Plan a flight · Mon 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC)

St. Louis Downtown Airport to Washington Dulles International CPS → IAD

594 nautical miles (684 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC). Right now CPS is VFR, wind calm; IAD is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 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: 8 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, fog). Over the last 456 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 396 to 545 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the last 129 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

B752 climbing, 8 nm northeast, 2:37 am CDT (07:37 UTC): overcast. 248 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 0737/FLDURC/TP B752/SK B001 OVC T015
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
07:37 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B752
Sky
B001 overcast T015
B763 at 200 ft, 7 nm north, 3:05 am CDT (08:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 258 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0805/FL002/TP B763/SK VV002/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
08:05 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 200 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 33,000 ft, 31 nm south, 3:44 am CDT (08:44 UTC): -39 °C, wind 350° at 65 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 475 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EKN UA /OV EKN188027 /TM 0844 /FL330 /TP B738 /TA M39 /WV 35065KT /TB MOD-CONS /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
```
Report
a routine report filed through EKN
Where
27 nm south (188°) of EKN
Time
08:44 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Temperature
−39 °C
Wind
from 350° at 65 knots
Turbulence
mod-cons
Remarks
produced by skypath
B737 at 800 ft, 39 nm east, 2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the destination end, 39 nm east 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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (STL, EVV, LOU, CVG, CRW, EKN). 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	290° at 19 kt	−17 kt		137 kt	4 h 20 min	9:23 am EDT (13:23 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	−14 kt	10 °C	134 kt	4 h 26 min	9:29 am EDT (13:29 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−12 kt	11 °C	132 kt	4 h 30 min	9:33 am EDT (13:33 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−11 kt	7 °C	131 kt	4 h 32 min	9:35 am EDT (13:35 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 21 kt	−13 kt	5 °C	133 kt	4 h 28 min	9:31 am EDT (13:31 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	−15 kt	1 °C	135 kt	4 h 24 min	9:27 am EDT (13:27 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	−18 kt	-2 °C	138 kt	4 h 18 min	9:21 am EDT (13:21 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 30 kt	−21 kt	-6 °C	141 kt	4 h 13 min	9:16 am EDT (13:16 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 30 kt	−21 kt	-7 °C	141 kt	4 h 13 min	9:16 am EDT (13:16 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 33 kt	−24 kt	-20 °C	144 kt	4 h 08 min	9:11 am EDT (13:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 41 kt	−24 kt	-34 °C	144 kt	4 h 08 min	9:11 am EDT (13:11 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 55 kt	−34 kt	-41 °C	154 kt	3 h 51 min	8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 50 kt	−34 kt	-50 °C	154 kt	3 h 51 min	8:54 am EDT (12:54 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
STL	used from 0 nm out; 36 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 50 nm out; 63 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 149 nm out; 52 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°
CVG	used from 198 nm out; 36 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
CRW	used from 347 nm out; 46 nm from the line	320/17	340/23 12°	340/32 8°	340/35 4°	330/40 -7°	340/45 -20°	340/57 -34°	340/64 -42°	320/38 -50°
EKN	used from 446 nm out; 13 nm from the line		330/20 10°	350/29 7°	340/32 2°	340/44 -8°	350/50 -21°	350/63 -35°	340/69 -40°	330/42 -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	calm	10+ mi	none	412 ft	3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC)
SLO Salem, IL	59 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	573 ft	08:55 UTC
FOA Flora, IL	79 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	472 ft	08:55 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN	168 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Weather: mist	calm	2.5 mi	none	845 ft	08:58 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	198 nm out, 25 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	656 ft	01:45 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	258 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog	from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots	0.25 mi	100 ft	896 ft	08:52 UTC
AMT West Union, OH	307 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				896 ft
PKB Parkersburg, WV	406 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: mist	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	4 mi	1,400 ft	858 ft	08:50 UTC
CKB Clarksburg, WV	466 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots	8 mi	700 ft	1,223 ft	08:53 UTC
EKN Elkins, WV	485 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	variable at 4 knots	6 mi	900 ft	1,987 ft	08:51 UTC
FRR Front Royal, VA	555 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,100 ft	703 ft	08:55 UTC
IAD Washington, DC	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots	6 mi	1,000 ft	312 ft	4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for IAD

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 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 4 nm from the route, 258 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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 Northeast · 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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Washington Dulles International.