Plan a flight · Sun 9:34 pm CDT (02:34 UTC)

Columbia Regional to Charlotte/Douglas International COU → CLT

581 nautical miles (669 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 108°, about 108° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now COU is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; CLT is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 8 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: 141 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). Over the route from 355 to 434 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 365 to 512 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the last 108 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 COU.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B737 at 31,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME25. 187 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAH UA /OV CNG360015/TM 0013/FL310/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME25
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAH
Where
15 nm north (360°) of CNG
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME25
B738 at 34,000 ft, 47 nm south, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 256 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B739 at 34,000 ft, 14 nm south, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 286 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of BWG
Time
01:51 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A320 descending, 25 nm southwest, 8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 434 nm along the route, 25 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
4 northeast tys
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Remarks
base 2,100 ft
S22T descending, 41 nm northeast, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 483 nm along the route, 41 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 23 tri

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 8 forecast points nearest it (COU, STL, CGI, EVV, BNA, TYS, TRI, GSP). 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 17 kt	−17 kt		137 kt	4 h 14 min	2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−15 kt	11 °C	135 kt	4 h 18 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−16 kt	12 °C	136 kt	4 h 16 min	2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−18 kt	8 °C	138 kt	4 h 13 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−18 kt	6 °C	138 kt	4 h 13 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	−20 kt	2 °C	140 kt	4 h 09 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	−22 kt	-1 °C	142 kt	4 h 05 min	2:39 am EDT (06:39 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 25 kt	−24 kt	-5 °C	144 kt	4 h 02 min	2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 25 kt	−25 kt	-6 °C	145 kt	4 h	2:34 am EDT (06:34 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 28 kt	−27 kt	-18 °C	147 kt	3 h 57 min	2:31 am EDT (06:31 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 36 kt	−35 kt	-33 °C	155 kt	3 h 45 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 47 kt	−45 kt	-40 °C	165 kt	3 h 31 min	2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 47 kt	−44 kt	-50 °C	164 kt	3 h 33 min	2:07 am EDT (06:07 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
COU	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	230/31	230/30 15°	260/16 11°	270/14 6°	260/24 -6°	270/27 -18°	270/37 -32°	280/49 -41°	290/56 -51°
STL	used from 49 nm out; 26 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -51°
CGI	used from 148 nm out; 54 nm from the line	240/20	270/15 15°	280/15 11°	300/13 6°	290/20 -6°	280/24 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/47 -41°	310/49 -51°
EVV	used from 197 nm out; 31 nm from the line	280/15	290/12 17°	310/16 10°	320/13 5°	310/22 -6°	320/26 -18°	320/38 -33°	310/56 -41°	320/55 -51°
BNA	used from 296 nm out; 63 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°
TYS	used from 345 nm out; 68 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°
TRI	used from 443 nm out; 43 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°
GSP	used from 493 nm out; 46 nm from the line	320/22	340/19 13°	320/18 8°	310/24 5°	300/34 -7°	300/36 -18°	290/30 -33°	300/32 -39°	320/42 -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
COU Columbia, MO	departure	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)
SUS St Louis, MO	69 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	463 ft	01:54 UTC
MWA Marion, IL	168 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	471 ft	02:15 UTC
HSB Harrisburg, IL	187 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	398 ft	02:15 UTC
OWB Owensboro, KY	246 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	407 ft	01:56 UTC
GLW Glasgow, KY	315 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	716 ft	02:15 UTC
SCX Oneida, TN	394 nm out, 6 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	calm	10+ mi	700 ft	1,544 ft	02:15 UTC
JAU Jacksboro, TN	414 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,600 ft	1,179 ft	02:10 UTC
AVL Asheville, NC	503 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,163 ft	01:54 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	552 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	01:53 UTC
CLT Charlotte, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	747 ft	9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CLT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for CLT

From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 23,000 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 COU, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC), at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLT is before sunrise there (7:27 am EDT (11:27 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Columbia Regional, Charlotte/Douglas International.