Greenbrier Valley Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport LWB → DCA
169 nautical miles (195 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 076° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC). Right now LWB is marginal VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 6 knots; DCA is VFR, wind from the north (350°) 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: 2 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 whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the first 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the first 70 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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, 149 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 LWB.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B38M at 38,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 7:57 am EDT (11:57 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRW UA /OV HVQ090035/TM 1157/FL380/TP B38M/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRW
- Where
- 35 nm east (090°) of HVQ
- Time
- 11:57 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- intermittent light chop
- C25A at 36,000 ft, 39 nm northwest, 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the departure end, 39 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRW UA /OV HVQ088045/TM 1154/FL360/TP C25A/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRW
- Where
- 45 nm east (088°) of HVQ
- Time
- 11:54 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C25A
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- E75L descending, 35 nm southeast, 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC): a broken layer above 3,700 ft. At the departure end, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 1109/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK BKN037 050
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- over ROA
- Time
- 11:09 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- BKN037 at 5,000 ft
- UAL1428 at 32,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 7:36 am EDT (11:36 UTC): no turbulence, -39 °C, wind 360° at 59 knots. 149 nm along the route, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1428 3923N 07750W 1136 F320 MS39 360/059KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- B39M descending, 13 nm north, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. 149 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 1042/FLDURD/TP B39M/SK OVC 040/WX 10 SM
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- runway 1R
- Time
- 10:42 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft
- Weather
- 10, miles
- SF50 at 3,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 8:15 am EDT (12:15 UTC): a broken layer above 2,000 ft. At the destination end, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FDK UA /OV FDK/TM 1215/FL030/TP SF50/SK BKN020
- Report
- a routine report filed through FDK
- Where
- over FDK
- Time
- 12:15 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,000 ft
- E170 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm north, 7:32 am EDT (11:32 UTC): a broken layer above 1,200 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 1132/FL010/TP E170/SK BKN012
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- over DCA
- Time
- 11:32 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- a broken layer from 1,200 ft
- B39M at 1,200 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC): remarks: base 1200FT tops 2000FT. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 1110/FL012/TP B39M/RM BASE 1200FT TOPS 2000FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 11:10 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Remarks
- base 1200FT tops 2000FT
- B737 at 700 ft, 26 nm northeast, 5:33 am EDT (09:33 UTC): remarks: light rain. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0933/FL007/TP B737/RM LIGHT RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 09:33 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- light rain
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 3 forecast points nearest it (ROA, EKN, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 1 h 23 min | 9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | −1 kt | 10 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 24 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 340° at 28 kt | +1 kt | 10 °C | 119 kt | 1 h 25 min | 9:43 am EDT (13:43 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 30 kt | +2 kt | 7 °C | 118 kt | 1 h 26 min | 9:44 am EDT (13:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | −1 kt | 4 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 24 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 330° at 31 kt | −3 kt | 0 °C | 123 kt | 1 h 22 min | 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 34 kt | −4 kt | -4 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 22 min | 9:40 am EDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 37 kt | −6 kt | -7 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 20 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 37 kt | −6 kt | -8 °C | 126 kt | 1 h 20 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 43 kt | −1 kt | -21 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 24 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 48 kt | −2 kt | -34 °C | 122 kt | 1 h 23 min | 9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 49 kt | −7 kt | -39 °C | 127 kt | 1 h 20 min | 9:38 am EDT (13:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 41 kt | −21 kt | -48 °C | 141 kt | 1 h 12 min | 9:30 am EDT (13:30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | used from 0 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 310/32 | 340/32 14° | 350/25 9° | 340/24 3° | 340/42 -8° | 340/52 -20° | 350/62 -34° | 350/64 -39° | 310/44 -48° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 99 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 1:55 am EDT (05:55 UTC) |
| HSP Hot Springs, VA | 30 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | reported, no category | from the west (280°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 | 0.25 mi | none | 3,792 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | 80 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,201 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 90 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 640 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 149 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,600 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,600 ft | 192 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the north (350°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 14 ft | 7:52 am EDT (11:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,792 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, 9:30 am EDT (13:30 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for DCA
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for LWB, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 1,100 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the west at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 15,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 159 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 159 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at LWB 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 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: Greenbrier Valley Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.