Northern Colorado Regional to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall FNL → BWI
1,304 nautical miles (1,500 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 075° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:52 am EDT (10:52 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: 2 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 119 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 70 nm of the route.
- 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 109 to 527 nm out.
- 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 358 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1105 to 1254 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 189 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 FNL.
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 02:00–09:00 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 15 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, JOT, IND, FWA, CMH, AGC, EKN, PSB, ACY). 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 | 250° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 9 h 27 min | 8:33 am EDT (12:33 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 17 °C | 141 kt | 9 h 15 min | 8:21 am EDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 13 °C | 139 kt | 9 h 23 min | 8:29 am EDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | −17 kt | 10 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 31 min | 8:37 am EDT (12:37 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | −15 kt | 6 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 40 min | 8:46 am EDT (12:46 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | −16 kt | 1 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 35 min | 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | −19 kt | -3 °C | 139 kt | 9 h 23 min | 8:29 am EDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 20 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 9 h 15 min | 8:21 am EDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 20 kt | −22 kt | -8 °C | 142 kt | 9 h 11 min | 8:17 am EDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 26 kt | −28 kt | -20 °C | 148 kt | 8 h 49 min | 7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 34 kt | −36 kt | -34 °C | 156 kt | 8 h 22 min | 7:28 am EDT (11:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 46 kt | −47 kt | -40 °C | 167 kt | 7 h 49 min | 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 47 kt | −48 kt | -49 °C | 168 kt | 7 h 46 min | 6:52 am EDT (10:52 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GLD | used from 100 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| GRI | used from 199 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| OMA | used from 348 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| DSM | used from 448 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| BRL | used from 547 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| SPI | used from 697 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| JOT | used from 746 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| IND | used from 796 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| FWA | used from 896 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CMH | used from 945 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| AGC | used from 1095 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| EKN | used from 1145 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| PSB | used from 1244 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| ACY | used from 1294 nm out; 103 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | departure | no report just now | 5,020 ft | ||||
| STK Sterling, CO | 80 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,037 ft | ||||
| LXN Lexington, NE | 239 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,412 ft | ||||
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 378 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,218 ft | ||||
| SDA Shenandoah, IA | 438 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 971 ft | ||||
| FSW Fort Madison, IA | 627 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 721 ft | ||||
| PIA Peoria, IL | 697 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 660 ft | ||||
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 826 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 605 ft | ||||
| OSU Columbus, OH | 1005 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 905 ft | ||||
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 1154 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,243 ft | ||||
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 1244 nm out, 3 nm northwest 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 5,020 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, 6:52 am EDT (10:52 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 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 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 FNL 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 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: Northern Colorado Regional, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.