Raleigh-Durham International to Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) RDU → ROA
104 nautical miles (120 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 327°, about 336° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 29-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 13 knots; ROA is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) 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: 16 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 E13E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC). Over the last 47 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112255 MKCE WST 112255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13E VALID UNTIL 0055Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 30NNW AIR-30NNE RIC-60S RIC-30NW HMV-10ESE APE-30NNW AIR AREA TS MOV FROM 24015KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- 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 38 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 28 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Near the route, 85 nm along 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
- E145 at 9,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 5:56 pm EDT (21:56 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast up to 9,000 ft, heavy rain. 85 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2156/FL090/TP E145/SK OVCUNKN-TOP090/WX +RA/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through LYH
- Where
- over LYH
- Time
- 21:56 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Sky
- overcast, tops 9,000 ft
- Weather
- heavy rain
- Turbulence
- moderate
- P28R at 1,400 ft, 27 nm northeast, 4:50 pm EDT (20:50 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast above 1,400 ft, remarks: during the climb RY04 KLYH. 85 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2050/FL014/TP P28R/SK OVC014/TB MOD/RM DURGC RY04 KLYH
- Report
- a routine report filed through LYH
- Where
- over LYH
- Time
- 20:50 UTC
- Height
- at 1,400 ft
- Aircraft
- P28R
- Sky
- overcast from 1,400 ft
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- during the climb RY04 KLYH
- CRJ7 descending, 43 nm southwest, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 38 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest 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
- B763 at 3,000 ft, 33 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 47 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest 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, 33 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 47 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest 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, 33 nm southwest, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC): overcast from 6,700 ft to 5,200 ft. 47 nm along the route, 33 nm southwest 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 at 2,800 ft, 38 nm northwest, 6:19 pm EDT (22:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 38 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LWB UA /OV KLWB/TM 2219/FL028/TP CRJ7/SK BASES029
- Report
- a routine report filed through LWB
- Where
- over KLWB
- Time
- 22:19 UTC
- Height
- at 2,800 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- BASES029
- B39M at 36,000 ft, 38 nm west, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. At the destination end, 38 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PSK UA /OV PSK/TM 2212/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-15
- Report
- a routine report filed through PSK
- Where
- over PSK
- Time
- 22:12 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-15
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 2 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA). 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 | 260° at 17 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 55 min | 8:44 pm EDT (00:44 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +8 kt | 11 °C | 112 kt | 56 min | 8:45 pm EDT (00:45 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +4 kt | 10 °C | 116 kt | 54 min | 8:43 pm EDT (00:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | 0 | 7 °C | 120 kt | 52 min | 8:41 pm EDT (00:41 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −4 kt | 4 °C | 124 kt | 50 min | 8:39 pm EDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −6 kt | 0 °C | 126 kt | 50 min | 8:39 pm EDT (00:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | −8 kt | -3 °C | 128 kt | 49 min | 8:38 pm EDT (00:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 36 kt | −10 kt | -5 °C | 130 kt | 48 min | 8:37 pm EDT (00:37 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 56 kt | −16 kt | -17 °C | 136 kt | 46 min | 8:35 pm EDT (00:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 210° at 78 kt | −29 kt | -30 °C | 149 kt | 42 min | 8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 80 kt | −29 kt | -39 °C | 149 kt | 42 min | 8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 69 kt | −20 kt | -50 °C | 140 kt | 45 min | 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 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; 24 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° |
| ROA | used from 47 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 280/9 | 290/15 12° | 290/11 8° | 210/6 3° | 210/30 -6° | 220/46 -19° | 210/74 -30° | 220/78 -39° | 220/64 -48° |
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 4,600 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 435 ft | 6:51 pm EDT (22:51 UTC) |
| DAN Danville, VA | 47 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 571 ft | 23:07 UTC |
| SIF Reidsville, NC | 57 nm out, 25 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 693 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 2,600 ft | 1,175 ft | 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,175 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ROA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:31 pm EDT (00:31 UTC)
Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet and more above IFR
The whole forecast for ROA
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 600 feet, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 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 ROA 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ROA is after sunset there (6:48 pm EDT (22:48 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, Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field).