Raleigh-Durham International to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport RDU → DCA
197 nautical miles (227 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 025°, about 034° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 83-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots; DCA is low IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 5 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: 5,790 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 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the last 79 nm of the route.
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 last 118 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 39 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 RDU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BCS3 at 600 ft, 23 nm southeast, 8:06 pm EDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 118 nm along the route, 23 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- over RIC
- Time
- 00:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- bases 600 ft
- E170 at 500 ft, 42 nm northwest, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 128 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- over CHO
- Time
- 00:01 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- CL60 descending, 16 nm northwest, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 177 nm along the route, 16 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV HEF160001/TM 2330/FLDURD/TP CL60/SK OVC 005
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 1 nm south (160°) of HEF
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- CL60 at 500 ft, 16 nm northwest, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft, remarks: during the descent. 177 nm along the route, 16 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
HEF UA /OV KHEF150001/TM 2330/FL005/TP CL60/SK OVC005/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through HEF
- Where
- 1 nm southeast (150°) of KHEF
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- A320 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the destination end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
- Remarks
- CONLE5 sid
- B738 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the destination end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm west (260°) of BAL
- Time
- 01:43 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
- Remarks
- TERPZ8 sid
- B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- over DCA
- Time
- 01:15 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- FA8X climbing, 26 nm west, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. At the destination end, 26 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 00:34 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- FA8X
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- A320 descending, 0 nm north, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 0027/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BASES 400 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 final
- Time
- 00:27 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- bases 40,000 ft ft
- A21N at 600 ft, 26 nm northeast, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0023/FL006/TP A21N/SK BKN006
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 00:23 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Sky
- a broken layer from 600 ft
- A319 descending, 0 nm north, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 DEPARTURE/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP A319/SK BASES 500 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 departure
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- bases 50,000 ft ft
- B763 at 500 ft, 26 nm northeast, 7:50 pm EDT (23:50 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the destination end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2350/FL005/TP B763/SK BKN005
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 23:50 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 500 ft
- C17 at 500 ft, 8 nm east, 7:42 pm EDT (23:42 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the destination end, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV RWY 1L ARR/TM 2342/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- runway 1L arrival
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- B738 at 7,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft, remarks: top 6,500 ft. At the destination end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 2340/FL070/TP B738/SK OVC004/RM TOP 065
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 10 nm west (280°) of BAL
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- Remarks
- top 6,500 ft
1 more routine reports are on the map.
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 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 2 forecast points nearest it (RDU, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 200° at 29 kt | −29 kt | 149 kt | 1 h 19 min | 11:31 pm EDT (03:31 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | −26 kt | 146 kt | 1 h 21 min | 11:33 pm EDT (03:33 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 28 kt | −28 kt | 12 °C | 148 kt | 1 h 20 min | 11:32 pm EDT (03:32 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 32 kt | −31 kt | 11 °C | 151 kt | 1 h 18 min | 11:30 pm EDT (03:30 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −36 kt | 7 °C | 156 kt | 1 h 16 min | 11:28 pm EDT (03:28 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 39 kt | −38 kt | 3 °C | 158 kt | 1 h 15 min | 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 40 kt | −38 kt | -1 °C | 158 kt | 1 h 15 min | 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 42 kt | −39 kt | -5 °C | 159 kt | 1 h 14 min | 11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 43 kt | −39 kt | -6 °C | 159 kt | 1 h 14 min | 11:26 pm EDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 68 kt | −63 kt | -16 °C | 183 kt | 1 h 05 min | 11:17 pm EDT (03:17 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 84 kt | −81 kt | -29 °C | 201 kt | 59 min | 11:11 pm EDT (03:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 85 kt | −83 kt | -40 °C | 203 kt | 58 min | 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 79 kt | −77 kt | -52 °C | 197 kt | 1 h | 11:12 pm EDT (03:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -52° |
| RIC | used from 49 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | departure | 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) |
| HNZ Oxford, NC | 30 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 526 ft | 01:55 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 79 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 437 ft | 12:55 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 118 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 167 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| HEF Washington, DC | 177 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain | from the north-northwest (340°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 500 ft | 192 ft | 01:56 UTC |
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain | from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 400 ft | 14 ft | 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 526 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, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC)
Wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for DCA
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for RDU, the departure
- 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
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, 187 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 RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 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 after sunset there (6:35 pm EDT (22:35 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.