Plan a flight · Sun 10:09 pm EDT (02:09 UTC)

Rickenbacker International to Raleigh-Durham International LCK → RDU

307 nautical miles (353 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 139°, about 146° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (5,500 ft, a 12-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:29 am EDT (04:29 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LCK is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 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: 50 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 59 to 188 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120155
MKCE WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
PA MD VA DC WV OH
FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.

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 198 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 79 to 228 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 188 to 258 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 LCK.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 11 nm north, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 11 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
00:27 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
T037
BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 59 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over JPU
Time
00:58 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
P28A climbing, 43 nm southwest, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions. 59 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV DWU/TM 2315/FLDURC/TP P28A/TB SMOOTH/RM IMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over DWU
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
P28A
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
instrument conditions
CRJ9 climbing, 9 nm west, 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 109 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 149 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
E135 descending, 15 nm southwest, 8:05 pm EDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 149 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over BKW
Time
00:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E135
Sky
bases 3,200 ft
E145 at 4,000 ft, 7 nm northeast, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 198 nm along the route, 7 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
C52C at 12,500 ft, 23 nm southwest, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 198 nm along the route, 23 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none
E145 at 2,200 ft, 7 nm northeast, 8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 198 nm along the route, 7 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 06 KROA
B763 at 3,000 ft, 29 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 258 nm along the route, 29 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 29 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 258 nm along the route, 29 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (CMH, CRW, ROA, RDU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	2 h 21 min	12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 14 kt	−12 kt		132 kt	2 h 20 min	12:29 am EDT (04:29 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	−11 kt	10 °C	131 kt	2 h 21 min	12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC)
9,500 ft	280° at 11 kt	−8 kt	7 °C	128 kt	2 h 24 min	12:33 am EDT (04:33 UTC)
11,500 ft	260° at 10 kt	−5 kt	4 °C	125 kt	2 h 27 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 11 kt	−4 kt	1 °C	124 kt	2 h 29 min	12:38 am EDT (04:38 UTC)
15,500 ft	250° at 13 kt	−5 kt	-3 °C	125 kt	2 h 27 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 15 kt	−5 kt	-7 °C	125 kt	2 h 27 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 16 kt	−5 kt	-8 °C	125 kt	2 h 27 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 29 kt	0	-20 °C	120 kt	2 h 34 min	12:43 am EDT (04:43 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	220° at 47 kt	+6 kt	-31 °C	114 kt	2 h 42 min	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 54 kt	+6 kt	-39 °C	114 kt	2 h 42 min	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 51 kt	+2 kt	-48 °C	118 kt	2 h 36 min	12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
CMH	used from 0 nm out; 33 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
CRW	used from 50 nm out; 33 nm from the line	320/16	310/16 12°	320/12 7°	320/12 2°	330/15 -11°	280/11 -22°	230/26 -30°	240/33 -37°	240/37 -47°
ROA	used from 149 nm out; 32 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
RDU	used from 248 nm out; 35 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°

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
LCK Columbus, OH	departure	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	743 ft	9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC)
UNI Athens/Albany, OH	50 nm out, 1 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 100 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	2.5 mi	100 ft	765 ft	22:15 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	109 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	variable at 4 knots	1 mi	700 ft	947 ft	01:54 UTC
LWB Lewisburg, WV	168 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain	calm	3 mi	1,200 ft	2,301 ft	22:51 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	208 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots	6 mi	2,800 ft	1,175 ft	01:54 UTC
DAN Danville, VA	258 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	571 ft	01:53 UTC
TDF Roxboro, NC	277 nm out, 9 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	608 ft	01:55 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,500 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	3,500 ft	435 ft	9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:29 am EDT (04:29 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

The forecast for LCK, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 4 knots, visibility 3 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at LCK 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · 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: Rickenbacker International, Raleigh-Durham International.