Philadelphia International to Newport News/Williamsburg International PHL → PHF
175 nautical miles (201 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 200°, about 212° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 14-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18; PHF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) 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: 3 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 E31E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, until 6:55 am EDT (10:55 UTC). Near the route, 107 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120855 MKCE WST 120855 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 31E VALID UNTIL 1055Z MD VA DC FROM 20NNE DCA-30WSW SBY-RIC-CSN-20NNE DCA AREA TS MOV LTL. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 107 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the last 58 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 PHL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C560 at 13,000 ft, 20 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, 20 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
- K35R at 400 ft, 6 nm east, 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DOV UA /OV KDOV /TM 0745 /FL 004 /TP K35R /SK OVC004-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through DOV
- Where
- over KDOV
- Time
- 07:45 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- K35R
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft, tops unknown
- B737 at 800 ft, 48 nm west, 3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. 58 nm along the route, 48 nm west 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
- E145 at 800 ft, 45 nm west, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 165 nm along the route, 45 nm west 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 08:00–15:00 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 (ACY, RIC, ORF). 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 | 340° at 19 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 1 h 18 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | −13 kt | 10 °C | 133 kt | 1 h 19 min | 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −14 kt | 8 °C | 134 kt | 1 h 18 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −14 kt | 5 °C | 134 kt | 1 h 18 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −13 kt | 1 °C | 133 kt | 1 h 19 min | 6:24 am EDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −8 kt | -3 °C | 128 kt | 1 h 22 min | 6:27 am EDT (10:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | −4 kt | -6 °C | 124 kt | 1 h 25 min | 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 20 kt | −1 kt | -9 °C | 121 kt | 1 h 27 min | 6:32 am EDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 21 kt | +5 kt | -22 °C | 115 kt | 1 h 31 min | 6:36 am EDT (10:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 39 kt | +26 kt | -33 °C | 94 kt | 1 h 52 min | 6:57 am EDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 40 kt | +27 kt | -40 °C | 93 kt | 1 h 53 min | 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 41 kt | +23 kt | -48 °C | 97 kt | 1 h 48 min | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 39 nm from the line | 350/12 | 340/12 11° | 340/12 6° | 340/13 2° | 270/10 -10° | 240/17 -23° | 230/46 -33° | 230/46 -40° | 240/46 -49° |
| RIC | used from 97 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| ORF | used from 146 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 310/30 | 320/27 11° | 310/30 8° | 320/30 3° | 290/36 -8° | 270/40 -21° | 250/52 -32° | 250/50 -39° | 260/42 -48° |
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: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet | from the north (360°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 | 8 mi | 1,200 ft | 35 ft | 5:02 am EDT (09:02 UTC) |
| ILG Wilmington, DE | 19 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (350°) at 11 knots | 9 mi | 700 ft | 79 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| DOV Dover, DE | 49 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the north (360°) at 9 knots | 5 mi | 500 ft | 28 ft | 08:51 UTC |
| TGI Tangier, VA | 126 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 5 ft | ||||
| FYJ West Point, VA | 155 nm out, 20 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots, gusting to 15 | 5 mi | 700 ft | 20 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| PHF Newport News, VA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 42 ft | 4:54 am EDT (08:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 79 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC)
Wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for PHF
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for PHL, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
- 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
- 6/8719 Greenwood, DE, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 UTC 1 nm from the route, 68 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8886 Greenwood, DE, Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 1 nm from the route, 68 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Sunday 18 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at PHF 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHF is before sunrise there (7:10 am EDT (11:10 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, Newport News/Williamsburg International.