General Mitchell International to Raleigh-Durham International MKE → RDU
598 nautical miles (688 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 132°, about 136° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:09 am EDT (06:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MKE is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 7 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: 7 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 369 to 479 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 route from 219 to 489 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 379 to 528 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 469 to 548 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 MKE.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 34,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 209 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- 40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
- Time
- 02:03 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- E295 at 37,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 0053/FL370/TP E295/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through UES
- Where
- over BAE
- Time
- 00:53 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E295
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 60 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through BEH
- Where
- 40 nm west (270°) of ELX
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
- B38M at 31,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 110 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
- Report
- a routine report filed through AZO
- Where
- over AZO
- Time
- 00:04 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
- A321 at 21,000 ft, 5 nm north, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 239 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over ROD
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- none
- CRJ9 descending, 19 nm southwest, 8:15 pm CDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 249 nm along the route, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
- Report
- a routine report filed through DAY
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- T031 B005
- E145 climbing, 19 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 249 nm along the route, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over DAY
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- B005 T035
- BCS3 at 3,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 7:27 pm CDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 289 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0027/FL030/TP BCS3/SK T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over CMH
- Time
- 00:27 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- T037
- CRJ9 climbing, 4 nm north, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 399 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRW
- Where
- over CRW
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
- CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 439 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over BKW
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Turbulence
- none
- E135 descending, 5 nm southwest, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 439 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRW
- Where
- over BKW
- Time
- 00:05 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- E135
- Sky
- bases 3,200 ft
- E145 at 4,000 ft, 14 nm northeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 489 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- over ROA
- Time
- 00:36 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 4,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb runway 06 KROA
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 16 nm southwest, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 489 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest 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
- E145 at 2,200 ft, 14 nm northeast, 7:03 pm CDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 06 KROA. 489 nm along the route, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- over ROA
- Time
- 00:03 UTC
- Height
- at 2,200 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast from 2,200 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb runway 06 KROA
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 6 forecast points nearest it (MKG, FWA, CMH, CRW, 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 | 310° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 4 h 18 min | 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 4 h 14 min | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 11 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 14 min | 2:51 am EDT (06:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 8 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 16 min | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 4 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 20 min | 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 0 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 16 min | 2:53 am EDT (06:53 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −24 kt | -3 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 09 min | 2:46 am EDT (06:46 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | −27 kt | -7 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 04 min | 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 28 kt | −28 kt | -8 °C | 148 kt | 4 h 02 min | 2:39 am EDT (06:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | −34 kt | -20 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 53 min | 2:30 am EDT (06:30 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 41 kt | −41 kt | -35 °C | 161 kt | 3 h 43 min | 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 49 kt | −49 kt | -41 °C | 169 kt | 3 h 32 min | 2:09 am EDT (06:09 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 47 kt | −47 kt | -49 °C | 167 kt | 3 h 35 min | 2:12 am EDT (06:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKG | used from 0 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
| FWA | used from 100 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CMH | used from 249 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CRW | used from 349 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| ROA | used from 449 nm out; 27 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 548 nm out; 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | departure | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC) |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 20 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 01:51 UTC |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 110 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | none | 777 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 169 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 814 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| AXV Wapakoneta, OH | 219 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 912 ft | 02:24 UTC |
| TZR Columbus, OH | 279 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 904 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| JRO Jackson, OH | 339 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | variable at 5 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 726 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 399 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | variable at 4 knots | 1 mi | 700 ft | 947 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 459 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 499 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 1,175 ft | 02:18 UTC |
| DAN Danville, VA | 548 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 571 ft | 01:53 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 2,301 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, 2:09 am EDT (06:09 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 MKE, the departure
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 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: General Mitchell International, Raleigh-Durham International.
