Detroit Metro Wayne County to Southwest Florida International DTW → RSW
944 nautical miles (1,087 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 175°, about 182° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots; RSW is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 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: 3,533 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 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, 288 nm along the route.
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.
- 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 358 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 249 to 408 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 368 to 467 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 DTW.
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (CLE, CMH, CRW, TRI, GSP, CAE, 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 | 300° at 16 kt | −10 kt | 11 °C | 130 kt | 7 h 16 min | 5:05 am EDT (09:05 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | −11 kt | 13 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 12 min | 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −8 kt | 11 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 22 min | 5:11 am EDT (09:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −7 kt | 7 °C | 127 kt | 7 h 26 min | 5:15 am EDT (09:15 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 30 min | 5:19 am EDT (09:19 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 20 kt | −4 kt | 0 °C | 124 kt | 7 h 37 min | 5:26 am EDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | −3 kt | -4 °C | 123 kt | 7 h 40 min | 5:29 am EDT (09:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 23 kt | −1 kt | -7 °C | 121 kt | 7 h 48 min | 5:37 am EDT (09:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 26 kt | +7 kt | -19 °C | 113 kt | 8 h 21 min | 6:10 am EDT (10:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 33 kt | +16 kt | -32 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 05 min | 6:54 am EDT (10:54 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 40 kt | +27 kt | -40 °C | 93 kt | 10 h 09 min | 7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 41 kt | +28 kt | -50 °C | 92 kt | 10 h 16 min | 8:05 am EDT (12:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | used from 0 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 340/5 | 320/13 14° | 300/12 8° | 310/10 2° | 310/14 -10° | 340/14 -23° | 320/27 -35° | 260/28 -40° | 250/36 -48° |
| CMH | used from 50 nm out; 60 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° |
| CRW | used from 199 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 320/16 | 310/16 12° | 320/12 7° | 320/12 2° | 330/15 -11° | 280/11 -22° | 230/26 -30° | 240/33 -37° | 240/37 -47° |
| TRI | used from 298 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| GSP | used from 398 nm out; 25 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° |
| CAE | used from 497 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 260/27 | 310/26 11° | 280/31 9° | 270/36 7° | 250/39 -4° | 230/57 -16° | 220/74 -30° | 220/83 -40° | 220/73 -51° |
| SAV | used from 547 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 260/18 | 290/26 13° | 270/33 12° | 260/40 9° | 240/47 -5° | 230/53 -16° | 220/61 -31° | 210/64 -41° | 210/64 -52° |
| JAX | used from 646 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 280/14 | 300/22 16° | 260/27 15° | 260/26 9° | 240/41 -6° | 230/38 -16° | 220/44 -32° | 200/49 -41° | 200/52 -53° |
| PIE | used from 795 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 310/7 | 270/12 17° | 270/14 13° | 260/14 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/24 -16° | 220/26 -31° | 200/31 -41° | 180/33 -53° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTW Detroit, MI | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | 2,000 ft | 645 ft | 9:18 pm EDT (01:18 UTC) |
| TOL Toledo, OH | 40 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 683 ft | 01:22 UTC |
| OSU Columbus, OH | 129 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 900 ft | 905 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 229 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 1 mi | 700 ft | 828 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 348 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,518 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 408 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| AGS Augusta, GA | 537 nm out, 21 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 145 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| SBO Swainsboro, GA | 577 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 327 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| VQQ Jacksonville, FL | 726 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 79 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| LEE Leesburg, FL | 805 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 76 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BOW Bartow, FL | 865 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 124 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| RSW Fort Myers, FL | destination | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:01 am EDT (09:01 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RSW
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for DTW, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 726 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 15 nm from the route, 835 nm along the route · security · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RSW is before sunrise there (7:24 am EDT (11:24 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, Southwest Florida International.
