Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Ithaca Tompkins International DCA → ITH
220 nautical miles (253 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 007°, about 018° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 69-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:27 pm EDT (01:27 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots; ITH is VFR, wind calm. 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: 1 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 E16E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 25 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 19 to 77 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112355 MKCE WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16E VALID UNTIL 0155Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM SAX-30SE JFK-10N DCA-60ENE EKN-SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22025KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- 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 last 211 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 182 nm of 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). Over the last 163 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 124 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Over the last 29 nm of 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
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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, AVP, SYR). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 150° at 25 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 1 h 35 min | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 13 °C | 143 kt | 1 h 32 min | 9:49 pm EDT (01:49 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 20 kt | −18 kt | 10 °C | 138 kt | 1 h 36 min | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | −13 kt | 8 °C | 133 kt | 1 h 39 min | 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 17 kt | −14 kt | 5 °C | 134 kt | 1 h 39 min | 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 1 °C | 136 kt | 1 h 37 min | 9:54 pm EDT (01:54 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −17 kt | -4 °C | 137 kt | 1 h 36 min | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −19 kt | -8 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 35 min | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | −19 kt | -9 °C | 139 kt | 1 h 35 min | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 42 kt | −34 kt | -19 °C | 154 kt | 1 h 26 min | 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 74 kt | −59 kt | -32 °C | 179 kt | 1 h 14 min | 9:31 pm EDT (01:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 89 kt | −69 kt | -41 °C | 189 kt | 1 h 10 min | 9:27 pm EDT (01:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 79 kt | −59 kt | -51 °C | 179 kt | 1 h 14 min | 9:31 pm EDT (01:31 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; 106 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 48 nm out; 76 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° | |
| AVP | used from 96 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 110/36 | 190/34 13° | 230/11 8° | 230/16 4° | 230/26 -8° | 220/40 -19° | 230/73 -33° | 230/98 -41° | 230/87 -51° |
| SYR | used from 191 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 160/17 | 200/22 10° | 250/10 6° | L/V 1° | 270/11 -11° | 220/25 -20° | 220/66 -36° | 230/89 -42° | 240/74 -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 | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 14 ft | 7:52 pm EDT (23:52 UTC) |
| BWI Baltimore, MD | 19 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 500 ft | 143 ft | 00:13 UTC |
| CXY Harrisburg, PA | 86 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 346 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| SEG Selinsgrove, PA | 115 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 1,800 ft | 463 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| IPT Williamsport, PA | 144 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,100 feet Weather: light rain, mist | calm | 4 mi | 2,000 ft | 528 ft | 00:08 UTC |
| ELM Elmira/Corning, NY | 201 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 200 feet, overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | 200 ft | 955 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| ITH Ithaca, NY | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,800 feet Weather: rain | calm | 8 mi | 3,800 ft | 1,099 ft | 7:56 pm EDT (23:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,099 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ITH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:27 pm EDT (01:27 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 1,200 feet marginal VFR
At times between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for ITH
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 1,200 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, gusting to 11, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 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 10 nm from the route, 10 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, 29 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at ITH 6:28 pm EDT (22:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ITH is after sunset there (6:30 pm EDT (22:30 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, Ithaca Tompkins International.