Plan a flight · Sun 9:42 pm CDT (02:42 UTC)

Joe Foss Field to Raleigh-Durham International FSD → RDU

946 nautical miles (1,089 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 113°, about 108° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 46-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FSD is VFR, wind calm; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 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

SIGMET 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 767 to 797 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120155
MKCE WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
PA MD VA DC WV OH
FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.

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 80 to 209 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 route from 658 to 847 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 707 to 877 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 797 to 897 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 FSD.

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

BE20 at 14,000 ft, 39 nm north, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 259 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 17,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 548 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
45 nm south (183°) of IND
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
clear
Icing
none
Remarks
clear since departing KIND southbound
B744 climbing, 14 nm northeast, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 598 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
B737 at 23,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 608 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B712 at 600 ft, 43 nm southwest, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 638 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
CRJ9 descending, 43 nm southwest, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 638 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
CRJ9 climbing, 50 nm northeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 747 nm along the route, 50 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 787 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
E135 descending, 32 nm northeast, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 787 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over BKW
Time
00:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E135
Sky
bases 3,200 ft
C52C at 12,500 ft, 10 nm north, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 837 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none
E145 at 4,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 847 nm along the route, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
E145 at 2,200 ft, 38 nm northeast, 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 847 nm along the route, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA

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 10 forecast points nearest it (FSD, MCW, DBQ, BRL, JOT, IND, CVG, CRW, ROA, RDU). 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 18 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	6 h 57 min	5:39 am EDT (09:39 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 19 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	6 h 45 min	5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−19 kt	12 °C	139 kt	6 h 48 min	5:30 am EDT (09:30 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	−17 kt	9 °C	137 kt	6 h 54 min	5:36 am EDT (09:36 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	−15 kt	5 °C	135 kt	7 h	5:42 am EDT (09:42 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−17 kt	1 °C	137 kt	6 h 54 min	5:36 am EDT (09:36 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−19 kt	-3 °C	139 kt	6 h 48 min	5:30 am EDT (09:30 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	−22 kt	-7 °C	142 kt	6 h 40 min	5:22 am EDT (09:22 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 23 kt	−23 kt	-8 °C	143 kt	6 h 37 min	5:19 am EDT (09:19 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 27 kt	−28 kt	-20 °C	148 kt	6 h 24 min	5:06 am EDT (09:06 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 32 kt	−32 kt	-34 °C	152 kt	6 h 13 min	4:55 am EDT (08:55 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 45 kt	−45 kt	-41 °C	165 kt	5 h 44 min	4:26 am EDT (08:26 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 46 kt	−46 kt	-49 °C	166 kt	5 h 42 min	4:24 am EDT (08:24 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
FSD	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	190/9	230/30 18°	240/23 13°	240/20 6°	260/22 -9°	250/31 -21°	250/43 -36°	260/49 -43°	270/53 -47°
MCW	used from 100 nm out; 44 nm from the line	220/44	250/30 17°	230/14 12°	240/17 6°	250/22 -8°	270/29 -20°	250/34 -34°	260/52 -43°	260/59 -51°
DBQ	used from 199 nm out; 67 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
BRL	used from 299 nm out; 53 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°
JOT	used from 349 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 448 nm out; 49 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°
CVG	used from 548 nm out; 36 nm from the line	320/18	350/32 16°	350/35 10°	350/30 3°	330/30 -7°	340/44 -20°	340/58 -35°	330/72 -41°	320/36 -49°
CRW	used from 697 nm out; 58 nm from the line	330/20	330/23 11°	340/25 8°	340/21 2°	340/33 -9°	340/41 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/44 -39°	320/43 -47°
ROA	used from 797 nm out; 49 nm from the line	310/29	330/31 13°	340/28 7°	330/25 3°	310/32 -8°	300/32 -22°	290/32 -31°	270/35 -38°	270/32 -47°
RDU	used from 897 nm out; 25 nm from the line	280/33	300/23 11°	300/28 8°	290/28 4°	260/41 -6°	240/52 -18°	230/66 -31°	230/76 -39°	240/52 -49°

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
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC)
SPW Spencer, IA	70 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,338 ft	01:53 UTC
IFA Iowa Falls, IA	169 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,137 ft	02:35 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	249 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	00:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	309 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	01:52 UTC
BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL	399 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	871 ft	01:56 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	518 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	796 ft	01:54 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	608 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	896 ft	01:52 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	717 nm out, 25 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots	2 mi	800 ft	828 ft	01:57 UTC
BLF Bluefield, WV	807 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 9 knots	4 mi	500 ft	2,856 ft	02:26 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	897 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	925 ft	01:54 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,500 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	3,500 ft	435 ft	9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,856 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:24 am EDT (08:24 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

The forecast for FSD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, 608 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at FSD 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Joe Foss Field, Raleigh-Durham International.