Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International to Blue Grass Airport CVG → LEX
61 nautical miles (70 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 177°, about 183° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now CVG is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots; LEX is IFR, wind from the west (270°) 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: 17 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). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 CVG.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B744 climbing, 8 nm north, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. At the departure end, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 north cvg
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- B022 overcast T036
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
- B737 at 23,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over CVG
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B739 climbing, 7 nm west, 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 23:31 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- B026 overcast T036
- A333 at 4,000 ft, 12 nm west, 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- B025 overcast T035
- B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 2 forecast points nearest it (CVG, LOU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 340° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 27 min | 10:07 pm EDT (02:07 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −20 kt | 12 °C | 140 kt | 26 min | 10:06 pm EDT (02:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 9 °C | 142 kt | 26 min | 10:06 pm EDT (02:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 6 °C | 146 kt | 25 min | 10:05 pm EDT (02:05 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 350° at 31 kt | −31 kt | 2 °C | 151 kt | 24 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −31 kt | -2 °C | 151 kt | 24 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 340° at 32 kt | −31 kt | -6 °C | 151 kt | 24 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 340° at 32 kt | −31 kt | -9 °C | 151 kt | 24 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 39 kt | −37 kt | -21 °C | 157 kt | 23 min | 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 37 kt | −32 kt | -35 °C | 152 kt | 24 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 40 kt | −32 kt | -40 °C | 152 kt | 24 min | 10:04 pm EDT (02:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 36 kt | −27 kt | -47 °C | 147 kt | 25 min | 10:05 pm EDT (02:05 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG | used from 0 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 350/13 | 340/20 13° | 340/22 8° | 350/30 3° | 340/30 -9° | 340/38 -21° | 330/37 -35° | 320/38 -40° | 310/35 -47° |
| LOU | used from 43 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG Covington, KY | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 9:21 pm EDT (01:21 UTC) |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | 800 ft | 979 ft | 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 979 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for CVG, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 3 miles, mist, a few clouds at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 1 mile, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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, at the departure end · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at CVG 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is after sunset there (7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Blue Grass Airport.