Blue Grass Airport to Sarasota/Bradenton International LEX → SRQ
647 nautical miles (745 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 170°, about 174° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 35-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:29 pm EDT (16:29 UTC). Right now LEX is low IFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; SRQ is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 3 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: 177 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 199 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 60 to 189 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 179 to 239 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 179 to 239 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 398 to 578 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
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (LOU, TYS, ATL, CSG, TLH, JAX, PIE). 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 | 330° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 140 kt | 4 h 37 min | 12:56 pm EDT (16:56 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 145 kt | 4 h 28 min | 12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 14 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 28 min | 12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 10 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 30 min | 12:49 pm EDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 7 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 39 min | 12:58 pm EDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −18 kt | 3 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 41 min | 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −19 kt | -1 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 39 min | 12:58 pm EDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −19 kt | -5 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 39 min | 12:58 pm EDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 23 kt | −19 kt | -6 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 39 min | 12:58 pm EDT (16:58 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 29 kt | −27 kt | -18 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 24 min | 12:43 pm EDT (16:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 34 kt | −30 kt | -33 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 19 min | 12:38 pm EDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 38 kt | −35 kt | -41 °C | 155 kt | 4 h 10 min | 12:29 pm EDT (16:29 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 27 kt | −25 kt | -51 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 28 min | 12:47 pm EDT (16:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| TYS | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| ATL | used from 199 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| CSG | used from 349 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 330/27 | 340/28 16° | 350/28 11° | 330/17 6° | 340/25 -6° | 350/33 -18° | 330/46 -32° | 340/45 -41° | 350/31 -52° |
| TLH | used from 398 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 340/23 | 350/26 17° | 350/21 11° | 300/13 6° | 320/25 -6° | 340/35 -16° | 350/44 -32° | 360/51 -42° | 350/33 -52° |
| JAX | used from 498 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 310/22 | 310/19 16° | 300/22 14° | 290/25 8° | 300/25 -7° | 300/24 -18° | 270/20 -33° | 260/25 -41° | 290/17 -51° |
| PIE | used from 548 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 360/10 | 340/12 18° | 330/9 13° | 290/12 8° | 260/21 -7° | 280/18 -18° | 250/20 -33° | 250/26 -41° | 250/20 -51° |
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 south (190°) at 5 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 979 ft | 8:02 am EDT (12:02 UTC) |
| RGA Richmond, KY | 30 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 3 mi | 200 ft | 1,002 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| JAU Jacksboro, TN | 100 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,179 ft | 12:00 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 139 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | low IFR Weather: fog | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 0.25 mi | none | 986 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 249 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| MAC Macon, GA | 319 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 436 ft | ||||
| MCN Macon, GA | 329 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 438 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 203 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LCQ Lake City, FL | 478 nm out, 24 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 200 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| CDK Cedar Key, FL | 538 nm out, 10 nm west of the line | no report just now | 11 ft | ||||
| SPG St Petersburg, FL | 627 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SRQ Sarasota/Bradenton, FL | destination | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,179 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SRQ when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:29 pm EDT (16:29 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SRQ
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for LEX, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 339 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at SRQ 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 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, Sarasota/Bradenton International.