Harrisburg International to Raleigh-Durham International MDT → RDU
276 nautical miles (318 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 201°, about 212° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDT is IFR, wind variable at 5 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 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: 5 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 6E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the first 30 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120155 MKCE WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6E VALID UNTIL 0355Z NY NJ PA DE MD AND DE NJ NY MD CSTL WTRS FROM 20WNW SAX-70S HTO-50ESE SBY-30WSW HAR-20WNW SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- SIGMET 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 59 to 158 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120155 MKCE WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E VALID UNTIL 0355Z PA MD VA DC WV OH FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.
- 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 197 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 118 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
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 MDT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 12,000 ft, 22 nm east, 8:43 pm EDT (00:43 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 22 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
LNS UA /OV LRP/TM 0043/FL120/TP E145/TB CONS MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through LNS
- Where
- over LRP
- Time
- 00:43 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- UAL1558 at 30,000 ft, 41 nm west, 10:22 pm EDT (02:22 UTC): moderate turbulence, -36 °C, wind 240° at 50 knots. At the departure end, 41 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL1558 4014N 07742W 0222 F300 MS36 240/050KT TB MODERATE SK CLEAR IC NONE
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- PC12 at 1,000 ft, 38 nm east, 10:28 pm EDT (02:28 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. At the departure end, 38 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
RDG UA /OV 2 SOUTH RDG/TM 0228/FL010/TP PC12/SK OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through RDG
- Where
- 2 south rdg
- Time
- 02:28 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- C25B at 800 ft, 4 nm west, 9:41 pm EDT (01:41 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
MDT UA /OV CXY/TM 0141/FL008/TP C25B/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through MDT
- Where
- over CXY
- Time
- 01:41 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- C25B
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
- E145 at 8,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
MDT UA /OV 10 SE MDT/TM 0030/FL080/TP E145/TB LIGHT CHOP GOING THROUGH THE MODERATE RAIN
- Report
- a routine report filed through MDT
- Where
- 10 southeast mdt
- Time
- 00:30 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- light chop going through the moderate rain
- A320 at 2,000 ft, 29 nm east, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. 59 nm along the route, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- CONLE5 sid
- B738 at 2,000 ft, 24 nm east, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. 59 nm along the route, 24 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm west (260°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:43 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
- Remarks
- TERPZ8 sid
- A21N at 600 ft, 26 nm east, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. 59 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0023/FL006/TP A21N/SK BKN006
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- a broken layer from 600 ft
- B763 at 500 ft, 26 nm east, 7:50 pm EDT (23:50 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. 59 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2350/FL005/TP B763/SK BKN005
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 23:50 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 500 ft
- B38M at 400 ft, 17 nm east, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 17 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- over DCA
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- FA8X climbing, 9 nm west, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 00:34 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- FA8X
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- A320 descending, 17 nm east, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 79 nm along the route, 17 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 0027/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BASES 400 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 final
- Time
- 00:27 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- bases 40,000 ft ft
- A319 descending, 17 nm east, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 79 nm along the route, 17 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 DEPARTURE/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP A319/SK BASES 500 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 departure
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- bases 50,000 ft ft
- E170 at 500 ft, 31 nm west, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 138 nm along the route, 31 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- over CHO
- Time
- 00:01 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
1 more routine reports are on the map.
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 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 (PSB, RIC, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | +1 kt | 13 °C | 119 kt | 2 h 19 min | 1:02 am EDT (05:02 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 290° at 18 kt | −1 kt | 10 °C | 121 kt | 2 h 17 min | 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | 0 | 8 °C | 120 kt | 2 h 18 min | 1:01 am EDT (05:01 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | +5 kt | 6 °C | 115 kt | 2 h 24 min | 1:07 am EDT (05:07 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | +10 kt | 3 °C | 110 kt | 2 h 31 min | 1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +15 kt | -1 °C | 105 kt | 2 h 38 min | 1:21 am EDT (05:21 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | +20 kt | -5 °C | 100 kt | 2 h 46 min | 1:29 am EDT (05:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 33 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 2 h 52 min | 1:35 am EDT (05:35 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 48 kt | +42 kt | -19 °C | 78 kt | 3 h 32 min | 2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 62 kt | +56 kt | -31 °C | 64 kt | 4 h 19 min | 3:02 am EDT (07:02 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 72 kt | +61 kt | -39 °C | 59 kt | 4 h 41 min | 3:24 am EDT (07:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 57 kt | +46 kt | -49 °C | 74 kt | 3 h 44 min | 2:27 am EDT (06:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSB | used from 0 nm out; 83 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° | |
| RIC | used from 49 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| RDU | used from 197 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDT Harrisburg, PA | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | variable at 5 knots | 5 mi | 700 ft | 310 ft | 9:56 pm EDT (01:56 UTC) |
| DMW Westminster, MD | 39 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north (350°) at 5 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 789 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| IAD Washington, DC | 79 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 312 ft | 01:52 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 99 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 192 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| OFP Richmond/Ashland, VA | 148 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 206 ft | 02:38 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 197 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| HNZ Oxford, NC | 247 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 526 ft | 02:35 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 435 ft | 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 789 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, 1:00 am EDT (05:00 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 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 MDT, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 25 nm from the route, 49 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 69 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 3 nm from the route, 79 nm along the route · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at MDT 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 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 before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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: Harrisburg International, Raleigh-Durham International.