Plan a flight · Sun 8:48 pm EDT (00:48 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Raleigh-Durham International LEX → RDU

308 nautical miles (354 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 113°, about 117° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 25-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LEX is marginal VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22. 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 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 E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 89 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112355
MKCE WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.

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 route from 10 to 169 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 60 to 238 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 228 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 LEX.

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

A321 at 30,000 ft, 26 nm southwest, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 89 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
PA46 at 23,000 ft, 35 nm southwest, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 159 nm along the route, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
CRJ9 at 28,000 ft, 44 nm north, 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC): light turbulence. 30 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FGX/TM 2233/FL280/TP CRJ9/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over FGX
Time
22:33 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
light
C310 at 5,000 ft, 31 nm north, 5:54 pm EDT (21:54 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, rain, 12 °C. 70 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV ECB220008/TM 2154/FL050/TP C310/WX RA/TA 12/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
8 nm southwest (220°) of ECB
Time
21:54 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C310
Weather
rain
Temperature
12 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
S22T descending, 42 nm southwest, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 139 nm along the route, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent RY23 tri
PC24 at 4,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 189 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
90 nm north (005°) of CLT
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Weather
fi s
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
18 final
B39M at 36,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. 189 nm along the route, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSK UA /OV PSK/TM 2212/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-15
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSK
Where
over PSK
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-15
C52C at 12,500 ft, 26 nm northeast, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 199 nm along the route, 26 nm northeast 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
CRJ7 descending, 17 nm south, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 248 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
B763 at 3,000 ft, 8 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 258 nm along the route, 8 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, 8 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 258 nm along the route, 8 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 (CVG, TRI, 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	270° at 13 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	2 h 21 min	11:09 pm EDT (03:09 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	2 h 12 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 21 kt	−21 kt	10 °C	141 kt	2 h 11 min	10:59 pm EDT (02:59 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	−20 kt	7 °C	140 kt	2 h 12 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−18 kt	4 °C	138 kt	2 h 14 min	11:02 pm EDT (03:02 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−18 kt	0 °C	138 kt	2 h 14 min	11:02 pm EDT (03:02 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	−19 kt	-3 °C	139 kt	2 h 13 min	11:01 pm EDT (03:01 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 22 kt	−20 kt	-7 °C	140 kt	2 h 12 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 23 kt	−21 kt	-8 °C	141 kt	2 h 11 min	10:59 pm EDT (02:59 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 32 kt	−25 kt	-20 °C	145 kt	2 h 07 min	10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 43 kt	−22 kt	-31 °C	142 kt	2 h 10 min	10:58 pm EDT (02:58 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 46 kt	−21 kt	-39 °C	141 kt	2 h 11 min	10:59 pm EDT (02:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 42 kt	−24 kt	-49 °C	144 kt	2 h 08 min	10:56 pm EDT (02:56 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
CVG	used from 0 nm out; 75 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°
TRI	used from 50 nm out; 74 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
ROA	used from 199 nm out; 53 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
LEX Lexington, KY	departure	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	979 ft	8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC)
IOB Mount Sterling, KY	30 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,019 ft	01:15 UTC
JKL Jackson, KY	70 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots	2 mi	300 ft	1,380 ft	00:39 UTC
PBX Pikeville, KY	99 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: drizzle	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	1.75 mi	300 ft	1,464 ft	00:35 UTC
MKJ Marion/Wytheville, VA	169 nm out, 1 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet	from the west (260°) at 14 knots, gusting to 18	7 mi	1,000 ft	2,558 ft	23:35 UTC
HLX Galax Hillsville, VA	199 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: drizzle	from the west (260°) at 7 knots, gusting to 14	7 mi	800 ft	2,693 ft	22:15 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	248 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	925 ft	00:23 UTC
BUY Burlington, NC	278 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,800 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	616 ft	00:20 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	4,800 ft	435 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,693 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, 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 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 LEX, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, 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 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 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 after sunset there (6:45 pm EDT (22:45 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 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, Raleigh-Durham International.