Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Cleveland-Hopkins International DCA → CLE
269 nautical miles (310 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 306°, about 317° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots; CLE is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 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: 3,008 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 60 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 179 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
- B737 at 800 ft, 26 nm northeast, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast 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 02:00–09:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (RIC, PSB, AGC, CLE). 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 | 330° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 13 °C | 109 kt | 2 h 28 min | 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | +13 kt | 11 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 31 min | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 8 °C | 106 kt | 2 h 32 min | 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | +13 kt | 6 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 31 min | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | +13 kt | 2 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 31 min | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +15 kt | -2 °C | 105 kt | 2 h 34 min | 6:38 am EDT (10:38 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +16 kt | -7 °C | 104 kt | 2 h 35 min | 6:39 am EDT (10:39 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 17 kt | +17 kt | -10 °C | 103 kt | 2 h 37 min | 6:41 am EDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 22 kt | +21 kt | -21 °C | 99 kt | 2 h 43 min | 6:47 am EDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 28 kt | +27 kt | -35 °C | 93 kt | 2 h 54 min | 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 38 kt | +34 kt | -41 °C | 86 kt | 3 h 08 min | 7:12 am EDT (11:12 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 36 kt | +34 kt | -48 °C | 86 kt | 3 h 08 min | 7:12 am EDT (11:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 96 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° |
| PSB | used from 50 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| AGC | used from 100 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| CLE | used from 199 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
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 | IFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots | 2.5 mi | 1,100 ft | 14 ft | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 30 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 389 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 60 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 564 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| JST Johnstown, PA | 120 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: light rain, fog | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,284 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| AGC Pittsburgh, PA | 160 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 1,251 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| BVI Beaver Falls, PA | 189 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 1,252 ft | 19:47 UTC | |
| CAK Akron, OH | 239 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 6 mi | 1,400 ft | 1,225 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| CLE Cleveland, OH | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 1,000 ft | 799 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 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 CLE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, light drizzle, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for CLE
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, light drizzle, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 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 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 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, 20 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 199 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 20 nm from the route, 219 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 219 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at CLE 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CLE is before sunrise there (7:35 am EDT (11:35 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, Cleveland-Hopkins International.