Washington Dulles International to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International IAD → BHM
553 nautical miles (637 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 237°, about 247° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC). Right now IAD is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots; BHM is VFR, wind calm. 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: 17 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 494 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 59 to 415 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 79 to 287 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 237 to 385 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 IAD.
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, ROA, TRI, TYS, HSV, BHM). 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 | 320° at 21 kt | +1 kt | 11 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 39 min | 7:11 am CDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −1 kt | 12 °C | 121 kt | 4 h 34 min | 7:06 am CDT (12:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −2 kt | 9 °C | 122 kt | 4 h 32 min | 7:04 am CDT (12:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −3 kt | 6 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 30 min | 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 26 kt | −3 kt | 3 °C | 123 kt | 4 h 30 min | 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | 0 | -1 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 36 min | 7:08 am CDT (12:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | +2 kt | -5 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 41 min | 7:13 am CDT (12:13 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 28 kt | +4 kt | -8 °C | 116 kt | 4 h 46 min | 7:18 am CDT (12:18 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 29 kt | +6 kt | -19 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 51 min | 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | +9 kt | -33 °C | 111 kt | 4 h 59 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 40 kt | +12 kt | -39 °C | 108 kt | 5 h 07 min | 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 35 kt | +11 kt | -48 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 04 min | 7:36 am CDT (12:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 78 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° |
| EKN | used from 49 nm out; 63 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° | |
| ROA | used from 99 nm out; 33 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° |
| TRI | used from 198 nm out; 56 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° | |
| TYS | used from 346 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| HSV | used from 445 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| BHM | used from 494 nm out; 35 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAD Washington, DC | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 11 knots | 4 mi | 900 ft | 312 ft | 2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC) |
| CJR Culpeper, VA | 30 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,300 ft | 315 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 69 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 640 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 148 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 1,175 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA | 217 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist | from the west (270°) at 10 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 2,558 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| VJI Abingdon, VA | 257 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 800 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the west (260°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 2,087 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 277 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 6 mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 366 nm out, 24 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,800 ft | 986 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 435 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 07:03 UTC |
| PYP Centre, AL | 484 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 594 ft | ||||
| GAD Gadsden, AL | 514 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 569 ft | 15:56 UTC |
| BHM Birmingham, AL | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 650 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,558 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BHM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC)
Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist marginal VFR
The whole forecast for BHM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for IAD, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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: Washington Dulles International, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International.