Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) DCA → ROA
166 nautical miles (191 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 237°, about 248° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC). Right now DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19; ROA is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25. 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
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the last 117 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 climbing, 18 nm northwest, 10:50 am EDT (14:50 UTC): a broken layer above 2,100 ft, remarks: base 2,100 ft tops 3,000 ft. At the departure end, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL270030/TM 1450/FLDURC/TP B737/SK BKN021/RM BASE 021 TOPS 030
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of BAL
- Time
- 14:50 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,100 ft
- Remarks
- base 2,100 ft tops 3,000 ft
- EC35 at 1,400 ft, 45 nm east, 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft, 17 °C, wind 330° at 8 knots, remarks: during the descent pilot reported bases at at 1,400 ft. At the departure end, 45 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ESN UA /OV ESN/TM 1426/FL014/TP EC35/SK OVC014/WX 10/TA 17/WV 33008/RM DURD PILOT REPORTED BASES AT 014
- Report
- a routine report filed through ESN
- Where
- over ESN
- Time
- 14:26 UTC
- Height
- at 1,400 ft
- Aircraft
- EC35
- Sky
- overcast from 1,400 ft
- Weather
- 10
- Temperature
- 17 °C
- Wind
- from 330° at 8 knots
- Remarks
- during the descent pilot reported bases at at 1,400 ft
- E145 at 4,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 10:03 am EDT (14:03 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: above tops. At the departure end, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML050010/TM 1403/FL040/TP E145/TB NEG/RM ABV TOPS
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 10 nm northeast (050°) of AML
- Time
- 14:03 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- above tops
- C170 at 1,500 ft, 37 nm northwest, 9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC): overcast above 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FDK UA /OV FDK/TM 1355/FL015/TP C170/SK OVC023
- Report
- a routine report filed through FDK
- Where
- over FDK
- Time
- 13:55 UTC
- Height
- at 1,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C170
- Sky
- overcast from 2,300 ft
- E75S at 2,400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:47 am EDT (13:47 UTC): overcast above 2,400 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA19004/TM 1347/FL024/TP E75S/SK OVC024
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- DCA19004
- Time
- 13:47 UTC
- Height
- at 2,400 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Sky
- overcast from 2,400 ft
- B38M at 2,600 ft, 24 nm northeast, 9:05 am EDT (13:05 UTC): a broken layer above 2,400 ft, remarks: TOP026. At the departure end, 24 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL270003/TM 1305/FL026/TP B38M/SK BKN024/RM TOP026
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm west (270°) of BAL
- Time
- 13:05 UTC
- Height
- at 2,600 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,400 ft
- Remarks
- TOP026
- B737 at 1,000 ft, 3 nm south, 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: no bases reported on final approach runway 1. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA190003/TM 1240/FL010/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP/RM NO BASES REPORTED ON FINAL APPROACH RWY1
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- 3 nm south (190°) of DCA
- Time
- 12:40 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- no bases reported on final approach runway 1
- BE55 at 900 ft, 45 nm east, 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC): a broken layer above 1,100 ft; overcast above 1,900 ft, 15 °C, remarks: during the climb pilot reported base at at 900 ft. At the departure end, 45 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ESN UA /OV ESN/TM 1234/FL009/TP BE55/SK BKN011 OVC019/WX 7/TA 15/WV 35009G16/RM DURC PILOT REPORTED BASE AT 009
- Report
- a routine report filed through ESN
- Where
- over ESN
- Time
- 12:34 UTC
- Height
- at 900 ft
- Aircraft
- BE55
- Sky
- BKN011 OVC019
- Weather
- 7
- Temperature
- 15 °C
- Wind
- 35009G16
- Remarks
- during the climb pilot reported base at at 900 ft
- B783 at 5,000 ft, 20 nm north, 8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 1230/FL50/TP B783/SK BASE 028 TOP 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 10 nm west (280°) of BAL
- Time
- 12:30 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B783
- Sky
- base 2,800 ft top 4,000 ft
- SF50 at 3,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 8:15 am EDT (12:15 UTC): a broken layer above 2,000 ft. At the departure end, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FDK UA /OV FDK/TM 1215/FL030/TP SF50/SK BKN020
- Report
- a routine report filed through FDK
- Where
- over FDK
- Time
- 12:15 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,000 ft
- C680 at 4,000 ft, 38 nm northwest, 10:45 am EDT (14:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LWB UA /OV LWB/TM 1445/FL040/TP C680/SK B042
- Report
- a routine report filed through LWB
- Where
- over LWB
- Time
- 14:45 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C680
- Sky
- B042
- E145 at 4,000 ft, 18 nm south, 8:06 am EDT (12:06 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the descent 20SW roa bases 4,000 ft. At the destination end, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA170020/TM 1206/FL040/TP E145/SK BKN040/RM DURD 20SW ROA BASES 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of ROA
- Time
- 12:06 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent 20SW roa bases 4,000 ft
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 2 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA). 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 | 340° at 23 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 1 h 18 min | 12:19 pm EDT (16:19 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 350° at 25 kt | −9 kt | 13 °C | 129 kt | 1 h 17 min | 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | −7 kt | 9 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 18 min | 12:19 pm EDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | −6 kt | 7 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 19 min | 12:20 pm EDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 19 min | 12:20 pm EDT (16:20 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | −5 kt | 0 °C | 125 kt | 1 h 20 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 33 kt | −4 kt | -3 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 20 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 36 kt | −4 kt | -6 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 20 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 39 kt | −2 kt | -19 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 22 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 43 kt | −2 kt | -34 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 22 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 45 kt | +4 kt | -42 °C | 116 kt | 1 h 26 min | 12:27 pm EDT (16:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 36 kt | +10 kt | -50 °C | 110 kt | 1 h 31 min | 12:32 pm EDT (16:32 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 68 nm from the line | 350/24 | 350/28 14° | 340/25 8° | 340/26 5° | 340/40 -6° | 340/44 -19° | 340/48 -33° | 330/45 -42° | 310/38 -50° |
| ROA | used from 98 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 310/18 | 350/22 15° | 350/21 9° | 340/24 6° | 320/31 -6° | 310/34 -19° | 310/39 -35° | 310/46 -42° | 310/33 -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: a broken layer at 2,800 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 14 ft | 10:52 am EDT (14:52 UTC) |
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet | from the north (350°) at 16 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 192 ft | 14:56 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 78 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 640 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | 88 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the north (350°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,201 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 137 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 14:54 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,175 ft | 10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,201 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ROA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 14 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for ROA
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC) and 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 14 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 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, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 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 4,000 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 4,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, 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 13 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 ROA 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 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, Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field).