Plan a flight · Sun 8:29 pm EDT (00:29 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Des Moines International RDU → DSM

774 nautical miles (891 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 301°, about 310° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 2:39 am CDT (07:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 1 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 E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 218 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112355
MKCE WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.

AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 69 to 248 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 79 to 169 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 129 to 298 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 RDU.

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

PA46 at 23,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 149 nm along the route, 45 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
10 nm east (090°) of HMV
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
PA46
Turbulence
light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-44
A321 at 30,000 ft, 41 nm southwest, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 218 nm along the route, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
B763 at 3,000 ft, 11 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest 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, 11 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest 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
CRJ7 descending, 21 nm south, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 60 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
E145 at 2,200 ft, 45 nm northeast, 8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 99 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0003/FL022/TP E145/SK OVC022/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:03 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,200 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA
PC24 at 4,000 ft, 11 nm south, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 119 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
90 nm north (005°) of CLT
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Weather
fi s
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
18 final
B39M at 36,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. 119 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSK UA /OV PSK/TM 2212/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-15
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSK
Where
over PSK
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-15
E135 descending, 44 nm northeast, 8:05 pm EDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 159 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over BKW
Time
00:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E135
Sky
bases 3,200 ft
C310 at 5,000 ft, 15 nm north, 5:54 pm EDT (21:54 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, rain, 12 °C. 238 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV ECB220008/TM 2154/FL050/TP C310/WX RA/TA 12/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
8 nm southwest (220°) of ECB
Time
21:54 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C310
Weather
rain
Temperature
12 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
P28A climbing, 48 nm northeast, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions. 248 nm along the route, 48 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV DWU/TM 2315/FLDURC/TP P28A/TB SMOOTH/RM IMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over DWU
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
P28A
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
instrument conditions
CRJ9 at 28,000 ft, 25 nm northeast, 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC): light turbulence. 288 nm along the route, 25 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FGX/TM 2233/FL280/TP CRJ9/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over FGX
Time
22:33 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
light
CRJ9 descending, 16 nm southwest, 5:33 pm EDT (21:33 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 298 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX090010/TM 2133/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS 067
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm east (090°) of LEX
Time
21:33 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops 6,700 ft
CRJ9 descending, 21 nm southwest, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 308 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest 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

9 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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, TRI, CRW, CVG, LOU, IND, SPI, BRL, DSM). 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	280° at 12 kt	+12 kt	11 °C	108 kt	7 h 10 min	2:39 am CDT (07:39 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	+16 kt	13 °C	104 kt	7 h 27 min	2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	+16 kt	10 °C	104 kt	7 h 27 min	2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
10,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	+16 kt	7 °C	104 kt	7 h 27 min	2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 16 kt	+16 kt	3 °C	104 kt	7 h 27 min	2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 16 kt	+16 kt	-1 °C	104 kt	7 h 27 min	2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	+17 kt	-5 °C	103 kt	7 h 31 min	3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 17 kt	+17 kt	-8 °C	103 kt	7 h 31 min	3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 21 kt	+21 kt	-20 °C	99 kt	7 h 49 min	3:18 am CDT (08:18 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 28 kt	+26 kt	-33 °C	94 kt	8 h 14 min	3:43 am CDT (08:43 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 36 kt	+34 kt	-41 °C	86 kt	9 h	4:29 am CDT (09:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 40 kt	+38 kt	-49 °C	82 kt	9 h 26 min	4:55 am CDT (09:55 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°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 50 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
TRI	used from 149 nm out; 55 nm from the line		310/28 11°	320/32 7°	330/30 2°	300/28 -9°	280/34 -21°	250/37 -31°	240/39 -38°	250/35 -48°
CRW	used from 198 nm out; 72 nm from the line	320/16	310/16 12°	320/12 7°	320/12 2°	330/15 -11°	280/11 -22°	230/26 -30°	240/33 -37°	240/37 -47°
CVG	used from 248 nm out; 72 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°
LOU	used from 347 nm out; 36 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°
IND	used from 397 nm out; 34 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
SPI	used from 496 nm out; 52 nm from the line	210/13	260/11 17°	270/18 10°	290/21 4°	310/20 -8°	330/25 -19°	320/49 -34°	320/60 -44°	320/59 -50°
BRL	used from 595 nm out; 31 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 695 nm out; 55 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°

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 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	4,800 ft	435 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)
GSO Greensboro, NC	60 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	925 ft	00:23 UTC
HLX Galax Hillsville, VA	109 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: drizzle	from the west (260°) at 7 knots, gusting to 14	7 mi	800 ft	2,693 ft	22:15 UTC
PBX Pikeville, KY	208 nm out, 1 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: drizzle	from the west (260°) at 7 knots	3 mi	300 ft	1,464 ft	00:15 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	308 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	979 ft	23:54 UTC
IMS Madison, IN	367 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,900 ft	819 ft	22:15 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	456 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	23:53 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	536 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	681 ft	23:54 UTC
PIA Peoria, IL	585 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	660 ft	23:54 UTC
FFL Fairfield, IA	695 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	reported, no category	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	800 ft	00:15 UTC
OTM Ottumwa, IA	714 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	no report just now				845 ft
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,693 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:39 am CDT (07:39 UTC)

Wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at DSM 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DSM is before sunrise there (7:23 am CDT (12:23 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Des Moines International.