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

Valley International to Richmond International HRL → RIC

1,234 nautical miles (1,420 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 052°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:59 am EDT (11:59 UTC). Right now HRL is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 5 knots; RIC is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19. 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: 49 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 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 776 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 826 to 926 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 886 to 1135 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 1184 to 1204 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 HRL.

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

B789 at 27,000 ft, 16 nm northwest, 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 328 nm along the route, 16 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LFT UA /OV LLA270030/TM 0030/FL270/TP B789/TB MOD CAT/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LFT
Where
30 nm west (270°) of LLA
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zhu
CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 33 nm southeast, 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 786 nm along the route, 33 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
Time
02:00 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
B38M at 36,000 ft, 30 nm northwest, 7:26 pm CDT (00:26 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 139 nm along the route, 30 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRP UA /OV CRP075080/TM 0026/FL360/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRP
Where
80 nm east (075°) of CRP
Time
00:26 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zhu
E75L at 27,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 338 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LCH
Where
LCH08510
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
continuous chop
Remarks
zhu
E170 at 33,000 ft, 6 nm south, 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 786 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
45 nm west (280°) of ATL
Time
01:53 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
BCS3 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
00:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
bases 600 ft

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 14 forecast points nearest it (BRO, CRP, PSX, HOU, LCH, MSY, JAN, MGM, BHM, ATL, GSP, TRI, ROA, 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	270° at 6 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	9 h 48 min	8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 7 kt	−4 kt	11 °C	124 kt	9 h 57 min	8:39 am EDT (12:39 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 9 kt	−3 kt	14 °C	123 kt	10 h 02 min	8:44 am EDT (12:44 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	−3 kt	10 °C	123 kt	10 h 02 min	8:44 am EDT (12:44 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	−4 kt	8 °C	124 kt	9 h 57 min	8:39 am EDT (12:39 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−6 kt	4 °C	126 kt	9 h 48 min	8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	−8 kt	-1 °C	128 kt	9 h 38 min	8:20 am EDT (12:20 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−9 kt	-5 °C	129 kt	9 h 34 min	8:16 am EDT (12:16 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 18 kt	−10 kt	-6 °C	130 kt	9 h 30 min	8:12 am EDT (12:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 21 kt	−13 kt	-16 °C	133 kt	9 h 17 min	7:59 am EDT (11:59 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 29 kt	−9 kt	-31 °C	129 kt	9 h 34 min	8:16 am EDT (12:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 31 kt	−10 kt	-40 °C	130 kt	9 h 30 min	8:12 am EDT (12:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 29 kt	−5 kt	-50 °C	125 kt	9 h 52 min	8:34 am EDT (12:34 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
BRO	used from 0 nm out; 35 nm from the line	150/22	160/18 18°	160/13 14°	150/9 10°	050/5 -3°	L/V -15°	100/13 -29°	120/15 -40°	080/9 -52°
CRP	used from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line	150/24	180/19 19°	190/13 14°	200/14 9°	230/5 -4°	170/6 -14°	360/6 -29°	L/V -40°	350/18 -52°
PSX	used from 100 nm out; 77 nm from the line	160/24	160/23 19°	180/14 15°	210/11 9°	240/8 -4°	250/8 -13°	320/14 -29°	300/16 -40°	340/17 -51°
HOU	used from 199 nm out; 85 nm from the line	160/22	150/27 19°	180/16 14°	250/7 9°	270/10 -5°	270/16 -13°	310/23 -29°	310/26 -40°	330/20 -52°
LCH	used from 249 nm out; 70 nm from the line	160/21	160/18 18°	180/13 12°	230/6 8°	280/10 -4°	260/13 -14°	310/29 -30°	320/32 -40°	330/33 -53°
MSY	used from 398 nm out; 58 nm from the line	110/5	150/6 19°	L/V 12°	310/5 7°	310/13 -4°	290/20 -16°	330/36 -31°	330/37 -41°	350/43 -52°
JAN	used from 498 nm out; 59 nm from the line	230/10	270/13 18°	270/11 12°	310/11 6°	300/15 -4°	300/22 -16°	310/33 -31°	320/37 -41°	330/41 -52°
MGM	used from 597 nm out; 83 nm from the line	310/19	340/24 17°	340/28 11°	330/16 7°	300/23 -7°	320/32 -16°	330/46 -33°	330/55 -42°	330/41 -50°
BHM	used from 697 nm out; 28 nm from the line	310/19	330/20 17°	320/28 11°	340/21 6°	310/22 -7°	330/33 -17°	330/50 -32°	330/57 -41°	330/41 -50°
ATL	used from 746 nm out; 56 nm from the line	320/30	330/37 16°	340/44 11°	330/35 7°	310/33 -6°	300/38 -18°	330/58 -33°	330/48 -40°	320/34 -49°
GSP	used from 896 nm out; 38 nm from the line	320/22	340/19 13°	320/18 8°	310/24 5°	300/34 -7°	300/36 -18°	290/30 -33°	300/32 -39°	320/42 -49°
TRI	used from 995 nm out; 70 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
ROA	used from 1045 nm out; 69 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°
RIC	used from 1145 nm out; 65 nm from the line	270/23	280/19 11°	270/18 8°	240/22 4°	230/39 -7°	220/55 -18°	220/75 -30°	230/83 -39°	230/64 -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
HRL Harlingen, TX	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the east (100°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	36 ft	8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC)
IYA Abbeville, LA	368 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	15 ft	02:35 UTC
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	428 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	69 ft	01:53 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	597 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	01:58 UTC
DYA Demopolis, AL	627 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	111 ft	02:35 UTC
RYY Atlanta, GA	826 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,040 ft	01:50 UTC
AVL Asheville, NC	955 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,163 ft	01:54 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	1015 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	01:53 UTC
BKT Blackstone, VA	1194 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	437 ft	12:55 UTC
RIC Richmond, VA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	30,000 ft	167 ft	9:54 pm EDT (01:54 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 RIC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:59 am EDT (11:59 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIC

From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet

The forecast for HRL, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet

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

5/3678 Brownsville, TX, Thursday, January 1, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027 Local 25 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 January · ZHU
5/6914 South Padre Island, TX, Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Local 23 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ended 6 May · ZHU

Daylight

Sunset at HRL 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC), at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Valley International, Richmond International.