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

Raleigh-Durham International to Tampa International RDU → TPA

511 nautical miles (588 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 203°, about 212° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 13 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 1-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots; TPA is VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 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: 3,404 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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

SR22 at 8,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. 88 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FLO UA /OV BBP/TM 0018/FL080/TP SR22/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM THIN LAYER BELOW BUT CAN SEE LIGHTS FROM THE GROUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through FLO
Where
over BBP
Time
00:18 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
thin layer below but can see lights from the ground
E170 at 15,500 ft, 4 nm north, 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. 364 nm along the route, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAX UA /OV CRG/TM 0200/FL155/TP E170/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAX
Where
over CRG
Time
02:00 UTC
Height
at 15,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
occasional light chop
PC12 at 16,000 ft, 25 nm west, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 16,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 364 nm along the route, 25 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AYS UA /OV AYS150060/TM 0055/FL160/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through AYS
Where
60 nm southeast (150°) of AYS
Time
00:55 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
B738 at 37,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 8:26 pm EDT (00:26 UTC): no turbulence. 374 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SGJ UA /OV SGJ/TM 0026/FL370/TP B738/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SGJ
Where
over SGJ
Time
00:26 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none
E170 at 32,000 ft, 40 nm east, 9:02 pm EDT (01:02 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 383 nm along the route, 40 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OMN UA /OV OMN020030/TM 0102/FL320/TP E170/TB LGT CHOP 320
```
Report
a routine report filed through OMN
Where
30 nm north (020°) of OMN
Time
01:02 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light chop at 32,000 ft
E170 at 31,000 ft, 41 nm east, 9:07 pm EDT (01:07 UTC): no turbulence. 413 nm along the route, 41 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OMN UA /OV OMN/TM 0107/FL310/TP E170/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OMN
Where
over OMN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
none
B738 at 36,000 ft, 12 nm northwest, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 442 nm along the route, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF/TM 0023/FL360/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
over OCF
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
C172 at 1,100 ft, 47 nm southeast, 9:12 pm EDT (01:12 UTC): no turbulence. 452 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 0112/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORL
Where
over ORL
Time
01:12 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
smooth
C172 at 1,100 ft, 47 nm southeast, 8:12 pm EDT (00:12 UTC): no turbulence. 452 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORL UA /OV 1SM N/TM 0012/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORL
Where
1SM north
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
smooth

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 6 forecast points nearest it (RDU, FLO, CHS, SAV, JAX, PIE). 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	290° at 16 kt	0		120 kt	4 h 16 min	3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC)
6,500 ft	290° at 16 kt	−1 kt	14 °C	121 kt	4 h 13 min	3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	0	12 °C	120 kt	4 h 16 min	3:22 am EDT (07:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 23 kt	+4 kt	9 °C	116 kt	4 h 24 min	3:30 am EDT (07:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	270° at 26 kt	+8 kt	6 °C	112 kt	4 h 34 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
14,500 ft	270° at 28 kt	+13 kt	1 °C	107 kt	4 h 47 min	3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)
16,500 ft	260° at 32 kt	+17 kt	-2 °C	103 kt	4 h 58 min	4:04 am EDT (08:04 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 34 kt	+21 kt	-6 °C	99 kt	5 h 10 min	4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 40 kt	+27 kt	-17 °C	93 kt	5 h 30 min	4:36 am EDT (08:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 53 kt	+46 kt	-31 °C	74 kt	6 h 54 min	6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	220° at 63 kt	+58 kt	-40 °C	62 kt	8 h 15 min	7:21 am EDT (11:21 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	230° at 54 kt	+49 kt	-51 °C	71 kt	7 h 12 min	6:18 am EDT (10:18 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°
FLO	used from 49 nm out; 38 nm from the line	300/16	320/14 12°	320/19 7°	290/26 5°	260/39 -6°	250/45 -18°	230/62 -32°	230/83 -40°	230/64 -51°
CHS	used from 147 nm out; 20 nm from the line	280/21	270/23 12°	280/28 11°	260/35 6°	250/41 -5°	250/45 -16°	230/59 -32°	220/74 -40°	230/67 -52°
SAV	used from 246 nm out; 31 nm from the line	280/23	300/22 14°	290/27 11°	270/31 6°	260/36 -5°	260/38 -17°	240/49 -32°	230/68 -40°	230/59 -51°
JAX	used from 295 nm out; 37 nm from the line	290/14	300/16 17°	280/22 14°	280/24 8°	250/32 -6°	250/37 -17°	230/50 -31°	220/52 -41°	220/51 -52°
PIE	used from 442 nm out; 51 nm from the line	350/6	L/V 18°	290/6 14°	280/9 9°	250/18 -6°	250/23 -17°	240/30 -31°	220/31 -41°	220/30 -52°

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)
FAY Fayetteville, NC	49 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	189 ft	02:53 UTC
MEB Maxton, NC	69 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	215 ft	02:52 UTC
FLO Florence, SC	108 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	146 ft	02:53 UTC
CHS Charleston, SC	187 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	02:56 UTC
HXD Hilton Head Island, SC	236 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	19 ft	02:55 UTC
BQK Brunswick, GA	305 nm out, 20 nm west of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	25 ft	02:55 UTC
JAX Jacksonville, FL	354 nm out, 13 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet	from the west (260°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	29 ft	02:56 UTC
CRG Jacksonville, FL	364 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	40 ft	02:53 UTC
OCF Ocala, FL	442 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	90 ft	02:51 UTC
BKV Brooksville, FL	482 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	76 ft	02:53 UTC
TPA Tampa, FL	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	26 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 435 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At TPA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC)

Wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for TPA

From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC on the route, 69 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local on the route, 354 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 364 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at TPA 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:27 pm EDT (23:27 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at TPA is before sunrise there (7:28 am EDT (11:28 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, 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, Tampa International.