Plan a flight · Sun 10:39 pm EDT (02:39 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Louisville Muhammad Ali International DCA → SDF

411 nautical miles (472 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 267°, about 278° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 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: 1,981 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the first 235 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120155
MKCE WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
PA MD VA DC WV OH
FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.

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 first 323 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 117 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 59 to 244 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

E170 at 22,500 ft, 25 nm north, 7:44 pm EDT (23:44 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft, remarks: during the descent FRDMM7 star. 68 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OKV UA /OV ESL100020/TM 2344/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS MOD CAT 180-225/RM DURD FRDMM7 STAR
```
Report
a routine report filed through OKV
Where
20 nm east (100°) of ESL
Time
23:44 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous moderate clear-air turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,500 ft
Remarks
during the descent FRDMM7 star
UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 35 nm north, 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 127 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A320 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
5 nm south (180°) of BAL
Time
01:46 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
CONLE5 sid
B738 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
3 nm west (260°) of BAL
Time
01:43 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
Remarks
TERPZ8 sid
B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
over DCA
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
overcast from 400 ft
A320 descending, 0 nm north, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 0027/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BASES 400 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 final
Time
00:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
bases 40,000 ft ft
A21N at 600 ft, 26 nm northeast, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0023/FL006/TP A21N/SK BKN006
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
a broken layer from 600 ft
A319 descending, 0 nm north, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 DEPARTURE/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP A319/SK BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 departure
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A319
Sky
bases 50,000 ft ft
B763 at 500 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:50 pm EDT (23:50 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2350/FL005/TP B763/SK BKN005
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
23:50 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 500 ft
C17 at 500 ft, 8 nm east, 7:42 pm EDT (23:42 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV RWY 1L ARR/TM 2342/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
runway 1L arrival
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B738 at 7,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft, remarks: top 6,500 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 2340/FL070/TP B738/SK OVC004/RM TOP 065
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
10 nm west (280°) of BAL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 400 ft
Remarks
top 6,500 ft
FA8X climbing, 9 nm northwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. 20 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
FA8X
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
E170 at 500 ft, 39 nm south, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 68 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
over CHO
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 49 nm south, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 195 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none

6 more routine reports are on the map.

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	330° at 21 kt	+10 kt	12 °C	110 kt	3 h 44 min	2:23 am EDT (06:23 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	+9 kt	12 °C	111 kt	3 h 42 min	2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	+9 kt	9 °C	111 kt	3 h 42 min	2:21 am EDT (06:21 UTC)
10,500 ft	340° at 22 kt	+7 kt	5 °C	113 kt	3 h 38 min	2:17 am EDT (06:17 UTC)
12,500 ft	340° at 20 kt	+5 kt	2 °C	115 kt	3 h 34 min	2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)
14,500 ft	330° at 21 kt	+8 kt	-2 °C	112 kt	3 h 40 min	2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC)
16,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	+11 kt	-6 °C	109 kt	3 h 46 min	2:25 am EDT (06:25 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 24 kt	+12 kt	-9 °C	108 kt	3 h 48 min	2:27 am EDT (06:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 29 kt	+16 kt	-20 °C	104 kt	3 h 57 min	2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 36 kt	+22 kt	-34 °C	98 kt	4 h 12 min	2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 41 kt	+31 kt	-40 °C	89 kt	4 h 37 min	3:16 am EDT (07:16 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 34 kt	+28 kt	-48 °C	92 kt	4 h 28 min	3:07 am EDT (07:07 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; 80 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 49 nm out; 59 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 195 nm out; 13 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 293 nm out; 58 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 342 nm out; 40 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	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots	8 mi	500 ft	14 ft	10:22 pm EDT (02:22 UTC)
HEF Washington, DC	20 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots	3 mi	500 ft	192 ft	01:56 UTC
LUA Luray, VA	68 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 800 feet Weather: heavy rain	from the north (010°) at 4 knots	7 mi	800 ft	902 ft	02:35 UTC
VBW Bridgewater, VA	88 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	calm	10+ mi	800 ft	1,165 ft	02:35 UTC
EKN Elkins, WV	127 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light rain, mist	calm	3 mi	900 ft	1,987 ft	01:51 UTC
USW Spencer, WV	205 nm out, 14 nm north of the line	no report just now				928 ft
CRW Charleston, WV	215 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	variable at 4 knots	1 mi	700 ft	947 ft	01:54 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	264 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots	2 mi	800 ft	828 ft	01:57 UTC
FGX Flemingsburg, KY	313 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots	5 mi	1,300 ft	913 ft	02:35 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	362 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist	from the west (270°) at 4 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	979 ft	01:54 UTC
FFT Frankfort, KY	371 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	812 ft	01:53 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	9:56 pm EDT (01:56 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 SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 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 SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.