Plan a flight · Sun 7:49 pm EDT (23:49 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport DCA → VPS

686 nautical miles (790 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 226°, about 237° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 12:38 am CDT (05:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots; VPS is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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: 709 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 E12E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC). Over the first 10 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112255
MKCE WST 112255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12E
VALID UNTIL 0055Z
NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ CSTL WTRS
FROM 30WNW SAX-40ESE CYN-20SW DCA-50SSE JST-30WNW SAX
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24030KT. TOPS TO FL340.

SIGMET E13E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC). Over the route from 50 to 179 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112255
MKCE WST 112255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13E
VALID UNTIL 0055Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 30NNW AIR-30NNE RIC-60S RIC-30NW HMV-10ESE APE-30NNW AIR
AREA TS MOV FROM 24015KT. TOPS TO FL320.

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 169 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 60 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 189 to 209 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 209 to 328 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

E145 at 9,000 ft, 6 nm northwest, 5:56 pm EDT (21:56 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast up to 9,000 ft, heavy rain. 139 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2156/FL090/TP E145/SK OVCUNKN-TOP090/WX +RA/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LYH
Where
over LYH
Time
21:56 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast, tops 9,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
P28R at 1,400 ft, 6 nm northwest, 4:50 pm EDT (20:50 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 1,400 ft, remarks: during the climb RY04 KLYH. 139 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2050/FL014/TP P28R/SK OVC014/TB MOD/RM DURGC RY04 KLYH
```
Report
a routine report filed through LYH
Where
over LYH
Time
20:50 UTC
Height
at 1,400 ft
Aircraft
P28R
Sky
overcast from 1,400 ft
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the climb RY04 KLYH
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
CRJ9 at 7,000 ft, 12 nm northwest, 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC): overcast from 500 ft to 7,200 ft. At the departure end, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA320012/TM 2317/FL070/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 005 OVC TOPS 072
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
12 nm northwest (320°) of DCA
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 500 ft overcast tops 7,200 ft
B737 at 1,000 ft, 8 nm east, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L DEP/TM 2247/FL010/TP B737/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L departure
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B738 at 300 ft, 26 nm northeast, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a broken layer above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2229/FL003/TP B738/SK BKN003
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 300 ft
DA62 at 700 ft, 45 nm east, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): no turbulence, overcast above 700 ft, mist, 23 °C, wind 190° at 8 knots. At the departure end, 45 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ESN UA /OV ESN/TM 2222/FL007/TP DA62/SK OVC007/WX 5BR/TA 23/WV 19008/TB TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ESN
Where
over ESN
Time
22:22 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
DA62
Sky
overcast from 700 ft
Weather
5BR
Temperature
23 °C
Wind
from 190° at 8 knots
Turbulence
turbulence no
B38M at 3,000 ft, 26 nm northeast, 6:07 pm EDT (22:07 UTC): overcast above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL150003/TM 2207/FL30/TP B38M/SK OVC003
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
3 nm southeast (150°) of BAL
Time
22:07 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
overcast from 300 ft
B737 at 400 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:40 pm EDT (21:40 UTC): a broken layer above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2140/FL004/TP B737/SK BKN004
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
21:40 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
a broken layer from 400 ft
A319 descending, 0 nm north, 5:28 pm EDT (21:28 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 2128/FLDURD/TP A319/SK BASES 400 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 final
Time
21:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A319
Sky
bases 40,000 ft ft
B737 at 5,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 5:24 pm EDT (21:24 UTC): overcast from 600 ft to 4,700 ft. At the departure end, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA 330010/TM 2124/FL050/TP B737/SK OVC 006 TOPS 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of DCA
Time
21:24 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
overcast from 600 ft, tops 4,700 ft
B738 at 4,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 5:20 pm EDT (21:20 UTC): overcast from 700 ft to 3,000 ft. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 2120/FL40/TP B738/SK OVC007-TOP030
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
5 nm south (180°) of BAL
Time
21:20 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 700 ft, tops 3,000 ft
B737 at 300 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:16 pm EDT (21:16 UTC): overcast from 30,000 ft to 3,600 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL/TM 2116/FL003/TP B737/SK OVC003-TOP036
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BAL
Time
21:16 UTC
Height
at 300 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
overcast from 300 ft, tops 3,600 ft

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, GSP, ATL, CSG, MGM). 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 16 kt	+5 kt		115 kt	5 h 58 min	12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	+2 kt	12 °C	118 kt	5 h 49 min	12:38 am CDT (05:38 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	+3 kt	10 °C	117 kt	5 h 52 min	12:41 am CDT (05:41 UTC)
10,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	+5 kt	8 °C	115 kt	5 h 58 min	12:47 am CDT (05:47 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 21 kt	+8 kt	4 °C	112 kt	6 h 08 min	12:57 am CDT (05:57 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 23 kt	+12 kt	1 °C	108 kt	6 h 21 min	1:10 am CDT (06:10 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 25 kt	+17 kt	-3 °C	103 kt	6 h 40 min	1:29 am CDT (06:29 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 27 kt	+20 kt	-6 °C	100 kt	6 h 52 min	1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 35 kt	+31 kt	-18 °C	89 kt	7 h 42 min	2:31 am CDT (07:31 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 47 kt	+46 kt	-32 °C	74 kt	9 h 16 min	4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 51 kt	+50 kt	-40 °C	70 kt	9 h 48 min	4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 46 kt	+45 kt	-50 °C	75 kt	9 h 09 min	3:58 am CDT (08:58 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 64 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°
ROA	used from 99 nm out; 51 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
GSP	used from 249 nm out; 71 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
ATL	used from 398 nm out; 67 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
CSG	used from 497 nm out; 26 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
MGM	used from 597 nm out; 69 nm from the line	300/16	330/30 16°	330/34 11°	320/31 7°	310/28 -7°	320/29 -17°	290/25 -34°	300/28 -41°	320/28 -50°

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 700 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	14 ft	6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC)
HEF Washington, DC	20 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (360°) at 12 knots	3 mi	500 ft	192 ft	23:14 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	80 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots	5 mi	1,400 ft	640 ft	23:43 UTC
LYH Lynchburg, VA	139 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	300 ft	938 ft	23:45 UTC
INT Winston Salem, NC	219 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	969 ft	23:32 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	278 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	1,189 ft	22:53 UTC
GYH Greenville, SC	358 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	955 ft	22:47 UTC
AHN Athens, GA	418 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 5,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	812 ft	22:51 UTC
CSG Columbus, GA	537 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	397 ft	22:51 UTC
DHN Dothan, AL	617 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	400 ft	22:55 UTC
EDN Enterprise, AL	627 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	360 ft	23:35 UTC
VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL	destination	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	84 ft	5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,189 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At VPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:38 am CDT (05:38 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, clear skies

The whole forecast for VPS

From Sun 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, clear skies
Changing between Sun 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC) to: wind from the west at 6 knots, 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 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at VPS 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at VPS is before sunrise there (6:46 am CDT (11:46 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 lower Mississippi valley · 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, Eglin Afb/Destin-Ft Walton Beach Airport.