The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Plan a flight · Sun 11:30 pm EDT (03:30 UTC)

Washington Dulles International to San Diego International IAD → SAN

1,954 nautical miles (2,248 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 271°, about 281° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 3:39 pm PDT (22:39 UTC). 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: 2,779 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The return flight

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 E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Over the first 80 nm of the route.
    as issued
    WSUS31 KKCI 120255
    MKCE WST 120255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E
    VALID UNTIL 0455Z
    NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
    FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK
    AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.
  • SIGMET W11W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 1395 to 1455 nm out.
    as issued
    WSUS33 KKCI 120255
    MKCW WST 120255
    CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11W
    VALID UNTIL 0455Z
    CO NM
    FROM 20WNW PUB-10ENE CIM-50WNW ABQ-30NNE DVC-20WNW 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 458 nm of the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 140 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 199 nm out.
  • 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 837 to 1286 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1236 to 1655 nm out.
  • AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1266 to 1684 nm out.
  • AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1625 to 1714 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). Near the route, 1664 nm along the route.
  • AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1834 to 1914 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 19 forecast points nearest it (EKN, CRW, CVG, LOU, EVV, STL, COU, SGF, MKC, ICT, GAG, GCK, TCC, ALS, ABQ, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

HeightAverage windHead- or tailwindTemperatureGround speedTime en routeArrival
4,500 ft240° at 20 kt+20 kt17 °C100 kt19 h 32 min4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC)
6,500 ft250° at 18 kt+20 kt14 °C100 kt19 h 32 min4:02 pm PDT (23:02 UTC)
8,500 ft250° at 17 kt+19 kt10 °C101 kt19 h 21 min3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC)
10,500 ft250° at 16 kt+18 kt7 °C102 kt19 h 09 min3:39 pm PDT (22:39 UTC)
12,500 ft250° at 16 kt+18 kt3 °C102 kt19 h 09 min3:39 pm PDT (22:39 UTC)
14,500 ft240° at 20 kt+22 kt-1 °C98 kt19 h 56 min4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC)
16,500 ft240° at 24 kt+25 kt-5 °C95 kt20 h 34 min5:04 pm PDT (00:04 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180240° at 26 kt+28 kt-8 °C92 kt21 h 14 min5:44 pm PDT (00:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240250° at 32 kt+35 kt-20 °C85 kt22 h 59 min7:29 pm PDT (02:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300250° at 47 kt+50 kt-30 °C70 kt27 h 55 min12:25 am PDT (07:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340260° at 53 kt+57 kt-38 °C63 kt31 h 01 min3:31 am PDT (10:31 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390260° at 46 kt+49 kt-48 °C71 kt27 h 31 min12:01 am PDT (07:01 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
PointFrom3,0006,0009,00012,00018,00024,00030,00034,00039,000
EKNused from 0 nm out; 87 nm from the line330/21 12°330/25 7°350/22 2°330/24 -10°310/27 -21°320/33 -35°290/31 -39°290/34 -47°
CRWused from 150 nm out; 40 nm from the line330/20330/23 11°340/25 8°340/21 2°340/33 -9°340/41 -20°330/42 -35°320/44 -39°320/43 -47°
CVGused from 249 nm out; 63 nm from the line320/18350/32 16°350/35 10°350/30 3°330/30 -7°340/44 -20°340/58 -35°330/72 -41°320/36 -49°
LOUused from 349 nm out; 38 nm from the line310/18340/28 16°340/29 10°350/27 3°330/27 -7°340/39 -19°330/58 -33°330/67 -41°330/40 -49°
EVVused from 449 nm out; 40 nm from the line280/15290/12 17°310/16 10°320/13 5°310/22 -6°320/26 -18°320/38 -33°310/56 -41°320/55 -51°
STLused from 548 nm out; 34 nm from the line250/24250/24 16°260/23 9°270/16 6°260/25 -6°270/29 -19°290/34 -33°290/48 -41°290/54 -51°
COUused from 648 nm out; 34 nm from the line230/31230/30 15°260/16 11°270/14 6°260/24 -6°270/27 -18°270/37 -32°280/49 -41°290/56 -51°
SGFused from 748 nm out; 58 nm from the line230/33230/28 15°250/20 13°240/18 7°250/20 -6°250/24 -17°280/42 -31°280/49 -40°290/46 -51°
MKCused from 797 nm out; 70 nm from the line220/44250/28 18°250/18 13°240/12 6°280/24 -6°240/34 -18°260/47 -30°260/51 -40°270/58 -50°
ICTused from 847 nm out; 70 nm from the line200/48230/39 19°240/24 14°240/20 8°240/22 -6°250/31 -18°250/61 -29°260/58 -38°270/54 -49°
GAGused from 997 nm out; 73 nm from the line220/40 19°230/28 14°240/23 8°230/21 -6°240/31 -19°250/66 -29°260/58 -38°260/47 -49°
GCKused from 1047 nm out; 54 nm from the line220/48 21°230/37 14°250/30 8°230/37 -6°240/37 -20°240/69 -28°250/67 -37°260/58 -48°
TCCused from 1196 nm out; 89 nm from the line210/42230/33 14°230/32 6°220/35 -6°230/49 -19°240/72 -27°250/62 -36°250/52 -48°
ALSused from 1296 nm out; 84 nm from the line230/37 4°220/54 -9°230/62 -22°240/77 -26°240/74 -33°230/59 -45°
ABQused from 1346 nm out; 61 nm from the line220/27 11°210/35 5°220/46 -9°230/62 -20°240/78 -25°240/80 -35°240/56 -47°
FMNused from 1495 nm out; 99 nm from the line220/28 9°220/40 2°220/53 -10°220/62 -22°230/79 -28°240/91 -34°230/71 -45°
PRCused from 1545 nm out; 122 nm from the line210/25 5°200/30 1°220/55 -10°220/61 -21°220/84 -28°230/90 -34°230/73 -45°
BLHused from 1744 nm out; 49 nm from the line210/13200/21 11°200/22 5°210/25 -1°210/51 -10°220/61 -20°220/81 -29°220/92 -34°220/79 -45°
SANused from 1894 nm out; 35 nm from the line200/11200/23 7°210/27 4°210/31 -3°220/56 -10°220/56 -19°220/52 -30°220/64 -37°220/67 -44°

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

AirportWhereConditionsWindVisibilityCeilingElevationReported
IAD Washington, DC departure no report just now 312 ft
CKB Clarksburg, WV 130 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 1,223 ft
CVG Covington, KY 339 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 896 ft
BLV Belleville, IL 578 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower no report just now 459 ft
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL 598 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower no report just now 412 ft
ICT Wichita, KS 947 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower no report just now 1,332 ft
LBL Liberal, KS 1116 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line no report just now 2,885 ft
CAO Clayton, NM 1226 nm out, 9 nm south of the line no report just now 4,969 ft
SAF Santa Fe, NM 1375 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower no report just now 6,348 ft
PRC Prescott, AZ 1694 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower no report just now 5,045 ft
RNM Ramona, CA 1934 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower no report just now 1,394 ft
SAN San Diego, CA destination no report just now 16 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:39 pm PDT (22:39 UTC)

SAN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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 6 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
  • 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 13 July · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 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
Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the central Great Lakes
Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley
Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service
Radar, the whole country
Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service
Surface analysis now
Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead
Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center
Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead
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, San Diego International.