Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Appleton International DCA → ATW
609 nautical miles (700 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 306°, about 317° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots; ATW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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: 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). Over the first 140 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 190 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 190 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 60 nm along the route.
- 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). Near the route, 120 nm along 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 229 to 379 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 DCA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 7 forecast points nearest it (RIC, PSB, AGC, CLE, FWA, MKG, GRB). 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 | 280° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 13 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 18 min | 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 13 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 29 min | 1:42 am CDT (06:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | +10 kt | 10 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 32 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | +10 kt | 6 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 32 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 10 kt | +10 kt | 2 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 32 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | +11 kt | -2 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 35 min | 1:48 am CDT (06:48 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -7 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 41 min | 1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 15 kt | +14 kt | -10 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 45 min | 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 19 kt | +18 kt | -22 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 58 min | 2:11 am CDT (07:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 30 kt | +27 kt | -35 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 33 min | 2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 35 kt | +27 kt | -43 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 33 min | 2:46 am CDT (07:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 44 kt | +35 kt | -49 °C | 85 kt | 7 h 10 min | 3:23 am CDT (08:23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
| PSB | used from 50 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -50° | |
| AGC | used from 100 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| CLE | used from 200 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 340/5 | 320/13 14° | 300/12 8° | 310/10 2° | 310/14 -10° | 340/14 -23° | 320/27 -35° | 260/28 -40° | 250/36 -48° |
| FWA | used from 349 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| MKG | used from 399 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -49° |
| GRB | used from 549 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 240/24 | 260/18 16° | 270/20 11° | 290/14 4° | 280/24 -9° | 300/34 -21° | 310/51 -38° | 310/54 -48° | 300/71 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA Washington, DC | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 14 ft | 8:52 pm EDT (00:52 UTC) |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 30 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 7 mi | 500 ft | 389 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| JST Johnstown, PA | 120 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 2,284 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| AGC Pittsburgh, PA | 160 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 1,251 ft | 01:10 UTC |
| BVI Beaver Falls, PA | 190 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 1,252 ft | 19:47 UTC | |
| CLE Cleveland, OH | 269 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 799 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| YIP Detroit, MI | 359 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 715 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 369 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 839 ft | 00:53 UTC | |
| GRR Grand Rapids, MI | 459 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 793 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MKG Muskegon, MI | 489 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| MTW Manitowoc, WI | 569 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| ATW Appleton, WI | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 918 ft | 7:45 pm CDT (00:45 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,284 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ATW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ATW
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 200 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 220 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 220 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at ATW 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ATW is before sunrise there (7:04 am CDT (12:04 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Appleton International.