Raleigh-Durham International to Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field RDU → MKC
777 nautical miles (894 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 289°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots; MKC is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 10 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 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 8,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 159 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 100 to 269 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 119 to 319 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 10 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
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 219 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest 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
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 40 nm northeast, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 110 nm along the route, 40 nm northeast 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
- S22T descending, 19 nm south, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 179 nm along the route, 19 nm south 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 runway 23 tri
- B737 at 35,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 249 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LOZ UA /OV AZQ250025/TM 0125/FL350/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through LOZ
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of AZQ
- Time
- 01:25 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- B712 at 600 ft, 40 nm north, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 309 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 40 nm north, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 309 nm along the route, 40 nm north 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
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 31 nm north, 9:09 pm EDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 348 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 49 nm south, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 378 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, TRI, TYS, LOU, EVV, STL, COU, MKC). 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 18 kt | +19 kt | 11 °C | 101 kt | 7 h 42 min | 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 13 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 37 min | 5:14 am CDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 7 h 37 min | 5:14 am CDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 7 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 33 min | 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 3 °C | 103 kt | 7 h 33 min | 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 0 °C | 100 kt | 7 h 46 min | 5:23 am CDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 23 kt | +22 kt | -4 °C | 98 kt | 7 h 56 min | 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 25 kt | +24 kt | -7 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 06 min | 5:43 am CDT (10:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 27 kt | +27 kt | -19 °C | 93 kt | 8 h 21 min | 5:58 am CDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 36 kt | +35 kt | -33 °C | 85 kt | 9 h 08 min | 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 45 kt | +44 kt | -40 °C | 76 kt | 10 h 13 min | 7:50 am CDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 44 kt | +43 kt | -49 °C | 77 kt | 10 h 05 min | 7:42 am CDT (12:42 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° |
| ROA | used from 50 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| TRI | used from 100 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 249 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| LOU | used from 299 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| EVV | used from 398 nm out; 16 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| STL | used from 498 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| COU | used from 597 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| MKC | used from 697 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -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 3,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 435 ft | 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC) |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 60 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 925 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| MWK Mount Airy, NC | 90 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,400 feet | variable at 1 knots | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 1,268 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 179 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 1,518 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 269 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| EKX Elizabethtown, KY | 358 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 500 ft | 775 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 438 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 421 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| CUL Carmi, IL | 468 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | no report just now | 387 ft | ||||
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | 567 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 412 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 667 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| HIG Higginsville, MO | 737 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 840 ft | ||||
| MKC Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,518 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC)
Wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKC
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, 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
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 667 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MKC is before sunrise there (7:24 am CDT (12:24 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, Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field.