Philadelphia International to Mobile International PHL → BFM
837 nautical miles (964 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 232°, about 244° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC). Right now PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots; BFM is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 4 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
- SIGMET E25E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 4:55 am EDT (08:55 UTC). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120655 MKCE WST 120655 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 25E VALID UNTIL 0855Z RI NY NJ PA DE MD AND MA RI NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS FROM 30SSE PVD-60SSE ACK-110SSE HTO-40N SBY-30SSW ETX-30SSE PVD AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL350.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 259 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 239 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 219 to 558 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 259 to 309 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 329 to 478 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 PHL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 19 nm northwest, 2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 19,000 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV 20 NW PHL/TM 0638/FL130 /TP C560/SK OVC190/WX +RA/TB MOD/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- 20 northwest phl
- Time
- 06:38 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C560
- Sky
- overcast from 19,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B737 at 800 ft, 8 nm northwest, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 80 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0730/FL008/TP B737/RM BASES 008
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 07:30 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- bases 800 ft
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 9 forecast points nearest it (ACY, RIC, ROA, TRI, GSP, ATL, CSG, MGM, MOB). 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 | 310° at 20 kt | +2 kt | 11 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 06 min | 9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 21 kt | −2 kt | 13 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 52 min | 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −2 kt | 10 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 52 min | 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +1 kt | 7 °C | 119 kt | 7 h 02 min | 9:47 am CDT (14:47 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 4 °C | 116 kt | 7 h 13 min | 9:58 am CDT (14:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | +7 kt | 0 °C | 113 kt | 7 h 24 min | 10:09 am CDT (15:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | +10 kt | -4 °C | 110 kt | 7 h 37 min | 10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 25 kt | +12 kt | -7 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 45 min | 10:30 am CDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 30 kt | +17 kt | -19 °C | 103 kt | 8 h 08 min | 10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 33 kt | +18 kt | -32 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 12 min | 10:57 am CDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 39 kt | +22 kt | -40 °C | 98 kt | 8 h 32 min | 11:17 am CDT (16:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 33 kt | +18 kt | -49 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 12 min | 10:57 am CDT (15:57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACY | used from 0 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -50° |
| RIC | used from 100 nm out; 65 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° |
| ROA | used from 199 nm out; 49 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° |
| TRI | used from 349 nm out; 62 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° | |
| GSP | used from 399 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| ATL | used from 498 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| CSG | used from 598 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 310/24 | 340/35 17° | 340/37 12° | 330/22 8° | 310/30 -7° | 290/30 -18° | 340/57 -32° | 340/55 -41° | 320/33 -49° |
| MGM | used from 648 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 310/19 | 340/24 17° | 340/28 11° | 330/16 7° | 300/23 -7° | 320/32 -16° | 330/46 -33° | 330/55 -42° | 330/41 -50° |
| MOB | used from 797 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/5 | 330/6 19° | 340/6 11° | 330/10 7° | 320/16 -5° | 310/26 -16° | 340/40 -32° | 340/47 -42° | 350/51 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 35 ft | 3:17 am EDT (07:17 UTC) |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 20 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots | 3 mi | 1,200 ft | 79 ft | 07:16 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | 100 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots | 7 mi | 1,000 ft | 14 ft | 07:10 UTC |
| LYH Lynchburg, VA | 239 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 938 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 269 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 1,175 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 379 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| GMU Greenville, SC | 449 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,048 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| ATL Atlanta, GA | 578 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| AUO Auburn, AL | 658 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 776 ft | 05:21 UTC | |
| MGM Montgomery, AL | 708 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.25 mi | none | 221 ft | 07:29 UTC |
| GZH Evergreen, AL | 767 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: heavy rain, mist | from the northeast (040°) at 20 knots, gusting to 38 | 4 mi | 4,800 ft | 259 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| BFM Mobile, AL | destination | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,189 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BFM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC)
Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFM
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PHL, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, thunderstorms nearby, overcast at 700 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 11 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 100 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 110 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at BFM 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 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: Philadelphia International, Mobile International.