St. Louis Downtown Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall CPS → BWI
631 nautical miles (726 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CPS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots; BWI is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16. 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 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 148 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- 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 503 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 404 to 572 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 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 CPS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 20,000 ft, 8 nm southeast, 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 572 nm along the route, 8 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 03:11 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
- MD83 climbing, 44 nm north, 12:04 am CDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 345 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
- B712 descending, 0 nm south, 10:10 pm CDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- runway 15R
- Time
- 03:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B712
- Remarks
- light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft 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 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 (STL, EVV, IND, CVG, CMH, CRW, EKN, 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 | 300° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 4 h 45 min | 6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 12 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 49 min | 6:25 am EDT (10:25 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −11 kt | 12 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 49 min | 6:25 am EDT (10:25 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −10 kt | 8 °C | 130 kt | 4 h 51 min | 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 4 °C | 127 kt | 4 h 58 min | 6:34 am EDT (10:34 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −9 kt | 0 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 53 min | 6:29 am EDT (10:29 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −11 kt | -3 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 49 min | 6:25 am EDT (10:25 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −14 kt | -7 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 43 min | 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 24 kt | −15 kt | -8 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 40 min | 6:16 am EDT (10:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 30 kt | −18 kt | -20 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 34 min | 6:10 am EDT (10:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | −22 kt | -34 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 27 min | 6:03 am EDT (10:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 47 kt | −34 kt | -40 °C | 154 kt | 4 h 06 min | 5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 41 kt | −30 kt | -49 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 12 min | 5:48 am EDT (09:48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | used from 0 nm out; 35 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° |
| EVV | used from 49 nm out; 64 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° |
| IND | used from 148 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| CVG | used from 197 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CMH | used from 296 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CRW | used from 345 nm out; 55 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° |
| EKN | used from 444 nm out; 22 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° | |
| RIC | used from 591 nm out; 101 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 412 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| SLO Salem, IL | 59 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 573 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| LWV Lawrenceville, IL | 118 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 429 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 168 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 845 ft | 05:09 UTC |
| BAK Columbus, IN | 207 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 656 ft | 01:45 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 256 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 896 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| EOP Waverly, OH | 335 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 661 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 414 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 858 ft | 05:26 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 463 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | 800 ft | 1,223 ft | 05:32 UTC |
| OKV Winchester, VA | 562 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: rain | from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 726 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 591 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: rain | from the north (010°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 389 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 143 ft | 1:08 am EDT (05:08 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,223 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, 5:42 am EDT (09:42 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 CPS, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 256 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 601 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · 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 CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.