Blue Grass Airport to Philadelphia International LEX → PHL
451 nautical miles (519 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 077° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 32-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots; PHL is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 10 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: 772 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 last 147 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.
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 127 to 333 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 216 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 176 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 LEX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (CVG, CRW, EKN, PSB, ACY). 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 | 310° at 15 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 3 h 33 min | 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −4 kt | 12 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 38 min | 6:14 am EDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 36 min | 6:12 am EDT (10:12 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −5 kt | 7 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 36 min | 6:12 am EDT (10:12 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 36 min | 6:12 am EDT (10:12 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 16 kt | −6 kt | 0 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 35 min | 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 17 kt | −7 kt | -4 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 33 min | 6:09 am EDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −8 kt | -8 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 31 min | 6:07 am EDT (10:07 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 20 kt | −9 kt | -9 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 30 min | 6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 26 kt | −16 kt | -21 °C | 136 kt | 3 h 19 min | 5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 30 kt | −21 kt | -35 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 12 min | 5:48 am EDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 38 kt | −32 kt | -40 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 58 min | 5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 36 kt | −32 kt | -48 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 58 min | 5:34 am EDT (09:34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVG | used from 0 nm out; 60 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° |
| CRW | used from 49 nm out; 72 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° |
| EKN | used from 196 nm out; 14 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° | |
| PSB | used from 294 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| ACY | used from 392 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEX Lexington, KY | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 2:12 am EDT (06:12 UTC) |
| IOB Mount Sterling, KY | 29 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| SYM Morehead, KY | 49 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 5 knots | 1.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,028 ft | 23:22 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 98 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 828 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 147 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 500 ft | 947 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 216 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,223 ft | 06:26 UTC |
| OKV Winchester, VA | 314 nm out, 15 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light rain | from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 726 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 323 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 9 mi | 11,000 ft | 564 ft | 06:17 UTC |
| MTN Baltimore, MD | 392 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 22 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 431 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 8 mi | 800 ft | 79 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the north (010°) at 10 knots | 3 mi | 600 ft | 35 ft | 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,223 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads) IFR
The whole forecast for PHL
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for LEX, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ½ mile, fog, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 23 nm from the route, 343 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 13 nm from the route, 353 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 382 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHL is before sunrise there (7:07 am EDT (11:07 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: Blue Grass Airport, Philadelphia International.