Plan a flight · Sun 9:13 pm EDT (01:13 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to EL Paso International RDU → ELP

1,393 nautical miles (1,603 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 11-knot headwind), arriving about 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC). Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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 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 7,000 ft. Over the route from 90 to 219 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 159 to 308 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 288 to 338 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 348 to 438 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.

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, 42 nm north, 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, 42 nm north 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
B763 at 29,000 ft, 31 nm south, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 458 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSL
Where
20 nm west (270°) of MSL
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZME31
BE40 at 29,000 ft, 28 nm south, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 467 nm along the route, 28 nm south 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, 21 nm north, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. At the departure end, 21 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, 20 nm north, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. At the departure end, 20 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
CRJ7 descending, 13 nm north, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 60 nm along the route, 13 nm north 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
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 5 nm north, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 119 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
S22T descending, 47 nm north, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 169 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
Time
00:24 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent RY23 tri
CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 16 nm north, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 209 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV090040/TM 2246/FL300/TP CRJ9/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM ZTLFD-42
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
40 nm east (090°) of VXV
Time
22:46 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-42
E75S at 29,000 ft, 17 nm north, 6:21 pm EDT (22:21 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-39. 249 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV/TM 2221/FL290/TP E75S/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM ZTLFD-39
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over VXV
Time
22:21 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
Remarks
ZTLFD-39
E170 at 33,000 ft, 19 nm north, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-03. 269 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV270025/TM 2222/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP 330/RM ZTLFD-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
25 nm west (270°) of VXV
Time
22:22 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop at 33,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-03
B712 at 3,000 ft, 34 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. 318 nm along the route, 34 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
CRJ9 at 3,000 ft, 29 nm south, 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC): overcast from 3,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 318 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV 090005/TM 2251/FL030/TP CRJ9/SK OVC030-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
wind from 090° at 5 knots
Time
22:51 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 3,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
T206 at 9,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): remarks: ZME60. 328 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA340032/TM 2247/FL090/TP T206/SK TOP070/RM ZME60
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
32 nm north (340°) of CHA
Time
22:47 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
T206
Sky
TOP070
Remarks
ZME60

4 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 15 forecast points nearest it (RDU, TRI, TYS, BNA, HSV, MEM, LIT, FSM, DAL, SPS, ABI, LBB, INK, ROW, ELP). 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	230° at 12 kt	+11 kt	17 °C	109 kt	12 h 47 min	8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 12 kt	+13 kt	15 °C	107 kt	13 h 01 min	8:14 am MDT (14:14 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 14 kt	+15 kt	12 °C	105 kt	13 h 16 min	8:29 am MDT (14:29 UTC)
10,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	+17 kt	9 °C	103 kt	13 h 31 min	8:44 am MDT (14:44 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 18 kt	+19 kt	5 °C	101 kt	13 h 48 min	9:01 am MDT (15:01 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	+20 kt	1 °C	100 kt	13 h 56 min	9:09 am MDT (15:09 UTC)
16,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	+21 kt	-3 °C	99 kt	14 h 04 min	9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 21 kt	+21 kt	-6 °C	99 kt	14 h 04 min	9:17 am MDT (15:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 28 kt	+28 kt	-17 °C	92 kt	15 h 08 min	10:21 am MDT (16:21 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 37 kt	+37 kt	-30 °C	83 kt	16 h 47 min	12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 37 kt	+35 kt	-39 °C	85 kt	16 h 23 min	11:36 am MDT (17:36 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 37 kt	+35 kt	-50 °C	85 kt	16 h 23 min	11:36 am MDT (17:36 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°
TRI	used from 99 nm out; 67 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°
TYS	used from 199 nm out; 32 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°
BNA	used from 348 nm out; 45 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
HSV	used from 398 nm out; 51 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 448 nm out; 77 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 597 nm out; 40 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°
FSM	used from 746 nm out; 57 nm from the line	200/18	210/19 15°	230/22 13°	250/18 7°	270/20 -5°	280/24 -16°	280/35 -30°	290/37 -40°	300/40 -52°
DAL	used from 845 nm out; 77 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°
SPS	used from 895 nm out; 58 nm from the line	180/26	200/25 16°	220/19 13°	220/20 9°	230/26 -5°	230/34 -15°	260/37 -28°	270/42 -39°	280/40 -51°
ABI	used from 1044 nm out; 60 nm from the line		180/26 17°	220/18 12°	230/25 8°	230/28 -5°	240/29 -14°	250/35 -28°	270/37 -39°	280/37 -51°
LBB	used from 1094 nm out; 47 nm from the line		180/26 20°	210/21 13°	230/21 7°	250/25 -5°	250/34 -16°	250/52 -28°	260/47 -38°	260/49 -50°
INK	used from 1194 nm out; 52 nm from the line		160/27 20°	190/18 13°	240/19 7°	250/23 -4°	250/33 -15°	230/45 -28°	250/45 -39°	270/49 -50°
ROW	used from 1293 nm out; 71 nm from the line		180/23	190/24 15°	210/27 7°	230/35 -6°	240/53 -17°	240/62 -27°	250/64 -38°	260/60 -50°
ELP	used from 1343 nm out; 25 nm from the line		200/15	200/16 15°	200/17 6°	220/40 -6°	240/53 -16°	230/62 -27°	240/63 -38°	250/59 -49°

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: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)
HKY Hickory, NC	129 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	00:53 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	249 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	986 ft	00:53 UTC
THA Tullahoma, TN	368 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	200 ft	1,084 ft	00:55 UTC
MEM Memphis, TN	547 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	00:54 UTC
LIT Little Rock, AR	666 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 16,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	266 ft	00:53 UTC
HOT Hot Springs, AR	706 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	540 ft	00:53 UTC
GYI Sherman/Denison, TX	885 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	749 ft	00:55 UTC
SPS Wichita Falls, TX	975 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,019 ft	00:52 UTC
HOB Hobbs, NM	1223 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	3,660 ft	23:50 UTC
CNM Carlsbad, NM	1283 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	3,294 ft	00:53 UTC
ELP El Paso, TX	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 feet, a broken layer at 21,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	21,000 ft	3,961 ft	6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,961 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC)

Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ELP

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30
From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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

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

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 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 southern Plains · 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, EL Paso International.