Raleigh-Durham International to Dallas-Fort Worth International RDU → DFW
920 nautical miles (1,059 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 273° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 5:32 am CDT (10:32 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots; DFW is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) 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: 4,420 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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 59 to 238 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 178 to 307 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). Near the route, 297 nm along 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
- BE40 at 29,000 ft, 4 nm northwest, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 465 nm along the route, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through TUP
- Where
- 41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
- Time
- 23:22 UTC
- Height
- at 29,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE40
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
- Remarks
- zme
- B763 at 3,000 ft, 24 nm north, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- heved
- Time
- 23:26 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft
- B763 descending, 23 nm north, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- 10 northeast gso
- Time
- 23:24 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft
- A320 descending, 32 nm north, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 247 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
- Report
- a routine report filed through TYS
- Where
- 4 northeast tys
- Time
- 01:52 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Remarks
- base 2,100 ft
- B712 at 3,000 ft, 13 nm south, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): scattered clouds from 3,000 ft to 3,200 ft; clear from 3,200 ft to 60,000 ft. 317 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CHA UA /OV CHA180005/TM 2313/FL030/TP B712/SK SCT030-TOP032/SKC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CHA
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of CHA
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- SCT030-TOP032 C
- A319 at 39,000 ft, 36 nm north, 7:11 pm EDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 544 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through MEM
- Where
- over MEM
- Time
- 23:11 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- no chop
- Remarks
- smooth
- CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 40 nm north, 8:10 pm EDT (00:10 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME20. 703 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
HOT UA /OV HOT/TM 0010/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB NEG/RM ZME20
- Report
- a routine report filed through HOT
- Where
- over HOT
- Time
- 00:10 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZME20
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 8 forecast points nearest it (RDU, GSP, TYS, HSV, MEM, LIT, SHV, DAL). 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 | 270° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 107 kt | 8 h 36 min | 5:32 am CDT (10:32 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | +15 kt | 13 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 46 min | 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 11 °C | 103 kt | 8 h 56 min | 5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 8 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 01 min | 5:57 am CDT (10:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | +19 kt | 5 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 07 min | 6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | +20 kt | 1 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 12 min | 6:08 am CDT (11:08 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 23 kt | +20 kt | -3 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 12 min | 6:08 am CDT (11:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 24 kt | +20 kt | -6 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 12 min | 6:08 am CDT (11:08 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 25 kt | +23 kt | -17 °C | 97 kt | 9 h 29 min | 6:25 am CDT (11:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 35 kt | +31 kt | -32 °C | 89 kt | 10 h 20 min | 7:16 am CDT (12:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 33 kt | +29 kt | -40 °C | 91 kt | 10 h 07 min | 7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 33 kt | +29 kt | -50 °C | 91 kt | 10 h 07 min | 7:03 am CDT (12:03 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° |
| GSP | used from 99 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| TYS | used from 198 nm out; 41 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° |
| HSV | used from 346 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 290/15 | 330/34 16° | 330/38 11° | 330/40 5° | 320/36 -7° | 320/31 -18° | 320/44 -34° | 330/53 -41° | 330/34 -48° |
| MEM | used from 495 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 240/9 | 280/14 17° | 280/20 12° | 290/25 5° | 320/25 -6° | 330/31 -18° | 320/52 -32° | 330/58 -41° | 320/42 -50° |
| LIT | used from 594 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 220/12 | 250/12 17° | 250/18 12° | 260/22 6° | 310/14 -5° | 310/25 -17° | 310/40 -31° | 310/38 -41° | 310/46 -52° |
| SHV | used from 742 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| DAL | used from 841 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -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) |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 69 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 609 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 129 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 188 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 317 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | 396 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 495 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 346 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CKM Clarksdale, MS | 584 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 173 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| PBF Pine Bluff, AR | 653 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 205 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TXK Texarkana, AR | 762 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 389 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| GVT Greenville, TX | 871 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 534 ft | 23:15 UTC |
| DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | destination | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 606 ft | 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DFW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:32 am CDT (10:32 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for DFW
- From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 3 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DFW is before sunrise there (7:29 am CDT (12:29 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, Dallas-Fort Worth International.