Washington Dulles International to Seattle-Tacoma International IAD → SEA
1,999 nautical miles (2,300 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 300°, about 310° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 17 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 11:49 pm PDT (06:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 3,675 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). Over the first 400 nm of 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the first 100 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 40 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 859 to 1629 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1259 to 1349 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1359 to 1809 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1449 to 1779 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the route from 1629 to 1969 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 08:00–15:00 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 18 forecast points nearest it (EKN, AGC, CLE, FWA, MKG, GRB, LSE, MSP, AXN, ABR, DIK, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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 | 280° at 7 kt | +7 kt | 1 °C | 113 kt | 17 h 41 min | 11:49 pm PDT (06:49 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 270° at 8 kt | +8 kt | 9 °C | 112 kt | 17 h 51 min | 11:59 pm PDT (06:59 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 260° at 10 kt | +9 kt | 6 °C | 111 kt | 18 h 01 min | 12:09 am PDT (07:09 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 260° at 12 kt | +11 kt | 2 °C | 109 kt | 18 h 20 min | 12:28 am PDT (07:28 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -1 °C | 107 kt | 18 h 41 min | 12:49 am PDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 270° at 15 kt | +15 kt | -5 °C | 105 kt | 19 h 02 min | 1:10 am PDT (08:10 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | +16 kt | -9 °C | 104 kt | 19 h 13 min | 1:21 am PDT (08:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 17 kt | +17 kt | -12 °C | 103 kt | 19 h 24 min | 1:32 am PDT (08:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 21 kt | +21 kt | -24 °C | 99 kt | 20 h 12 min | 2:20 am PDT (09:20 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 24 kt | +25 kt | -36 °C | 95 kt | 21 h 03 min | 3:11 am PDT (10:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 34 kt | +35 kt | -41 °C | 85 kt | 23 h 31 min | 5:39 am PDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 44 kt | +44 kt | -47 °C | 76 kt | 26 h 18 min | 8:26 am PDT (15:26 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 91 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| AGC | used from 100 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 340/11 | 350/12 11° | 360/25 7° | 340/30 2° | 340/41 -8° | 340/44 -21° | 350/59 -36° | 340/68 -42° | 340/50 -51° |
| CLE | used from 200 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 310/7 | 350/20 14° | 340/16 9° | 320/21 2° | 320/32 -8° | 330/34 -20° | 330/45 -36° | 320/60 -45° | 320/64 -51° |
| FWA | used from 300 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| MKG | used from 400 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 260/28 | 260/18 15° | 250/16 9° | 260/22 4° | 280/31 -9° | 270/35 -21° | 270/44 -35° | 270/42 -45° | 290/61 -51° |
| GRB | used from 550 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/22 17° | 240/18 8° | 280/21 6° | 280/34 -11° | 280/35 -21° | 280/39 -37° | 270/52 -45° | 290/60 -49° |
| LSE | used from 600 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| MSP | used from 749 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| AXN | used from 849 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 110/6 | 260/10 16° | 240/17 12° | 250/20 5° | 260/29 -10° | 260/35 -22° | 260/29 -38° | 270/48 -41° | 270/61 -48° |
| ABR | used from 949 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 080/12 | 210/12 17° | 220/22 12° | 230/26 5° | 220/28 -10° | 230/41 -21° | 250/36 -36° | 260/47 -39° | 260/63 -47° |
| DIK | used from 1099 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 190/12 5° | 230/29 7° | 220/33 1° | 220/43 -11° | 210/47 -23° | 220/53 -33° | 240/56 -40° | 250/72 -47° | |
| MLS | used from 1249 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 1399 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| GTF | used from 1499 nm out; 36 nm from the line | L/V | L/V -7° | 240/8 -8° | 240/30 -14° | 240/40 -28° | 210/52 -38° | 210/76 -38° | 220/72 -43° | |
| GPI | used from 1649 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| GEG | used from 1749 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 060/7 -2° | 070/12 -6° | 050/8 -8° | 120/11 -21° | 110/18 -33° | 030/22 -37° | 040/6 -38° | 240/7 -41° | |
| YKM | used from 1899 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 360/6 | 360/11 -1° | 030/20 -7° | 040/21 -11° | 020/55 -18° | 010/84 -26° | 010/79 -40° | 010/45 -42° | 350/23 -42° |
| SEA | used from 1949 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 350/5 | 010/6 0° | 010/9 -4° | 010/27 -6° | 010/51 -15° | 360/58 -26° | 360/60 -41° | 350/55 -48° | 340/30 -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 | no report just now | 312 ft | ||||
| HLG Wheeling, WV | 160 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,194 ft | ||||
| TOL Toledo, OH | 330 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 683 ft | ||||
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | 530 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 728 ft | ||||
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 690 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 655 ft | ||||
| OVL Olivia, MN | 859 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,079 ft | ||||
| ABR Aberdeen, SD | 1009 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,301 ft | ||||
| BHK Baker, MT | 1259 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,980 ft | ||||
| GTF Great Falls, MT | 1559 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 3,680 ft | ||||
| THM Thompson Falls, MT | 1709 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,467 ft | ||||
| GEG Spokane, WA | 1809 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,385 ft | ||||
| SEA Seattle, WA | destination | no report just now | 432 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,680 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:49 pm PDT (06:49 UTC)
SEA 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
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 190 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 190 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 1649 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 1679 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
Daylight
Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at SEA 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SEA is before sunrise there (7:24 am PDT (14:24 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.