Plan a flight · Mon 4:20 am EDT (08:20 UTC)

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 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC). Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots; PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 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

AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the whole route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 118 to 333 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 284 to 363 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 49 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

C560 at 13,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHL
Where
20 northwest phl
Time
06:38 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
overcast from 19,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
B737 at 800 ft, 28 nm south, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 382 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
07:30 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
bases 800 ft
K35R at 400 ft, 42 nm south, 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. 431 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DOV UA /OV KDOV /TM 0745 /FL 004 /TP K35R /SK OVC004-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through DOV
Where
over KDOV
Time
07:45 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
K35R
Sky
overcast from 400 ft, tops unknown

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	7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−4 kt	12 °C	124 kt	3 h 38 min	7:58 am EDT (11:58 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−5 kt	11 °C	125 kt	3 h 36 min	7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−5 kt	7 °C	125 kt	3 h 36 min	7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 15 kt	−5 kt	4 °C	125 kt	3 h 36 min	7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 16 kt	−6 kt	0 °C	126 kt	3 h 35 min	7:55 am EDT (11:55 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 17 kt	−7 kt	-4 °C	127 kt	3 h 33 min	7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−8 kt	-8 °C	128 kt	3 h 31 min	7:51 am EDT (11:51 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 20 kt	−9 kt	-9 °C	129 kt	3 h 30 min	7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 26 kt	−16 kt	-21 °C	136 kt	3 h 19 min	7:39 am EDT (11:39 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 30 kt	−21 kt	-35 °C	141 kt	3 h 12 min	7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 38 kt	−32 kt	-40 °C	152 kt	2 h 58 min	7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 36 kt	−32 kt	-48 °C	152 kt	2 h 58 min	7:18 am EDT (11:18 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: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	3:54 am EDT (07:54 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: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	828 ft	07:51 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	147 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain, mist	variable at 4 knots	6 mi	800 ft	947 ft	07:54 UTC
CKB Clarksburg, WV	216 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots	9 mi	1,400 ft	1,223 ft	08:09 UTC
OKV Winchester, VA	314 nm out, 15 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	726 ft	08:15 UTC
MRB Martinsburg, WV	323 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet	from the north (010°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	564 ft	07:53 UTC
MTN Baltimore, MD	392 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet Weather: light rain	from the north (350°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	22 ft	07:55 UTC
ILG Wilmington, DE	431 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 12 knots	5 mi	1,200 ft	79 ft	07:51 UTC
PHL Philadelphia, PA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots	6 mi	1,100 ft	35 ft	3:54 am EDT (07:54 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, 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC)

Wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet 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)).

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: Blue Grass Airport, Philadelphia International.