Plan a flight · Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC)

Des Moines International to Lehigh Valley International DSM → ABE

825 nautical miles (949 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 088°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:58 am EDT (13:58 UTC). Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 8 knots; ABE is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) 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: 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 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 first 149 nm of the route.
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 last 487 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 626 to 795 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 DSM.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

C560 at 13,000 ft, 37 nm south, 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHL
Where
20 northwest phl
Time
06:38 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
overcast from 19,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
B739 at 35,000 ft, 37 nm south, 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 248 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
23 nm north (010°) of RBS
Time
07:05 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none
B738 at 1,700 ft, 11 nm north, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 447 nm along the route, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 9 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT, FWA, CLE, AGC, PSB, AVP). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−17 kt		137 kt	6 h 01 min	11:01 am EDT (15:01 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	−11 kt	12 °C	131 kt	6 h 18 min	11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	−10 kt	12 °C	130 kt	6 h 21 min	11:21 am EDT (15:21 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	−11 kt	8 °C	131 kt	6 h 18 min	11:18 am EDT (15:18 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−15 kt	4 °C	135 kt	6 h 07 min	11:07 am EDT (15:07 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−17 kt	0 °C	137 kt	6 h 01 min	11:01 am EDT (15:01 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	−19 kt	-4 °C	139 kt	5 h 56 min	10:56 am EDT (14:56 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 24 kt	−21 kt	-7 °C	141 kt	5 h 51 min	10:51 am EDT (14:51 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 25 kt	−21 kt	-8 °C	141 kt	5 h 51 min	10:51 am EDT (14:51 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 30 kt	−27 kt	-20 °C	147 kt	5 h 37 min	10:37 am EDT (14:37 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 35 kt	−32 kt	-36 °C	152 kt	5 h 26 min	10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 50 kt	−44 kt	-42 °C	164 kt	5 h 02 min	10:02 am EDT (14:02 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 53 kt	−46 kt	-50 °C	166 kt	4 h 58 min	9:58 am EDT (13:58 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
DSM	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
BRL	used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DBQ	used from 149 nm out; 64 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°
JOT	used from 199 nm out; 23 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°
FWA	used from 298 nm out; 67 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°
CLE	used from 447 nm out; 59 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°
AGC	used from 596 nm out; 47 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°
PSB	used from 646 nm out; 33 nm from the line		020/21 12°	360/28 7°	360/29 1°	350/33 -10°	350/42 -22°	350/49 -37°	340/63 -43°	350/39 -52°
AVP	used from 745 nm out; 52 nm from the line	010/20	020/24 11°	360/19 8°	350/23 2°	320/24 -11°	330/25 -22°	330/27 -37°	310/28 -42°	290/30 -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
DSM Des Moines, IA	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	3:54 am CDT (08:54 UTC)
TNU Newton, IA	30 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	952 ft	08:55 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	139 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	08:52 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	229 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	712 ft	08:52 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	248 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	08:35 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	348 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	none	777 ft	08:55 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	447 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	9 mi	none	683 ft	08:52 UTC
CLE Cleveland, OH	527 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	8 mi	1,600 ft	799 ft	08:51 UTC
YNG Youngstown/Warren, OH	586 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet	from the west (280°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	300 ft	1,191 ft	08:51 UTC
UNV State College, PA	715 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	6 mi	1,100 ft	1,231 ft	08:35 UTC
RDG Reading, PA	805 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	from the north (360°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	343 ft	08:54 UTC
ABE Allentown, PA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the north (350°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	393 ft	4:51 am EDT (08:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,231 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ABE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:58 am EDT (13:58 UTC)

Wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for ABE

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, overcast at 1,000 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, a broken layer at 900 feet
From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for DSM, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 556 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 576 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 586 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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: Des Moines International, Lehigh Valley International.