Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Blue Grass Airport DCA → LEX
359 nautical miles (413 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots; LEX is low IFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 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: 601 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 130 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 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 60 to 259 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 140 to 140 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
Not fetched just now.
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, EKN, CRW, CVG, LOU). 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 20 kt | +9 kt | 12 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 14 min | 4:58 am EDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +8 kt | 11 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 12 min | 4:56 am EDT (08:56 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | +8 kt | 8 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 12 min | 4:56 am EDT (08:56 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +6 kt | 5 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 09 min | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 19 kt | +6 kt | 1 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 09 min | 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +8 kt | -2 °C | 112 kt | 3 h 12 min | 4:56 am EDT (08:56 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 23 kt | +10 kt | -6 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 16 min | 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 24 kt | +12 kt | -9 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 19 min | 5:03 am EDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 29 kt | +15 kt | -20 °C | 105 kt | 3 h 25 min | 5:09 am EDT (09:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 34 kt | +21 kt | -34 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 38 min | 5:22 am EDT (09:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 40 kt | +31 kt | -39 °C | 89 kt | 4 h 02 min | 5:46 am EDT (09:46 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 35 kt | +28 kt | -48 °C | 92 kt | 3 h 54 min | 5:38 am EDT (09:38 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; 79 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° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| CRW | used from 150 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| CVG | used from 299 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| LOU | used from 349 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -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 | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 14 ft | 1:36 am EDT (05:36 UTC) |
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 6 nm southwest 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 |
| LUA Luray, VA | 70 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,700 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain | calm | 7 mi | 1,700 ft | 902 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 130 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: rain, mist | calm | 4 mi | 1,200 ft | 1,987 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 220 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 500 ft | 947 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 259 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 828 ft | 04:58 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 309 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| IOB Mount Sterling, KY | 329 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 1:25 am EDT (05:25 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:53 am EDT (08:53 UTC)
Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies low IFR
The whole forecast for LEX
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 9 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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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, Blue Grass Airport.