Raleigh-Durham International to Laguardia Airport RDU → LGA
374 nautical miles (431 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 037°, about 046° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 89-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:07 am EDT (07:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20; LGA is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 11 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: 8,306 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the last 236 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 354 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 20 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 276 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
- A319 at 23,000 ft, 8 nm east, 11:21 pm EDT (03:21 UTC): moderate turbulence. 315 nm along the route, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
MJX UA /OV CYN345010/TM 0321/FL230/TP A319/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through MJX
- Where
- 10 nm north (345°) of CYN
- Time
- 03:21 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- moderate
- B712 descending, 40 nm northwest, 11:10 pm EDT (03:10 UTC): remarks: light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft. 217 nm along the route, 40 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV RWY 15R/TM 0310/FLDURD/TP B712/RM LIGHT RAIN. LIGHT CHOP. BASES 500 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- runway 15R
- Time
- 03:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B712
- Remarks
- light rain light chop bases 50,000 ft ft
- A321 at 700 ft, 10 nm east, 10:46 pm EDT (02:46 UTC): overcast above 700 ft. At the destination end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
JFK UA /OV KJFK225002/TM 0246/FL007/TP A321/SK OVC007
- Report
- a routine report filed through JFK
- Where
- 2 nm southwest (225°) of KJFK
- Time
- 02:46 UTC
- Height
- at 700 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Sky
- overcast from 700 ft
- GA6C descending, 45 nm north, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. At the destination end, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
- A320 descending, 35 nm east, 10:45 pm EDT (02:45 UTC): remarks: final runway 24. At the destination end, 35 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ISP UA /OV ISP/TM 0245/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BCN007/RM FINAL RY24
- Report
- a routine report filed through ISP
- Where
- over ISP
- Time
- 02:45 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- BCN007
- Remarks
- final runway 24
- GA6C at 1,100 ft, 19 nm northeast, 10:31 pm EDT (02:31 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots runway 34. At the destination end, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
HPN UA /OV HPN/TM 0231/FL011/TP GA6C/SK OVC011/RM LLWS +/- 5 KNOTS RWY34
- Report
- a routine report filed through HPN
- Where
- over HPN
- Time
- 02:31 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,100 ft
- Remarks
- low-level wind shear + 5 knots runway 34
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (RDU, RIC, ACY, JFK). 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 | 250° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 2 h 45 min | 4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 2 h 49 min | 4:09 am EDT (08:09 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 11 °C | 137 kt | 2 h 44 min | 4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 7 °C | 142 kt | 2 h 38 min | 3:58 am EDT (07:58 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 5 °C | 145 kt | 2 h 35 min | 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −28 kt | 1 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 32 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −31 kt | -3 °C | 151 kt | 2 h 29 min | 3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | −35 kt | -7 °C | 155 kt | 2 h 25 min | 3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | −36 kt | -8 °C | 156 kt | 2 h 24 min | 3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | −49 kt | -19 °C | 169 kt | 2 h 13 min | 3:33 am EDT (07:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 80 kt | −80 kt | -31 °C | 200 kt | 1 h 52 min | 3:12 am EDT (07:12 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 91 kt | −89 kt | -39 °C | 209 kt | 1 h 47 min | 3:07 am EDT (07:07 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 71 kt | −69 kt | -50 °C | 189 kt | 1 h 59 min | 3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| RIC | used from 49 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| ACY | used from 197 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 220/19 | 220/18 14° | 210/36 9° | 210/35 5° | 220/36 -8° | 240/49 -21° | 220/90 -31° | 230/103 -40° | 230/81 -50° |
| JFK | used from 345 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 250/18 | 250/23 14° | 240/33 9° | 240/33 4° | 240/38 -10° | 240/45 -21° | 230/86 -32° | 230/102 -40° | 230/84 -51° |
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: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,300 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 4,300 ft | 435 ft | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC) |
| HNZ Oxford, NC | 30 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,700 ft | 526 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 79 nm out, 11 nm northwest 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, 4 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 167 ft | 05:09 UTC |
| XSA Tappahannock, VA | 148 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | reported, no category | calm | 900 ft | 135 ft | 05:15 UTC | |
| CGE Cambridge, MD | 207 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet | from the south (190°) at 7 knots, gusting to 13 | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 19 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| ESN Easton, MD | 217 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 72 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| DOV Dover, DE | 256 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet | from the north (010°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 300 ft | 28 ft | 05:07 UTC |
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | 295 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,000 ft | 35 ft | 05:11 UTC |
| LDJ Linden, NJ | 354 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 22 ft | 05:15 UTC |
| LGA New York, NY | destination | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north (010°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 20 ft | 12:51 am EDT (04:51 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 LGA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:07 am EDT (07:07 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet IFR
The whole forecast for LGA
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet
- From Sun 11:30 pm EDT (03:30 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, thunderstorms nearby, scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 800 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 12:30 am EDT (04:30 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 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 12 nm from the route, 197 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8719 Greenwood, DE, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 236 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8886 Greenwood, DE, Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 236 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Sunday 18 October · ZDC
- 5/2811 NEW YORK, NY, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 20 October · ZNY
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at LGA 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LGA is before sunrise there (7:03 am EDT (11:03 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, Laguardia Airport.