Plan a flight · Mon 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC)

Washington Dulles International to Blue Grass Airport IAD → LEX

340 nautical miles (392 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 273° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC). Right now IAD is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots, gusting to 23; LEX is low IFR, wind from the south (190°) at 6 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: 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 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 126 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 87 to 224 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 107 to 292 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

C170 at 1,500 ft, 28 nm north, 9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC): overcast above 2,300 ft. At the departure end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FDK UA /OV FDK/TM 1355/FL015/TP C170/SK OVC023
```
Report
a routine report filed through FDK
Where
over FDK
Time
13:55 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
C170
Sky
overcast from 2,300 ft
E75S at 2,400 ft, 20 nm east, 9:47 am EDT (13:47 UTC): overcast above 2,400 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA19004/TM 1347/FL024/TP E75S/SK OVC024
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
DCA19004
Time
13:47 UTC
Height
at 2,400 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
overcast from 2,400 ft
B38M at 2,600 ft, 37 nm east, 9:05 am EDT (13:05 UTC): a broken layer above 2,400 ft, remarks: TOP026. At the departure end, 37 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL270003/TM 1305/FL026/TP B38M/SK BKN024/RM TOP026
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
3 nm west (270°) of BAL
Time
13:05 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 2,400 ft
Remarks
TOP026
B737 at 1,000 ft, 21 nm southeast, 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: no bases reported on final approach runway 1. At the departure end, 21 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA190003/TM 1240/FL010/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP/RM NO BASES REPORTED ON FINAL APPROACH RWY1
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
3 nm south (190°) of DCA
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
no bases reported on final approach runway 1
B783 at 5,000 ft, 30 nm northeast, 8:30 am EDT (12:30 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 30 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 1230/FL50/TP B783/SK BASE 028 TOP 040
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
10 nm west (280°) of BAL
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
B783
Sky
base 2,800 ft top 4,000 ft
SF50 at 3,000 ft, 28 nm north, 8:15 am EDT (12:15 UTC): a broken layer above 2,000 ft. At the departure end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FDK UA /OV FDK/TM 1215/FL030/TP SF50/SK BKN020
```
Report
a routine report filed through FDK
Where
over FDK
Time
12:15 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
a broken layer from 2,000 ft
E170 at 1,000 ft, 20 nm east, 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC): a broken layer above 1,200 ft. At the departure end, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 1132/FL010/TP E170/SK BKN012
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
over DCA
Time
11:32 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
a broken layer from 1,200 ft
UAL1428 at 32,000 ft, 28 nm north, 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC): no turbulence, -39 °C, wind 360° at 59 knots. At the departure end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1428 3923N 07750W 1136 F320 MS39 360/059KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
CRJ9 at 26,000 ft, 15 nm north, 7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC): light chop turbulence above 26,000 ft. 126 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV EKN/TM 1150/FL260/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 260
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over EKN
Time
11:50 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 26,000 ft
C25A at 36,000 ft, 11 nm south, 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 156 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ088045/TM 1154/FL360/TP C25A/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
45 nm east (088°) of HVQ
Time
11:54 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
B38M at 38,000 ft, 11 nm southeast, 7:57 am EDT (11:57 UTC): light chop turbulence. 175 nm along the route, 11 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ090035/TM 1157/FL380/TP B38M/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
35 nm east (090°) of HVQ
Time
11:57 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
E135 climbing, 45 nm south, 9:06 am EDT (13:06 UTC): a broken layer from 2,900 ft to 6,000 ft. 185 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 1306/FLDURC/TP E135/SK BKN029-TOP060
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over BKW
Time
13:06 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E135
Sky
a broken layer from 2,900 ft, tops 6,000 ft
SR20 climbing, 6 nm south, 8:05 am EDT (12:05 UTC): a broken layer from 1,200 ft to 4,600 ft. 194 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1205/FLDURC/TP SR20/SK BKN012-TOP046
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
12:05 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
SR20
Sky
a broken layer from 1,200 ft, tops 4,600 ft
PC12 at 25,000 ft, 20 nm north, 9:04 am EDT (13:04 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing. 214 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV HNN/TM 1304/FL250/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over HNN
Time
13:04 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Icing
none

5 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (EKN, CRW, CVG). 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	310° at 17 kt	+11 kt	15 °C	109 kt	3 h 07 min	1:20 pm EDT (17:20 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 21 kt	+12 kt	14 °C	108 kt	3 h 09 min	1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 21 kt	+10 kt	11 °C	110 kt	3 h 05 min	1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	+10 kt	7 °C	110 kt	3 h 05 min	1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC)
12,500 ft	330° at 25 kt	+11 kt	4 °C	109 kt	3 h 07 min	1:20 pm EDT (17:20 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	+15 kt	0 °C	105 kt	3 h 14 min	1:27 pm EDT (17:27 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 27 kt	+19 kt	-4 °C	101 kt	3 h 22 min	1:35 pm EDT (17:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 29 kt	+22 kt	-7 °C	98 kt	3 h 28 min	1:41 pm EDT (17:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 34 kt	+29 kt	-19 °C	91 kt	3 h 44 min	1:57 pm EDT (17:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 38 kt	+35 kt	-35 °C	85 kt	4 h	2:13 pm EDT (18:13 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 49 kt	+41 kt	-42 °C	79 kt	4 h 18 min	2:31 pm EDT (18:31 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 54 kt	+35 kt	-50 °C	85 kt	4 h	2:13 pm EDT (18:13 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
EKN	used from 0 nm out; 88 nm from the line		320/20 15°	340/24 10°	340/25 4°	310/28 -7°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -36°	300/49 -43°	310/48 -50°
CRW	used from 146 nm out; 27 nm from the line	270/8	320/23 15°	320/22 10°	330/25 5°	300/30 -6°	290/34 -19°	280/37 -35°	290/48 -42°	310/58 -50°
CVG	used from 292 nm out; 62 nm from the line	260/20	280/18 15°	270/19 8°	290/30 5°	280/31 -7°	290/37 -19°	280/46 -35°	290/55 -40°	310/57 -48°

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	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	3,400 ft	312 ft	9:52 am EDT (13:52 UTC)
FRR Front Royal, VA	39 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	2,700 ft	703 ft	13:55 UTC
LUA Luray, VA	49 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,800 ft	902 ft	13:55 UTC
EKN Elkins, WV	107 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: mist	calm	4 mi	800 ft	1,987 ft	14:00 UTC
SXL Summersville, WV	165 nm out, 20 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,819 ft
CRW Charleston, WV	194 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the west (280°) at 3 knots	1 mi	700 ft	947 ft	13:54 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	243 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	calm	10+ mi	800 ft	828 ft	13:51 UTC
SYM Morehead, KY	292 nm out, 1 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	1.75 mi	300 ft	1,028 ft	14:02 UTC
IOB Mount Sterling, KY	311 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,019 ft	01:15 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	4 mi	200 ft	979 ft	10:09 am EDT (14:09 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for LEX

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for IAD, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 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 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 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, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Washington Dulles International, Blue Grass Airport.