Plan a flight · Sun 8:49 pm EDT (00:49 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Detroit Metro Wayne County RDU → DTW

436 nautical miles (501 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 332°, about 341° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:12 am EDT (04:12 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22; DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 4 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: 2,990 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). Over the route from 20 to 297 nm out.

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 TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Near the route, 79 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 79 to 248 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, 109 nm along the route.
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 297 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

E145 at 9,000 ft, 20 nm northeast, 5:56 pm EDT (21:56 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast up to 9,000 ft, heavy rain. 79 nm along the route, 20 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2156/FL090/TP E145/SK OVCUNKN-TOP090/WX +RA/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LYH
Where
over LYH
Time
21:56 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast, tops 9,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
B763 at 3,000 ft, 37 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 37 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, 37 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 37 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, 46 nm southwest, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 40 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest 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
C52C at 12,500 ft, 43 nm west, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 99 nm along the route, 43 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
C52C
Sky
overcast, tops 12,500 ft
Temperature
+1
Icing
none
E145 at 4,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 109 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA
E145 at 2,200 ft, 13 nm southwest, 8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC): overcast above 2,200 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 109 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest 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
B39M at 36,000 ft, 47 nm southwest, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. 109 nm along the route, 47 nm southwest 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
CRJ7 at 2,800 ft, 12 nm west, 6:19 pm EDT (22:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 139 nm along the route, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LWB UA /OV KLWB/TM 2219/FL028/TP CRJ7/SK BASES029
```
Report
a routine report filed through LWB
Where
over KLWB
Time
22:19 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASES029
E135 descending, 44 nm southwest, 8:05 pm EDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 158 nm along the route, 44 nm southwest 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
B737 at 40,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV EKN150020/TM 2211/FL400/TP B737/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm southeast (150°) of EKN
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
CRJ9 climbing, 46 nm southwest, 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 198 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
A321 at 32,000 ft, 34 nm northeast, 5:52 pm EDT (21:52 UTC): no turbulence. 208 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CKB/TM 2152/FL320/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CKB
Time
21:52 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
P28A descending, 47 nm southwest, 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,200 ft. 257 nm along the route, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV KUNI/TM 2214/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK SCT012/WX 3SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over KUNI
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
scattered clouds from 1,200 ft
Weather
3SM

16 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 6 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, EKN, CRW, CMH, CLE). 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	290° at 12 kt	+10 kt	13 °C	110 kt	3 h 58 min	12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	+11 kt	11 °C	109 kt	4 h	12:49 am EDT (04:49 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 10 kt	+8 kt	9 °C	112 kt	3 h 54 min	12:43 am EDT (04:43 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 8 kt	+5 kt	6 °C	115 kt	3 h 47 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 7 kt	+3 kt	2 °C	117 kt	3 h 44 min	12:33 am EDT (04:33 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 9 kt	+4 kt	-2 °C	116 kt	3 h 46 min	12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC)
16,500 ft	260° at 11 kt	+4 kt	-6 °C	116 kt	3 h 46 min	12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 12 kt	+5 kt	-8 °C	115 kt	3 h 47 min	12:36 am EDT (04:36 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 21 kt	0	-20 °C	120 kt	3 h 38 min	12:27 am EDT (04:27 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 34 kt	−4 kt	-32 °C	124 kt	3 h 31 min	12:20 am EDT (04:20 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	230° at 46 kt	−9 kt	-39 °C	129 kt	3 h 23 min	12:12 am EDT (04:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 46 kt	−6 kt	-48 °C	126 kt	3 h 28 min	12:17 am EDT (04:17 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; 31 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°
EKN	used from 149 nm out; 42 nm from the line		270/18 13°	310/5 7°	140/7 3°	210/16 -9°	220/41 -20°	210/57 -32°	220/57 -38°	230/49 -47°
CRW	used from 198 nm out; 53 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°
CMH	used from 248 nm out; 63 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
CLE	used from 347 nm out; 36 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -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
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)
TDF Roxboro, NC	30 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	5,000 ft	608 ft	00:35 UTC
DAN Danville, VA	50 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	571 ft	23:53 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	99 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots	2 mi	3,000 ft	1,175 ft	00:35 UTC
LWB Lewisburg, WV	139 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain	calm	3 mi	1,200 ft	2,301 ft	22:51 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	248 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	2.5 mi	400 ft	858 ft	23:53 UTC
CDI Cambridge, OH	277 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	1,600 ft	798 ft	00:35 UTC
MFD Mansfield, OH	347 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots	5 mi	400 ft	1,297 ft	00:41 UTC
PCW Port Clinton, OH	386 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	800 ft	590 ft	00:35 UTC
CYPT Pelee Island,	396 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				571 ft
DTW Detroit, MI	destination	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots	3 mi	1,000 ft	645 ft	8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:12 am EDT (04:12 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for DTW

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 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 DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DTW is before sunrise there (7:42 am EDT (11:42 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 Northeast · 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Detroit Metro Wayne County.