Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field DCA → MSN
613 nautical miles (706 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 299°, about 310° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC). Right now DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots, gusting to 18; MSN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 2,311 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 10 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 445 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 119 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 49 to 178 nm out.
- 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 0 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
- 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
- GL7T at 1,500 ft, 17 nm north, 5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 158 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
AGC UA /OV KAGC/TM 0902/FL015/TP GL7T/SK B015
- Report
- a routine report filed through AGC
- Where
- over KAGC
- Time
- 09:02 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- GL7T
- Sky
- B015
- B737 at 39,000 ft, 47 nm south, 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC): light chop turbulence. 267 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV APE/TM 0840/FL390/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP 390 NEG 350-330
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over APE
- Time
- 08:40 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 39,000 ft no from 35,000 ft to 33,000 ft
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 8 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, AGC, CLE, FWA, MKG, JOT, DBQ). 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 | 300° at 14 kt | +15 kt | 10 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 50 min | 10:36 am CDT (15:36 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 13 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 47 min | 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 10 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 47 min | 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 57 min | 10:43 am CDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 2 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 12 min | 10:58 am CDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -1 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 23 min | 11:09 am CDT (16:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -6 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 35 min | 11:21 am CDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 30 kt | +29 kt | -8 °C | 91 kt | 6 h 44 min | 11:30 am CDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -20 °C | 89 kt | 6 h 53 min | 11:39 am CDT (16:39 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 38 kt | +37 kt | -35 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 23 min | 12:09 pm CDT (17:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -43 °C | 72 kt | 8 h 31 min | 1:17 pm CDT (18:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 55 kt | +54 kt | -50 °C | 66 kt | 9 h 17 min | 2:03 pm CDT (19:03 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; 93 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° |
| EKN | used from 49 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| AGC | used from 99 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 340/11 | 350/12 11° | 360/25 7° | 340/30 2° | 340/41 -8° | 340/44 -21° | 350/59 -36° | 340/68 -42° | 340/50 -51° |
| CLE | used from 198 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
| FWA | used from 346 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| MKG | used from 445 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| JOT | used from 544 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
| DBQ | used from 593 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
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) |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 30 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 389 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| CBE Cumberland, MD | 89 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,400 ft | 757 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| AGC Pittsburgh, PA | 158 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 1,251 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| HLG Wheeling, WV | 188 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | 500 ft | 1,194 ft | 09:38 UTC |
| MFD Mansfield, OH | 277 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 6 mi | 500 ft | 1,297 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| TOL Toledo, OH | 346 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 683 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 425 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | none | 951 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 435 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | none | 873 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ENW Kenosha, WI | 544 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| UES Waukesha, WI | 564 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 911 ft | 09:35 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,297 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSN
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 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 on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 208 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 208 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 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, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.