Plan a flight · Sun 10:11 pm CDT (03:11 UTC)

Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field to Raleigh-Durham International MKC → RDU

777 nautical miles (894 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 100°, about 099° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MKC is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 11 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 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 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). Over the first 10 nm of the route.
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 348 to 647 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 518 to 667 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 617 to 727 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 MKC.

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

B739 at 34,000 ft, 49 nm south, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 398 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of BWG
Time
01:51 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B38M at 21,000 ft, 31 nm north, 8:09 pm CDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 428 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over IIU
Time
01:09 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B712 at 600 ft, 40 nm north, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 468 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
B737 at 35,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 8:25 pm CDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 528 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOZ
Where
25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
Time
01:25 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
S22T descending, 19 nm south, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 597 nm along the route, 19 nm south 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 runway 23 tri
C52C at 12,500 ft, 40 nm northeast, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 667 nm along the route, 40 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

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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (MKC, COU, STL, EVV, LOU, 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 21 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	5 h 33 min	4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	−18 kt	11 °C	138 kt	5 h 38 min	4:49 am EDT (08:49 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−18 kt	12 °C	138 kt	5 h 38 min	4:49 am EDT (08:49 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−18 kt	8 °C	138 kt	5 h 38 min	4:49 am EDT (08:49 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	−17 kt	5 °C	137 kt	5 h 40 min	4:51 am EDT (08:51 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	−18 kt	2 °C	138 kt	5 h 38 min	4:49 am EDT (08:49 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 22 kt	−21 kt	-2 °C	141 kt	5 h 31 min	4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 24 kt	−24 kt	-6 °C	144 kt	5 h 24 min	4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 25 kt	−24 kt	-7 °C	144 kt	5 h 24 min	4:35 am EDT (08:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 27 kt	−27 kt	-19 °C	147 kt	5 h 17 min	4:28 am EDT (08:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 35 kt	−34 kt	-33 °C	154 kt	5 h 03 min	4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-40 °C	164 kt	4 h 44 min	3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 44 kt	−43 kt	-49 °C	163 kt	4 h 46 min	3:57 am EDT (07:57 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
MKC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	220/44	250/28 18°	250/18 13°	240/12 6°	280/24 -6°	240/34 -18°	260/47 -30°	260/51 -40°	270/58 -50°
COU	used from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line	230/31	230/30 15°	260/16 11°	270/14 6°	260/24 -6°	270/27 -18°	270/37 -32°	280/49 -41°	290/56 -51°
STL	used from 149 nm out; 28 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -51°
EVV	used from 249 nm out; 64 nm from the line	280/15	290/12 17°	310/16 10°	320/13 5°	310/22 -6°	320/26 -18°	320/38 -33°	310/56 -41°	320/55 -51°
LOU	used from 398 nm out; 37 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -49°
TRI	used from 498 nm out; 79 nm from the line		330/22 11°	330/29 7°	330/32 3°	330/36 -8°	320/34 -19°	320/36 -34°	320/43 -39°	320/46 -47°
ROA	used from 647 nm out; 68 nm from the line	310/29	330/31 13°	340/28 7°	330/25 3°	310/32 -8°	300/32 -22°	290/32 -31°	270/35 -38°	270/32 -47°
RDU	used from 697 nm out; 55 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
MKC Kansas City, MO	departure	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	756 ft	9:54 pm CDT (02:54 UTC)
HIG Higginsville, MO	40 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				840 ft
COU Columbia, MO	110 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	889 ft	02:54 UTC
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL	209 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	412 ft	02:53 UTC
CUL Carmi, IL	309 nm out, 1 nm east of the line	no report just now				387 ft
EVV Evansville, IN	338 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	421 ft	02:54 UTC
EKX Elizabethtown, KY	418 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.5 mi	300 ft	775 ft	02:55 UTC
LOZ London, KY	508 nm out, 9 nm south of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,212 ft	20:18 UTC
TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN	597 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	1,518 ft	02:53 UTC
MWK Mount Airy, NC	687 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,200 feet	variable at 1 knots	10+ mi	3,200 ft	1,268 ft	02:55 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	717 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	925 ft	02:54 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,300 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	4,300 ft	435 ft	10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 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, 3:55 am EDT (07:55 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 MKC, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 110 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC

Daylight

Sunset at MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field, Raleigh-Durham International.