Columbia Regional to Raleigh-Durham International COU → RDU
664 nautical miles (764 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 101°, about 101° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:10 am EDT (15:10 UTC). Right now COU is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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: 3 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 TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 20 nm of 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 route from 248 to 535 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 397 to 555 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 496 to 585 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 515 to 585 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 565 to 644 nm out.
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
- E75L at 30,000 ft, 17 nm north, 5:51 am CDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. At the destination end, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 20 nm north (360°) of RDU
- Time
- 10:51 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- E550 at 8,700 ft, 4 nm northwest, 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 228 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through EVV
- Where
- over EVV
- Time
- 10:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,700 ft
- Aircraft
- E550
- Sky
- clear
- Remarks
- visual conditions clear during the climb
- E170 at 100 ft, 39 nm north, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 357 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- in the clouds on rotation
- E170 at 1,100 ft, 39 nm north, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 357 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 10:11 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
- Remarks
- cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
- CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 43 nm north, 4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 357 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- 10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
- Time
- 09:37 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- scattered clouds from 100 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 27 nm south, 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 486 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- booie
- Time
- 10:10 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (COU, STL, EVV, LOU, TRI, ROA, RDU). 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 21 kt | −22 kt | 142 kt | 4 h 41 min | 11:51 am EDT (15:51 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 4 h 51 min | 12:01 pm EDT (16:01 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 12 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 55 min | 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 8 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 57 min | 12:07 pm EDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 6 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 53 min | 12:03 pm EDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 2 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 47 min | 11:57 am EDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -2 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 41 min | 11:51 am EDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 35 min | 11:45 am EDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 28 kt | −26 kt | -7 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 33 min | 11:43 am EDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 31 kt | −30 kt | -19 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 26 min | 11:36 am EDT (15:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 40 kt | −38 kt | -33 °C | 158 kt | 4 h 12 min | 11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 50 kt | −46 kt | -41 °C | 166 kt | 4 h | 11:10 am EDT (15:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 49 kt | −45 kt | -50 °C | 165 kt | 4 h 01 min | 11:11 am EDT (15:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 50 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| EVV | used from 149 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| LOU | used from 297 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| TRI | used from 397 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| ROA | used from 545 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| RDU | used from 595 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
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 (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC) |
| FYG Washington, MO | 59 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 487 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | 99 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 412 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CUL Carmi, IL | 198 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 387 ft | ||||
| EVV Evansville, IN | 228 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 421 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| EKX Elizabethtown, KY | 307 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 100 ft | 775 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 397 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 426 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | calm | 7 mi | 600 ft | 1,256 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 486 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 1,518 ft | 11:00 UTC |
| INT Winston Salem, NC | 595 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 969 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 605 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 925 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:10 am EDT (15:10 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet VFR
At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet and more above
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- At times between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 5:30 pm EDT (21:30 UTC): wind from the northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for COU, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 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 south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, 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 RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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: Columbia Regional, Raleigh-Durham International.
