Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to William P Hobby Airport DCA → HOU
1,058 nautical miles (1,217 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 255° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC). Right now DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 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: 2,063 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 E31E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, until 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120855 MKCE WST 120855 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 31E VALID UNTIL 1055Z MD VA DC FROM 20NNE DCA-30WSW SBY-RIC-CSN-20NNE DCA AREA TS MOV LTL. TOPS TO FL300.
- 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 first 539 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 309 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 140 to 429 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 279 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Near the route, 938 nm along 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 DCA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 700 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 09:33 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- light rain
- 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
- B738 at 33,000 ft, 45 nm northwest, 4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC): -39 °C, wind 350° at 65 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 140 nm along the route, 45 nm northwest 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
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, TYS, HSV, BHM, JAN, LCH, HOU). 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 | 310° at 12 kt | +4 kt | 11 °C | 116 kt | 9 h 07 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 12 kt | +2 kt | 14 °C | 118 kt | 8 h 58 min | 1:40 pm CDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | 0 | 11 °C | 120 kt | 8 h 49 min | 1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | 0 | 8 °C | 120 kt | 8 h 49 min | 1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | 0 | 4 °C | 120 kt | 8 h 49 min | 1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +1 kt | 0 °C | 119 kt | 8 h 53 min | 1:35 pm CDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +2 kt | -3 °C | 118 kt | 8 h 58 min | 1:40 pm CDT (18:40 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 22 kt | +3 kt | -6 °C | 117 kt | 9 h 03 min | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 25 kt | +4 kt | -18 °C | 116 kt | 9 h 07 min | 1:49 pm CDT (18:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 38 kt | +1 kt | -32 °C | 119 kt | 8 h 53 min | 1:35 pm CDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 42 kt | 0 | -40 °C | 120 kt | 8 h 49 min | 1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 38 kt | +3 kt | -50 °C | 117 kt | 9 h 03 min | 1:45 pm CDT (18:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| ROA | used from 100 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| TRI | used from 249 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 340/25 11° | 350/37 9° | 350/34 6° | 340/39 -7° | 340/43 -19° | 340/55 -32° | 330/58 -42° | 320/37 -50° | |
| TYS | used from 349 nm out; 6 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| HSV | used from 449 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 300/20 | 310/14 16° | 310/18 10° | 310/15 4° | 320/19 -5° | 290/16 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 320/47 -41° | 330/42 -50° |
| BHM | used from 599 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| JAN | used from 649 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 240/10 | 260/15 18° | 280/10 11° | 290/6 6° | 290/15 -5° | 300/15 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 330/38 -40° | 330/39 -51° |
| LCH | used from 848 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 170/21 | 160/23 18° | 170/13 13° | 170/6 8° | 300/12 -7° | 280/16 -14° | 320/27 -30° | 330/23 -41° | 340/38 -51° |
| HOU | used from 998 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 180/22 | 180/20 16° | 170/7 15° | L/V 8° | 220/11 -6° | 260/15 -13° | 310/20 -30° | 320/20 -40° | 350/32 -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 | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18 | 5 mi | 1,200 ft | 14 ft | 5:25 am EDT (09:25 UTC) |
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 3 mi | 1,300 ft | 192 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 170 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,300 feet | from the west (280°) at 12 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 1,175 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 289 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 800 ft | 1,518 ft | 09:34 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 379 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 986 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 449 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 682 ft | 09:36 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 529 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 649 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 1.5 mi | none | 264 ft | 09:33 UTC |
| HKS Jackson, MS | 748 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 888 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX | 998 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| HOU Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 46 ft | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for HOU
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, rain, mist, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,900 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, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 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, a broken layer 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 12 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 HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 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, William P Hobby Airport.