Plan a flight · Mon 1:19 am EDT (05:19 UTC)

Gerald R Ford International to Raleigh-Durham International GRR → RDU

524 nautical miles (602 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 141°, about 147° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now GRR is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20. 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: 105 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Near the route, 425 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120455
MKCE WST 120455
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
VALID UNTIL 0655Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.

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 425 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 286 to 445 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 375 to 504 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 GRR.

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

B738 at 1,300 ft, 12 nm northeast, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 109 nm along the route, 12 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
PA44 descending, 12 nm northeast, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. 109 nm along the route, 12 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
PA44
Sky
BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
Weather
fog
BCS3 climbing, 13 nm southwest, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 207 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
B010
MD83 climbing, 21 nm southwest, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 217 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over LCK
Time
05:04 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
MD83
Sky
B010 T037

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 6 forecast points nearest it (MKG, FWA, CMH, 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	310° at 21 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	3 h 45 min	5:04 am EDT (09:04 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	−23 kt		143 kt	3 h 40 min	4:59 am EDT (08:59 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	−23 kt	11 °C	143 kt	3 h 40 min	4:59 am EDT (08:59 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−22 kt	7 °C	142 kt	3 h 41 min	5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 20 kt	−20 kt	4 °C	140 kt	3 h 45 min	5:04 am EDT (09:04 UTC)
13,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−22 kt	0 °C	142 kt	3 h 41 min	5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 25 kt	−25 kt	-3 °C	145 kt	3 h 37 min	4:56 am EDT (08:56 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	−28 kt	-7 °C	148 kt	3 h 32 min	4:51 am EDT (08:51 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 29 kt	−29 kt	-8 °C	149 kt	3 h 31 min	4:50 am EDT (08:50 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 35 kt	−35 kt	-20 °C	155 kt	3 h 23 min	4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 40 kt	−40 kt	-34 °C	160 kt	3 h 16 min	4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 46 kt	−45 kt	-41 °C	165 kt	3 h 11 min	4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 43 kt	−42 kt	-48 °C	162 kt	3 h 14 min	4:33 am EDT (08:33 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
MKG	used from 0 nm out; 59 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
FWA	used from 49 nm out; 65 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 148 nm out; 39 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°
CRW	used from 247 nm out; 57 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 346 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 494 nm out; 15 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
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	departure	VFR Weather: mist	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	6 mi	none	793 ft	12:53 am EDT (04:53 UTC)
BTL Battle Creek, MI	30 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	04:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	59 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	3 mi	none	1,000 ft	05:09 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	109 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	7 mi	1,500 ft	683 ft	05:09 UTC
CMH Columbus, OH	207 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots	8 mi	1,200 ft	815 ft	04:51 UTC
LCK Columbus, OH	217 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	743 ft	04:55 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	277 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots	9 mi	900 ft	858 ft	04:53 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	326 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	1 mi	500 ft	947 ft	04:54 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	415 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet	from the west (270°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	1,175 ft	04:54 UTC
SIF Reidsville, NC	464 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	693 ft	04:55 UTC
DAN Danville, VA	474 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	4,000 ft	571 ft	04:53 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	4,300 ft	435 ft	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,175 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, 4:30 am EDT (08:30 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 GRR, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet

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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Gerald R Ford International, Raleigh-Durham International.