Plan a flight · Sun 11:06 pm EDT (03:06 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International RDU → PHX

1,640 nautical miles (1,887 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 284° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 12:11 pm MST (19:11 UTC). Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the north (360°) 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: 1,651 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 10,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 190 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 130 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 260 to 310 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1250 to 1530 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1280 to 1600 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1380 to 1520 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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

S22T descending, 27 nm north, 8:24 pm EDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 23 tri. 180 nm along the route, 27 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 runway 23 tri
A320 descending, 15 nm south, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: base 2,100 ft. 250 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TYS UA /OV 4 NE TYS/TM 0152/FLDURD/TP A320/RM BASE 021
```
Report
a routine report filed through TYS
Where
4 northeast tys
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Remarks
base 2,100 ft
B739 at 34,000 ft, 49 nm north, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 380 nm along the route, 49 nm north 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
B38M at 25,000 ft, 7 nm south, 8:12 pm EDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 470 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 6 nm south, 8:13 pm EDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 510 nm along the route, 6 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B737 at 14,000 ft, 39 nm north, 8:15 pm EDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 1370 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABQ
Where
7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light above 14,000 ft
A320 at 14,000 ft, 42 nm north, 8:39 pm EDT (00:39 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. At the destination end, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHX UA /OV PXR005050/TM 0039/FL140/TP A320/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZAB FDCS
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHX
Where
50 nm north (005°) of PXR
Time
00:39 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
zab fdcs
CRJ7 at 15,000 ft, 42 nm west, 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC): light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: during the descent at 15,000 ft at 13,500 ft. At the destination end, 42 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHX UA /OV GEELA/TM 0155/FL150/TP CRJ7/TA -3/IC LT RIME/RM DURD 150 135
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHX
Where
geela
Time
01:55 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Temperature
-3
Icing
lt rime
Remarks
during the descent at 15,000 ft at 13,500 ft

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 15 forecast points nearest it (RDU, TRI, TYS, BNA, CGI, MEM, LIT, FSM, TUL, OKC, GAG, AMA, TCC, ABQ, PHX). 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	240° at 19 kt	+18 kt	14 °C	102 kt	16 h 05 min	12:11 pm MST (19:11 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	+18 kt	14 °C	102 kt	16 h 05 min	12:11 pm MST (19:11 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	+19 kt	11 °C	101 kt	16 h 14 min	12:20 pm MST (19:20 UTC)
10,500 ft	260° at 17 kt	+18 kt	8 °C	102 kt	16 h 05 min	12:11 pm MST (19:11 UTC)
12,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	+18 kt	5 °C	102 kt	16 h 05 min	12:11 pm MST (19:11 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	16 h 24 min	12:30 pm MST (19:30 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	+22 kt	-3 °C	98 kt	16 h 44 min	12:50 pm MST (19:50 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-6 °C	96 kt	17 h 05 min	1:11 pm MST (20:11 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 32 kt	+33 kt	-18 °C	87 kt	18 h 51 min	2:57 pm MST (21:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 46 kt	+48 kt	-29 °C	72 kt	22 h 47 min	6:53 pm MST (01:53 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 50 kt	+52 kt	-38 °C	68 kt	24 h 07 min	8:13 pm MST (03:13 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 40 kt	+42 kt	-49 °C	78 kt	21 h 02 min	5:08 pm MST (00:08 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°
TRI	used from 100 nm out; 58 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 200 nm out; 33 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°
BNA	used from 300 nm out; 59 nm from the line	310/20	340/20 17°	330/24 10°	340/22 5°	330/26 -6°	340/29 -18°	330/52 -33°	320/62 -41°	340/45 -50°
CGI	used from 450 nm out; 82 nm from the line	240/20	270/15 15°	280/15 11°	300/13 6°	290/20 -6°	280/24 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/47 -41°	310/49 -51°
MEM	used from 500 nm out; 66 nm from the line	230/19	260/16 15°	270/17 12°	300/13 6°	300/15 -5°	300/26 -18°	300/34 -32°	300/41 -40°	310/46 -52°
LIT	used from 600 nm out; 83 nm from the line	220/21	230/17 16°	250/24 12°	260/15 7°	260/13 -5°	280/25 -16°	290/35 -30°	300/42 -40°	300/40 -52°
FSM	used from 700 nm out; 48 nm from the line	210/27	250/23 16°	250/20 13°	240/17 8°	250/18 -6°	260/31 -16°	280/42 -30°	280/44 -40°	290/38 -51°
TUL	used from 800 nm out; 25 nm from the line	210/37	240/29 17°	260/15 14°	260/11 7°	240/22 -6°	250/29 -16°	270/45 -29°	270/47 -40°	280/44 -50°
OKC	used from 850 nm out; 45 nm from the line	200/44	230/32 18°	240/13 15°	240/10 9°	240/20 -5°	250/27 -16°	260/47 -28°	270/48 -39°	270/45 -50°
GAG	used from 1000 nm out; 53 nm from the line		220/40 19°	230/28 14°	240/23 8°	230/21 -6°	240/31 -19°	250/66 -29°	260/58 -38°	260/47 -49°
AMA	used from 1050 nm out; 43 nm from the line		210/38	230/29 14°	240/29 7°	220/27 -5°	240/37 -18°	240/66 -28°	250/59 -37°	260/47 -49°
TCC	used from 1150 nm out; 38 nm from the line		210/42	230/33 14°	230/32 6°	220/35 -6°	230/49 -19°	240/72 -27°	250/62 -36°	250/52 -48°
ABQ	used from 1300 nm out; 46 nm from the line			220/27 11°	210/35 5°	220/46 -9°	230/62 -20°	240/78 -25°	240/80 -35°	240/56 -47°
PHX	used from 1500 nm out; 115 nm from the line	150/5	200/21 12°	200/27 6°	200/35 3°	220/58 -8°	220/69 -19°	220/87 -26°	230/93 -35°	230/79 -47°

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 broken layer at 4,300 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	4,300 ft	435 ft	10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC)
GSO Greensboro, NC	60 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	925 ft	02:54 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	250 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	986 ft	02:53 UTC
BNA Nashville, TN	380 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	599 ft	02:53 UTC
PGR Paragould, AR	570 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				290 ft
FYV Fayetteville, AR	750 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,252 ft	02:53 UTC
PWA Oklahoma City, OK	920 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 16 knots	10+ mi	none	1,299 ft	02:53 UTC
AMA Amarillo, TX	1120 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 21 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	3,606 ft	02:53 UTC
SXU Santa Rosa, NM	1260 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	10,000 ft	4,791 ft	02:55 UTC
BRG Belen, NM	1370 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	5,199 ft	02:55 UTC
IWA Phoenix, AZ	1620 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,384 ft	02:51 UTC
PHX Phoenix, AZ	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet	from the north (360°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	9,500 ft	1,134 ft	7:51 pm MST (02:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,199 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:11 pm MST (19:11 UTC)

Wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for PHX

From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am MST (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 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

6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 13 nm from the route, 380 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 1340 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.