Plan a flight · Sun 9:22 pm EDT (01:22 UTC)

St. Pete-Clearwater International to Blue Grass Airport PIE → LEX

616 nautical miles (709 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 351°, about 356° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 8-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PIE is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 3 knots; LEX is IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 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: 347 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 SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 367 to 556 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 397 to 427 nm out.
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 506 to 606 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 PIE.

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

MD11 at 35,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ080015/TM 2318/FL350/TP MD11/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
15 nm east (080°) of SRQ
Time
23:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
MD11
Turbulence
none
PAY1 at 21,000 ft, 41 nm east, 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC): light rime icing, -11 °C. 40 nm along the route, 41 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF160030/TM 2239/FL210/TP PAY1/TA M11/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
30 nm south (160°) of OCF
Time
22:39 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
PAY1
Temperature
−11 °C
Icing
light rime
B752 descending, 35 nm west, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 358 nm along the route, 35 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 35 nm west, 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 358 nm along the route, 35 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
C55B at 3,000 ft, 9 nm west, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 367 nm along the route, 9 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the destination end, 0 nm south 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
CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, ATL, TYS, LOU). 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	+16 kt		104 kt	5 h 55 min	3:17 am EDT (07:17 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 24 kt	+21 kt	14 °C	99 kt	6 h 13 min	3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 26 kt	+22 kt	11 °C	98 kt	6 h 17 min	3:39 am EDT (07:39 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	+23 kt	8 °C	97 kt	6 h 21 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	+23 kt	5 °C	97 kt	6 h 21 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 28 kt	+21 kt	1 °C	99 kt	6 h 13 min	3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 27 kt	+18 kt	-3 °C	102 kt	6 h 02 min	3:24 am EDT (07:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 26 kt	+16 kt	-7 °C	104 kt	5 h 55 min	3:17 am EDT (07:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 29 kt	+10 kt	-18 °C	110 kt	5 h 36 min	2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 28 kt	+3 kt	-33 °C	117 kt	5 h 16 min	2:38 am EDT (06:38 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 30 kt	−6 kt	-40 °C	126 kt	4 h 53 min	2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 26 kt	−8 kt	-50 °C	128 kt	4 h 49 min	2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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
PIE	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	310/7	270/12 17°	270/14 13°	260/14 8°	240/22 -5°	230/24 -16°	220/26 -31°	200/31 -41°	180/33 -53°
TLH	used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line	300/17	340/32 17°	320/27 13°	300/27 8°	280/23 -7°	250/37 -17°	230/44 -33°	220/53 -41°	220/48 -51°
CSG	used from 248 nm out; 74 nm from the line	300/20	330/41 15°	320/42 11°	320/41 7°	300/33 -6°	290/33 -18°	270/32 -34°	260/31 -41°	260/24 -51°
ATL	used from 298 nm out; 47 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
TYS	used from 397 nm out; 57 nm from the line	290/19	310/22 11°	330/25 7°	330/34 3°	320/37 -7°	300/37 -18°	300/37 -34°	280/29 -39°	270/29 -48°
LOU	used from 546 nm out; 80 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°

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
PIE St Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	departure	VFR	from the north (360°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	10 ft	8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC)
BKV Brooksville, FL	30 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	76 ft	00:53 UTC
CTY Cross City, FL	109 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 1 knots	10+ mi	none	42 ft	01:15 UTC
VLD Valdosta, GA	179 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	203 ft	00:53 UTC
FZG Fitzgerald, GA	228 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	364 ft	01:15 UTC
MCN Macon, GA	288 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	354 ft	00:53 UTC
LZU Lawrenceville, GA	367 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,061 ft	00:56 UTC
GVL Gainesville, GA	387 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,200 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	3,200 ft	1,276 ft	00:55 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	477 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	986 ft	01:14 UTC
JAU Jacksboro, TN	506 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet	variable at 6 knots, gusting to 13	10+ mi	4,100 ft	1,179 ft	00:50 UTC
SME Somerset, KY	556 nm out, 10 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist, unknown precipitation	from the west (270°) at 5 knots, gusting to 10	3 mi	600 ft	927 ft	01:15 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	9 mi	800 ft	979 ft	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,276 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:11 am EDT (06:11 UTC)

Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LEX

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for PIE, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 12 nm from the route, 278 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at PIE 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is before sunrise there (7:43 am EDT (11:43 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: St. Pete-Clearwater International, Blue Grass Airport.