Plan a flight · Sun 10:06 pm EDT (02:06 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to St. Louis Lambert International RDU → STL

579 nautical miles (666 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 300° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots; STL is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 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: 1,320 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 7E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 33,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Near the route, 170 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120155
MKCE WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7E
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
PA MD VA DC WV OH
FROM 10NNE JST-30WNW SBY-40ENE RIC-50SW BKW-20SE APE-10NNE JST
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL330.

AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 160 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 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 120 to 319 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, 20 nm southwest, 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, 20 nm southwest 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
A321 at 30,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 220 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest 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
B763 at 3,000 ft, 5 nm west, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 5 nm west 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, 4 nm west, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 50 nm along the route, 4 nm west 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
C52C at 12,500 ft, 37 nm northeast, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 110 nm along the route, 37 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, 24 nm south, 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, 24 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, 4 nm southwest, 9:25 pm EDT (01:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 250 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest 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, 32 nm northeast, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 309 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast 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, 32 nm northeast, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 309 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast 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, 22 nm north, 9:09 pm EDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 349 nm along the route, 22 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
A319 at 25,000 ft, 44 nm south, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 359 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none

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, ROA, TRI, LOU, EVV, STL). 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	310° at 17 kt	+16 kt	11 °C	104 kt	5 h 34 min	2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	+18 kt	13 °C	102 kt	5 h 41 min	2:47 am CDT (07:47 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+20 kt	10 °C	100 kt	5 h 47 min	2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 23 kt	+21 kt	6 °C	99 kt	5 h 51 min	2:57 am CDT (07:57 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 24 kt	+20 kt	3 °C	100 kt	5 h 47 min	2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+21 kt	-1 °C	99 kt	5 h 51 min	2:57 am CDT (07:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+21 kt	-5 °C	99 kt	5 h 51 min	2:57 am CDT (07:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 23 kt	+21 kt	-8 °C	99 kt	5 h 51 min	2:57 am CDT (07:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-19 °C	95 kt	6 h 06 min	3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 33 kt	+32 kt	-33 °C	88 kt	6 h 35 min	3:41 am CDT (08:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-40 °C	85 kt	6 h 49 min	3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 33 kt	+32 kt	-48 °C	88 kt	6 h 35 min	3:41 am CDT (08:41 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°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 62 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°
TRI	used from 100 nm out; 58 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°
LOU	used from 250 nm out; 87 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
EVV	used from 399 nm out; 16 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
STL	used from 499 nm out; 55 nm from the line	210/13	260/16 17°	270/21 10°	280/24 5°	310/20 -7°	320/22 -18°	320/44 -33°	320/59 -43°	310/69 -51°

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)
BUY Burlington, NC	30 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	616 ft	01:54 UTC
GSO Greensboro, NC	60 nm out, 7 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
VJI Abingdon, VA	160 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	2,087 ft	23:35 UTC
LNP Wise, VA	190 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	3 mi	400 ft	2,684 ft	23:35 UTC
RGA Richmond, KY	289 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	2.5 mi	300 ft	1,002 ft	01:55 UTC
DVK Danville, KY	309 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,400 ft	1,021 ft	01:55 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	359 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	01:56 UTC
EVV Evansville, IN	439 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	421 ft	01:54 UTC
ENL Centralia, IL	519 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	534 ft	01:55 UTC
BLV Belleville, IL	549 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	459 ft	00:55 UTC
STL St Louis, MO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	617 ft	8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At STL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for STL

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 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 southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at STL 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at STL is before sunrise there (7:07 am CDT (12:07 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper 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, St. Louis Lambert International.