Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Tampa International DCA → TPA
708 nautical miles (815 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 204°, about 215° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC). Right now DCA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots; TPA is VFR, wind from the north (360°) 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: 4,369 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 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 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 route from 30 to 150 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 489 to 629 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
- E75L at 30,000 ft, 14 nm west, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft. 180 nm along the route, 14 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDU UA /OV RDU360020/TM 1051/FLF300/TP E75L/TB MOD 300
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDU
- Where
- 20 nm north (360°) of RDU
- Time
- 10:51 UTC
- Height
- at F300
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- B39M descending, 21 nm west, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 21 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 1042/FLDURD/TP B39M/SK OVC 040/WX 10 SM
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- runway 1R
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft
- Weather
- 10, miles
- 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
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 7 forecast points nearest it (RIC, RDU, FLO, CHS, SAV, JAX, PIE). 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 20 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 5 h 22 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −11 kt | 13 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 24 min | 12:25 pm EDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −12 kt | 11 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 22 min | 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | −10 kt | 8 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 27 min | 12:28 pm EDT (16:28 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 27 kt | −9 kt | 4 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 29 min | 12:30 pm EDT (16:30 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 28 kt | −8 kt | 0 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 32 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 29 kt | −8 kt | -4 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 32 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 30 kt | −8 kt | -7 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 32 min | 12:33 pm EDT (16:33 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 29 kt | −5 kt | -19 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 40 min | 12:41 pm EDT (16:41 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 28 kt | +4 kt | -33 °C | 116 kt | 6 h 06 min | 1:07 pm EDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 28 kt | +3 kt | -40 °C | 117 kt | 6 h 03 min | 1:04 pm EDT (17:04 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 29 kt | −3 kt | -49 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 45 min | 12:46 pm EDT (16:46 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; 58 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° |
| RDU | used from 150 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 330/30 | 340/24 12° | 330/26 7° | 320/30 3° | 330/39 -8° | 310/30 -20° | 300/33 -33° | 310/34 -39° | 310/41 -47° |
| FLO | used from 249 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 330/17 | 330/17 12° | 320/21 9° | 310/29 4° | 310/36 -8° | 300/36 -19° | 290/34 -32° | 300/29 -40° | 310/34 -48° |
| CHS | used from 349 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 330/14 | 300/17 14° | 320/21 9° | 310/26 6° | 310/32 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 260/37 -32° | 280/30 -39° | 310/30 -50° |
| SAV | used from 399 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 330/16 | 310/15 14° | 320/23 10° | 310/30 7° | 310/30 -6° | 300/28 -19° | 270/25 -32° | 300/25 -39° | 320/26 -50° |
| JAX | used from 499 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 310/22 | 310/19 16° | 300/22 14° | 290/25 8° | 300/25 -7° | 300/24 -18° | 270/20 -33° | 260/25 -41° | 290/17 -51° |
| PIE | used from 648 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 360/10 | 340/12 18° | 330/9 13° | 290/12 8° | 260/21 -7° | 280/18 -18° | 250/20 -33° | 250/26 -41° | 250/20 -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 | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 14 ft | 6:52 am EDT (10:52 UTC) |
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 192 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 120 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | 200 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 10:51 UTC |
| FAY Fayetteville, NC | 249 nm out, 13 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 189 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | 309 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CHS Charleston, SC | 389 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| HXD Hilton Head Island, SC | 439 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 19 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| CRG Jacksonville, FL | 559 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| SGJ St Augustine, FL | 579 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the west (260°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 678 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 76 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TPA Tampa, FL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 437 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TPA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:23 pm EDT (16:23 UTC)
Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for TPA
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet and more above
- 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 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC on the route, 269 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local on the route, 549 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 569 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at TPA 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 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, Tampa International.