Plan a flight · Sun 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport RDU → MEM

549 nautical miles (632 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22; MEM is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) 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: 1,015 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 220 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 160 to 300 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 180 to 339 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 349 to 439 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, 42 nm north, 7:28 pm EDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 150 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, 32 nm south, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. 459 nm along the route, 32 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, 29 nm south, 7:22 pm EDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. 469 nm along the route, 29 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, 20 nm north, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 20 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. 50 nm along the route, 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 at 3,000 ft, 20 nm north, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC): overcast from 6,700 ft to 5,200 ft. 50 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2115/FL030/TP CRJ7/SK 067OVC052
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
067OVC052
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. 120 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
CRJ9 at 30,000 ft, 15 nm north, 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 210 nm along the route, 15 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
B38M at 29,000 ft, 16 nm north, 5:24 pm EDT (21:24 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-42. 220 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV VXV090025/TM 2124/FL290/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM ZTLFD-42
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
25 nm east (090°) of VXV
Time
21:24 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
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. 250 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
CRJ7 climbing, 12 nm north, 5:08 pm EDT (21:08 UTC): remarks: bases 30 tops 43. 250 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV TYS /TM 2108/FLDURC/TP CRJ7/RM BASES 30 TOPS 43
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
over TYS
Time
21:08 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ7
Remarks
bases 30 tops 43
E170 at 33,000 ft, 18 nm north, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-03. 270 nm along the route, 18 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, 35 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. 320 nm along the route, 35 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

6 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, TRI, TYS, BNA, HSV, MEM). 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 18 kt	+16 kt	11 °C	104 kt	5 h 17 min	12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	+16 kt	12 °C	104 kt	5 h 17 min	12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+17 kt	10 °C	103 kt	5 h 20 min	12:17 am CDT (05:17 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	+18 kt	7 °C	102 kt	5 h 23 min	12:20 am CDT (05:20 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 27 kt	+20 kt	3 °C	100 kt	5 h 29 min	12:26 am CDT (05:26 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 27 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	5 h 29 min	12:26 am CDT (05:26 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 28 kt	+21 kt	-4 °C	99 kt	5 h 33 min	12:30 am CDT (05:30 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 28 kt	+22 kt	-7 °C	98 kt	5 h 36 min	12:33 am CDT (05:33 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 29 kt	+27 kt	-18 °C	93 kt	5 h 54 min	12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 37 kt	+34 kt	-32 °C	86 kt	6 h 23 min	1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 32 kt	+29 kt	-40 °C	91 kt	6 h 02 min	12:59 am CDT (05:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 30 kt	+28 kt	-49 °C	92 kt	5 h 58 min	12:55 am CDT (05:55 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°
TRI	used from 100 nm out; 66 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 200 nm out; 31 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 300 nm out; 71 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 399 nm out; 53 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 449 nm out; 75 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°

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)
SCR Siler City, NC	40 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	615 ft	23:35 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	60 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	2,600 ft	925 ft	23:54 UTC
HKY Hickory, NC	130 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,189 ft	23:53 UTC
AVL Asheville, NC	180 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,600 feet	from the north (350°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	3,600 ft	2,163 ft	22:54 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	250 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	7 mi	1,800 ft	986 ft	23:53 UTC
MMI Athens, TN	280 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,300 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,300 ft	874 ft	23:35 UTC
THA Tullahoma, TN	369 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,084 ft	23:35 UTC
LUG Lewisburg, TN	389 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	718 ft	23:35 UTC
SZY Selmer, TN	479 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	610 ft	23:35 UTC
FYE Somerville, TN	519 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	435 ft	23:35 UTC
MEM Memphis, TN	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	340 ft	5:54 pm CDT (22:54 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 MEM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MEM

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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 MEM 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MEM is before sunrise there (7:03 am CDT (12:03 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

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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, Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport.