Plan a flight · Mon 1:17 am EDT (05:17 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Huntsville Intl-Carl T Jones Field DCA → HSV

532 nautical miles (612 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 245°, about 256° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 7 knots; HSV is VFR, wind from the east (090°) 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: 2,530 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 138 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120455
MKCE WST 120455
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
VALID UNTIL 0655Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.

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 whole route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 108 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 89 to 424 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 99 to 236 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 256 to 266 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

B38M at 20,000 ft, 28 nm northwest, 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 30 nm along the route, 28 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300020/TM 0311/FL200/TP B38M/TB MOD CAT 200-250
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
03:11 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence from 20,000 ft to 25,000 ft
B712 descending, 26 nm northeast, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
runway 15R
Time
03:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B712
Remarks
light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft
B738 descending, 9 nm south, 11:15 pm EDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft. 374 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0315/FLDURD/TP B738/RM MULTIPLE LAYERS FROM 052-047 OVC AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over KTYS
Time
03:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
multiple layers from from 5,200 ft to 4,700 ft overcast at at 2,300 ft
A319 descending, 9 nm south, 10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC): remarks: tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 ft. 374 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV KTYS/TM 0252/FLDURD/TP A319/RM TOPS 068 BASES 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over KTYS
Time
02:52 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A319
Remarks
tops 6,800 ft bases 2,300 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 5 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, TRI, TYS, HSV). 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	320° at 22 kt	+6 kt	11 °C	114 kt	4 h 40 min	4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 22 kt	+3 kt	12 °C	117 kt	4 h 33 min	4:50 am CDT (09:50 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	+2 kt	9 °C	118 kt	4 h 31 min	4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	+2 kt	6 °C	118 kt	4 h 31 min	4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	+3 kt	3 °C	117 kt	4 h 33 min	4:50 am CDT (09:50 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 24 kt	+6 kt	-1 °C	114 kt	4 h 40 min	4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	+9 kt	-4 °C	111 kt	4 h 48 min	5:05 am CDT (10:05 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 27 kt	+11 kt	-7 °C	109 kt	4 h 53 min	5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 27 kt	+14 kt	-19 °C	106 kt	5 h 01 min	5:18 am CDT (10:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 34 kt	+21 kt	-32 °C	99 kt	5 h 22 min	5:39 am CDT (10:39 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 39 kt	+25 kt	-39 °C	95 kt	5 h 36 min	5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 32 kt	+20 kt	-48 °C	100 kt	5 h 19 min	5:36 am CDT (10:36 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; 71 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°
ROA	used from 99 nm out; 47 nm from the line	310/29	330/31 13°	340/28 7°	330/25 3°	310/32 -8°	300/32 -22°	290/32 -31°	270/35 -38°	270/32 -47°
TRI	used from 246 nm out; 24 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
TYS	used from 345 nm out; 12 nm from the line	320/20	340/18 11°	340/32 9°	340/36 4°	330/37 -7°	330/38 -19°	330/50 -34°	330/53 -38°	330/44 -48°
HSV	used from 443 nm out; 64 nm from the line	310/20	330/20 16°	320/27 11°	340/23 5°	320/23 -7°	340/30 -17°	320/50 -33°	330/61 -41°	340/41 -50°

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 900 feet	from the north (350°) at 7 knots	7 mi	900 ft	14 ft	12:58 am EDT (04:58 UTC)
HEF Washington, DC	20 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots	3 mi	700 ft	192 ft	04:56 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	79 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	640 ft	04:53 UTC
HSP Hot Springs, VA	138 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line	reported, no category	from the west (270°) at 10 knots	0.25 mi	none	3,792 ft	02:35 UTC
LWB Lewisburg, WV	167 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	4 mi	2,100 ft	2,301 ft	02:15 UTC
BLF Bluefield, WV	217 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots, gusting to 17	7 mi	400 ft	2,856 ft	04:52 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	296 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	1,518 ft	04:53 UTC
MOR Morristown, TN	345 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a few clouds at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	1,800 ft	1,312 ft	04:55 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	374 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,700 ft	986 ft	04:53 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	453 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	682 ft	04:53 UTC
MDQ Huntsville, AL	512 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 100 feet Weather: mist	calm	1.75 mi	none	763 ft	04:55 UTC
HSV Huntsville, AL	destination	VFR	from the east (090°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,792 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At HSV when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies marginal VFR

At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies IFR

The whole forecast for HSV

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for DCA, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility 5 miles, light 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 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 HSV 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HSV is before sunrise there (6:50 am CDT (11:50 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, Huntsville Intl-Carl T Jones Field.