Norfolk International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport ORF → DCA
124 nautical miles (143 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 342°, about 351° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22; DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 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: 2,038 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 E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Over the last 29 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- 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 last 105 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 86 nm of 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 ORF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- E145 at 800 ft, 39 nm southwest, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 57 nm along the route, 39 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
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 2 forecast points nearest it (ORF, 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 | 260° at 22 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 1 h 04 min | 3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | 0 | 10 °C | 120 kt | 1 h 02 min | 3:38 am EDT (07:38 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −3 kt | 9 °C | 123 kt | 1 h | 3:36 am EDT (07:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −7 kt | 7 °C | 127 kt | 59 min | 3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −11 kt | 4 °C | 131 kt | 57 min | 3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | −12 kt | 0 °C | 132 kt | 56 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | −14 kt | -3 °C | 134 kt | 56 min | 3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 42 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 55 min | 3:31 am EDT (07:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 57 kt | −26 kt | -18 °C | 146 kt | 51 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 80 kt | −42 kt | -30 °C | 162 kt | 46 min | 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 87 kt | −37 kt | -39 °C | 157 kt | 47 min | 3:23 am EDT (07:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 69 kt | −25 kt | -50 °C | 145 kt | 51 min | 3:27 am EDT (07:27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 250/24 | 230/32 11° | 220/37 10° | 220/37 6° | 230/47 -5° | 230/62 -17° | 220/89 -30° | 220/93 -40° | 230/77 -51° |
| RIC | used from 48 nm out; 44 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF Norfolk, VA | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,900 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 26 ft | 1:51 am EDT (05:51 UTC) |
| PHF Newport News, VA | 19 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 42 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| XSA Tappahannock, VA | 67 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | reported, no category | calm | 700 ft | 135 ft | 06:35 UTC | |
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 900 ft | 14 ft | 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 135 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, 3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC)
Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet IFR
The whole forecast for DCA
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 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, overcast at 1,200 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, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 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 3,500 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 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for ORF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 114 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 ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 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 before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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: Norfolk International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.