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the last 49 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 215 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 205 nm along the 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 127 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 CHS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 13 nm east, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 303 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (CHS, FLO, RDU, 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 | 280° at 22 kt | −5 kt | 125 kt | 3 h 17 min | 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 3 h 22 min | 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −1 kt | 10 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 24 min | 6:02 am EDT (10:02 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 21 kt | −2 kt | 7 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 22 min | 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 23 kt | −9 kt | 5 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 11 min | 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 27 kt | −15 kt | 2 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 03 min | 5:41 am EDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 32 kt | −20 kt | -2 °C | 140 kt | 2 h 56 min | 5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 37 kt | −26 kt | -5 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 49 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 39 kt | −28 kt | -6 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 47 min | 5:25 am EDT (09:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 49 kt | −42 kt | -18 °C | 162 kt | 2 h 32 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 68 kt | −63 kt | -31 °C | 183 kt | 2 h 15 min | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 80 kt | −72 kt | -39 °C | 192 kt | 2 h 08 min | 4:46 am EDT (08:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 61 kt | −54 kt | -50 °C | 174 kt | 2 h 22 min | 5:00 am EDT (09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -52° |
| FLO | used from 49 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| RDU | used from 147 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| RIC | used from 245 nm out; 40 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHS Charleston, SC | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 UTC) |
| MKS Moncks Corner, SC | 20 nm out, 7 nm west of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 74 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 78 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MAO Marion, SC | 88 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 92 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 137 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | 186 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 435 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| AVC South Hill, VA | 245 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,800 ft | 441 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 274 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 303 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west (260°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 167 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| EZF Fredericksburg, VA | 342 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 85 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 381 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 14 ft | 06:29 UTC |
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northeast (020°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 800 ft | 143 ft | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 441 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BWI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:46 am EDT (08:46 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 IFR
The whole forecast for BWI
- 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
The forecast for CHS, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, 117 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 24 nm from the route, 127 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 381 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 391 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at CHS 6:50 pm EDT (22:50 UTC), at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BWI is before sunrise there (7:13 am EDT (11:13 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: Charleston Afb/Intl Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.