Des Moines International to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall DSM → BWI
789 nautical miles (908 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 095°, about 094° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 41-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 529 to 729 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- SIGMET 2E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2E VALID UNTIL 0255Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD AND NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS FROM 30NE SAX-30SSW HTO-30ESE EMI-50WSW HAR-30NE SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22020KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 first 40 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). Over the last 360 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 589 to 739 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 160 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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (DSM, BRL, JOT, FWA, CMH, AGC, PSB, RIC). 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 | 220° at 6 kt | −3 kt | 123 kt | 6 h 25 min | 4:13 am EDT (08:13 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | −10 kt | 13 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 04 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | −10 kt | 12 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 04 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 9 kt | −9 kt | 8 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 07 min | 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 9 kt | −8 kt | 5 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 10 min | 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 300° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 1 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 07 min | 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 11 kt | −10 kt | -4 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 04 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 12 kt | −12 kt | -8 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 59 min | 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 13 kt | −12 kt | -9 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 59 min | 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 18 kt | −17 kt | -20 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 46 min | 3:34 am EDT (07:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 29 kt | −27 kt | -34 °C | 147 kt | 5 h 22 min | 3:10 am EDT (07:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 35 kt | −33 kt | -42 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 09 min | 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 42 kt | −41 kt | -50 °C | 161 kt | 4 h 54 min | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| BRL | used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| JOT | used from 200 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
| FWA | used from 300 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| CMH | used from 449 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| AGC | used from 549 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| PSB | used from 699 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 749 nm out; 106 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° |
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 | no report just now | 957 ft | ||||
| PEA Pella, IA | 30 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 885 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 140 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| EZI Kewanee, IL | 170 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| DTG Dwight, IL | 240 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 632 ft | ||||
| GUS Peru, IN | 340 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 810 ft | ||||
| AXV Wapakoneta, OH | 429 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 912 ft | ||||
| OSU Columbus, OH | 489 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 905 ft | ||||
| HLG Wheeling, WV | 599 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,194 ft | ||||
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 639 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,243 ft | ||||
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 729 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 564 ft | ||||
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | no report just now | 143 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,243 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BWI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC)
BWI has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 9 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BWI is before sunrise there (7:13 am EDT (11:13 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: Des Moines International, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.