Plan a flight · Sun 9:41 pm EDT (01:41 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Baton Rouge Metro, Ryan Field DCA → BTR

856 nautical miles (985 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 239°, about 250° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 27 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots; BTR is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 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: 573 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 10 to 209 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120055
MKCE WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.

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 298 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 50 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 99 to 448 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 169 to 378 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

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 7 nm west, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 269 nm along the route, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
over DCA
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
overcast from 400 ft
A320 descending, 0 nm north, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 0027/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BASES 400 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 final
Time
00:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
bases 40,000 ft ft
A21N at 600 ft, 26 nm northeast, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0023/FL006/TP A21N/SK BKN006
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
a broken layer from 600 ft
A319 descending, 0 nm north, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 DEPARTURE/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP A319/SK BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 departure
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A319
Sky
bases 50,000 ft ft
B763 at 500 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:50 pm EDT (23:50 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2350/FL005/TP B763/SK BKN005
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
23:50 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 500 ft
C17 at 500 ft, 8 nm east, 7:42 pm EDT (23:42 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV RWY 1L ARR/TM 2342/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
runway 1L arrival
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B738 at 7,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft, remarks: top 6,500 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 2340/FL070/TP B738/SK OVC004/RM TOP 065
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
10 nm west (280°) of BAL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 400 ft
Remarks
top 6,500 ft
CRJ9 at 7,000 ft, 12 nm northwest, 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC): overcast from 500 ft to 7,200 ft. At the departure end, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA320012/TM 2317/FL070/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 005 OVC TOPS 072
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
12 nm northwest (320°) of DCA
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 500 ft overcast tops 7,200 ft
B737 at 1,000 ft, 8 nm east, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L DEP/TM 2247/FL010/TP B737/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L departure
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
FA8X climbing, 19 nm northwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. At the departure end, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
FA8X
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
CL60 at 500 ft, 5 nm west, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HEF UA /OV KHEF150001/TM 2330/FL005/TP CL60/SK OVC005/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through HEF
Where
1 nm southeast (150°) of KHEF
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
CL60
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
Remarks
during the descent
CL60 descending, 5 nm west, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV HEF160001/TM 2330/FLDURD/TP CL60/SK OVC 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
1 nm south (160°) of HEF
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CL60
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B39M at 2,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 700 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML320005/TM 2303/FL020/TP B39M/SK BASES OVC 007
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (320°) of AML
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Sky
bases overcast at 700 ft

12 more routine reports are on the map.

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 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, TYS, ATL, BHM, JAN, MSY). 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	290° at 14 kt	+7 kt	11 °C	113 kt	7 h 35 min	4:16 am CDT (09:16 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	+5 kt	13 °C	115 kt	7 h 27 min	4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	+6 kt	11 °C	114 kt	7 h 31 min	4:12 am CDT (09:12 UTC)
10,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	+6 kt	7 °C	114 kt	7 h 31 min	4:12 am CDT (09:12 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	+6 kt	4 °C	114 kt	7 h 31 min	4:12 am CDT (09:12 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+9 kt	0 °C	111 kt	7 h 43 min	4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+12 kt	-4 °C	108 kt	7 h 56 min	4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 22 kt	+14 kt	-6 °C	106 kt	8 h 05 min	4:46 am CDT (09:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 29 kt	+23 kt	-18 °C	97 kt	8 h 49 min	5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 33 kt	+28 kt	-32 °C	92 kt	9 h 18 min	5:59 am CDT (10:59 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 33 kt	+27 kt	-40 °C	93 kt	9 h 12 min	5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 32 kt	+26 kt	-50 °C	94 kt	9 h 06 min	5:47 am CDT (10:47 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; 68 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°
ROA	used from 99 nm out; 42 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
TRI	used from 249 nm out; 27 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
TYS	used from 348 nm out; 32 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
ATL	used from 448 nm out; 62 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
BHM	used from 497 nm out; 45 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
JAN	used from 647 nm out; 88 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°
MSY	used from 796 nm out; 58 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -52°

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)
CHO Charlottesville, VA	80 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	7 mi	500 ft	640 ft	01:28 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	169 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots	6 mi	3,000 ft	1,175 ft	00:54 UTC
BCB Blacksburg, VA	189 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light drizzle	calm	4 mi	600 ft	2,119 ft	23:35 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	288 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	1,518 ft	00:53 UTC
RHP Andrews, NC	398 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,900 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,900 ft	1,698 ft	01:35 UTC
DNN Dalton, GA	448 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,200 ft	709 ft	23:35 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	567 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	00:53 UTC
TCL Tuscaloosa, AL	617 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	169 ft	00:53 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	696 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	297 ft	00:58 UTC
HDC Hammond, LA	826 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	46 ft	01:15 UTC
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	destination	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	69 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,119 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BTR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:08 am CDT (09:08 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for BTR

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at BTR 6:36 pm CDT (23:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BTR 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

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Baton Rouge Metro, Ryan Field.