Laguardia Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport LGA → DCA
186 nautical miles (214 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 233°, about 245° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 10:25 pm EDT (02:25 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LGA is IFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31; DCA is IFR, 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: 9,113 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 E16E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 25 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 10 to 147 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112355 MKCE WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 16E VALID UNTIL 0155Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM SAX-30SE JFK-10N DCA-60ENE EKN-SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22025KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- 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 TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 137 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 29 nm along 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 LGA.
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 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 3 forecast points nearest it (JFK, ACY, RIC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 190° at 22 kt | +17 kt | 103 kt | 1 h 48 min | 10:25 pm EDT (02:25 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 24 kt | +22 kt | 13 °C | 98 kt | 1 h 54 min | 10:31 pm EDT (02:31 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 11 °C | 94 kt | 1 h 59 min | 10:36 pm EDT (02:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 8 °C | 92 kt | 2 h 01 min | 10:38 pm EDT (02:38 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 5 °C | 91 kt | 2 h 03 min | 10:40 pm EDT (02:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +33 kt | 1 °C | 87 kt | 2 h 08 min | 10:45 pm EDT (02:45 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 37 kt | +37 kt | -4 °C | 83 kt | 2 h 14 min | 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 40 kt | +40 kt | -7 °C | 80 kt | 2 h 20 min | 10:57 pm EDT (02:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 54 kt | +54 kt | -17 °C | 66 kt | 2 h 49 min | 11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 75 kt | +74 kt | -31 °C | 46 kt | 4 h 03 min | 12:40 am EDT (04:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 81 kt | +81 kt | -41 °C | 39 kt | 4 h 46 min | 1:23 am EDT (05:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 85 kt | +85 kt | -53 °C | 35 kt | 5 h 19 min | 1:56 am EDT (05:56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFK | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 140/43 | 170/35 13° | 230/18 9° | 250/25 5° | 240/40 -7° | 230/50 -17° | 230/75 -31° | 230/78 -41° | 230/88 -53° |
| ACY | used from 49 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 230/15 | 230/22 15° | 230/31 11° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 230/51 -17° | 230/71 -31° | 230/81 -41° | 230/86 -53° |
| RIC | used from 147 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGA New York, NY | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31 | 2 mi | 900 ft | 20 ft | 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC) |
| MMU Morristown, NJ | 20 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: rain | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots, gusting to 13 | 3 mi | 900 ft | 186 ft | 23:45 UTC |
| PNE Philadelphia, PA | 69 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 5 mi | 800 ft | 119 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 108 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: rain | from the north-northeast (030°) at 14 knots | 4 mi | 500 ft | 79 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| MTN Baltimore, MD | 147 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | calm | 7 mi | 500 ft | 22 ft | 23:44 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 14 ft | 7:52 pm EDT (23:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 186 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:25 pm EDT (02:25 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for DCA
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for LGA, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 600 feet
- At times between Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC) and 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): a broken layer at 400 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 5/2811 NEW YORK, NY, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 20 October · ZNY
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 157 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 176 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at LGA 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA is after sunset there (6:35 pm EDT (22:35 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: Laguardia Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.