Washington Dulles International to Palm Springs International IAD → PSP
1,897 nautical miles (2,184 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 283° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 18 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAD is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 15 knots, gusting to 27; PSP is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) 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: 188 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 E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- SIGMET C10C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 1298 to 1348 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120555 MKCC WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C VALID UNTIL 0755Z CO NM FROM 20NNE PUB-40WSW LAA-30WSW CIM-50WSW ALS-50ESE HBU-20NNE PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 469 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 70 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 190 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 120 nm along the route.
- 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 719 to 1228 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1218 to 1708 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 639 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 1298 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1578 to 1758 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1628 to 1678 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the last 60 nm of the route.
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
- MD83 climbing, 47 nm north, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 260 nm along the route, 47 nm north 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
- A321 at 3,300 ft, 48 nm west, 12:59 am EDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 48 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 8 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:59 UTC
- Height
- at 3,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B38M at 4,500 ft, 45 nm west, 12:15 am EDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT078012/TM 0415/FL045/TP B38M/SK BKN045-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 12 nm east (078°) of ONT
- Time
- 04:15 UTC
- Height
- at 4,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,500 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent
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 16 forecast points nearest it (EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, IND, EVV, STL, COU, MKC, ICT, GCK, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH). 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 | 240° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 17 °C | 100 kt | 18 h 58 min | 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +20 kt | 15 °C | 100 kt | 18 h 58 min | 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 18 h 36 min | 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +19 kt | 7 °C | 101 kt | 18 h 47 min | 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +19 kt | 3 °C | 101 kt | 18 h 47 min | 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | +22 kt | -1 °C | 98 kt | 19 h 21 min | 7:06 pm PDT (02:06 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +26 kt | -5 °C | 94 kt | 20 h 11 min | 7:56 pm PDT (02:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 27 kt | +29 kt | -8 °C | 91 kt | 20 h 51 min | 8:36 pm PDT (03:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 32 kt | +35 kt | -20 °C | 85 kt | 22 h 19 min | 10:04 pm PDT (05:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 47 kt | +50 kt | -31 °C | 70 kt | 27 h 06 min | 2:51 am PDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 54 kt | +58 kt | -37 °C | 62 kt | 30 h 36 min | 6:21 am PDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 47 kt | +50 kt | -48 °C | 70 kt | 27 h 06 min | 2:51 am PDT (09:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKN | used from 0 nm out; 87 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° | |
| CRW | used from 150 nm out; 44 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° |
| CMH | used from 250 nm out; 61 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° |
| CVG | used from 300 nm out; 12 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° |
| IND | used from 399 nm out; 47 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° |
| EVV | used from 449 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| STL | used from 549 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| COU | used from 649 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| MKC | used from 749 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| ICT | used from 849 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 200/48 | 230/39 19° | 240/24 14° | 240/20 8° | 240/22 -6° | 250/31 -18° | 250/61 -29° | 260/58 -38° | 270/54 -49° |
| GCK | used from 999 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 1198 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 1248 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 1398 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| PRC | used from 1548 nm out; 119 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1748 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
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 800 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (350°) at 15 knots, gusting to 27 | 4 mi | 800 ft | 312 ft | 1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC) |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 130 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,223 ft | 06:26 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 340 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 896 ft | 06:30 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 429 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1 mi | 100 ft | 845 ft | 06:39 UTC |
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 689 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 929 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| HUT Hutchinson, KS | 959 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,542 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 1288 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,352 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SKX Taos, NM | 1348 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 1648 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26 | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 7,014 ft | 06:08 UTC |
| HII Lake Havasu City, AZ | 1778 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 782 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,094 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PSP
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
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
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 340 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 1778 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at PSP 6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PSP is after sunset there (6:16 pm PDT (01:16 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, Palm Springs International.