Raleigh-Durham International to John Wayne/Orange County RDU → SNA
1,919 nautical miles (2,208 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 278°, about 287° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 18 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 38 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 first 170 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 180 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 120 to 290 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, fog). Over the route from 140 to 380 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 route from 720 to 1129 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 1239 to 1589 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1239 to 1629 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1579 to 1619 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1589 to 1709 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1649 to 1869 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1789 to 1879 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
Not fetched just now.
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 16 forecast points nearest it (RDU, TRI, TYS, BNA, CGI, SGF, TUL, OKC, GAG, AMA, TCC, ABQ, FMN, PRC, BLH, ONT). 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 20 kt | +19 kt | 16 °C | 101 kt | 19 h | 8:09 pm PDT (03:09 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 13 °C | 102 kt | 18 h 49 min | 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 18 h 49 min | 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 7 °C | 102 kt | 18 h 49 min | 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +18 kt | 3 °C | 102 kt | 18 h 49 min | 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 19 h 23 min | 8:32 pm PDT (03:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +24 kt | -4 °C | 96 kt | 19 h 59 min | 9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 27 kt | +26 kt | -7 °C | 94 kt | 20 h 25 min | 9:34 pm PDT (04:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 34 kt | +34 kt | -19 °C | 86 kt | 22 h 19 min | 11:28 pm PDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 49 kt | +50 kt | -30 °C | 70 kt | 27 h 25 min | 4:34 am PDT (11:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 53 kt | +55 kt | -38 °C | 65 kt | 29 h 31 min | 6:40 am PDT (13:40 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 43 kt | +45 kt | -48 °C | 75 kt | 25 h 35 min | 2:44 am PDT (09:44 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; 56 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; 41 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; 62 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; 64 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° |
| SGF | used from 600 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| TUL | used from 750 nm out; 58 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 900 nm out; 63 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 950 nm out; 42 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 1099 nm out; 57 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 1149 nm out; 59 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 1299 nm out; 48 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 1449 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| PRC | used from 1499 nm out; 118 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1699 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| ONT | used from 1849 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
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 | no report just now | 435 ft | ||||
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 60 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 925 ft | ||||
| BNA Nashville, TN | 380 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 599 ft | ||||
| JWN Nashville, TN | 390 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 501 ft | ||||
| BBG Branson, MO | 700 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,302 ft | ||||
| WDG Enid, OK | 920 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,167 ft | ||||
| GAG Gage, OK | 1019 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 2,223 ft | ||||
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 1329 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,348 ft | ||||
| GUP Gallup, NM | 1459 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 6,472 ft | ||||
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 1639 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,045 ft | ||||
| RIV Riverside, CA | 1889 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,536 ft | ||||
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | no report just now | 55 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,472 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC)
SNA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 8 nm from the route, 380 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 1739 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 19 nm from the route, 1839 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SNA is after sunset there (6:21 pm PDT (01:21 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, John Wayne/Orange County.