Plan a flight · Mon 8:07 am EDT (12:07 UTC)

Richmond International to Des Moines International RIC → DSM

793 nautical miles (913 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 303° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 2:49 pm CDT (19:49 UTC). Right now RIC is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots; DSM is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 6 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 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 E38E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the northwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 am EDT (13:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 121155
MKCE WST 121155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 38E
VALID UNTIL 1355Z
NJ DE MD VA AND CSTL WTRS
FROM 50WNW SIE-20E SIE-30NNE ORF-20NE RIC-50WNW SIE
AREA TS MOV FROM 33020KT. TOPS TO FL320.

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 first 79 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 169 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 59 to 159 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 99 to 446 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 99 to 228 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 last 129 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 RIC.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A321 at 32,000 ft, 7 nm north, 5:48 am EDT (09:48 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 198 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ045040/TM 0948/FL320/TP A321/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
40 nm northeast (045°) of HVQ
Time
09:48 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
PC12 at 1,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 6:42 am EDT (10:42 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF. At the departure end, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHF UA /OV KPHF/TM 1042/FL010/TP PC12/SK OVC010/RM OVC010 DURD RWY25 KPHF
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHF
Where
over KPHF
Time
10:42 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
Remarks
OVC010 during the descent runway 25 KPHF
A320 at 4,000 ft, 6 nm southeast, 7:03 am EDT (11:03 UTC): a broken layer above 4,000 ft, remarks: TOPS048. At the departure end, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC270006/TM 1103/FL040/TP A320/SK BKN040/RM TOPS048
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
6 nm west (270°) of RIC
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 4,000 ft
Remarks
TOPS048
CRJ9 at 26,000 ft, 30 nm north, 7:50 am EDT (11:50 UTC): light chop turbulence above 26,000 ft. 149 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV EKN/TM 1150/FL260/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 260
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over EKN
Time
11:50 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 26,000 ft
B38M at 38,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 7:57 am EDT (11:57 UTC): light chop turbulence. 178 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ090035/TM 1157/FL380/TP B38M/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
35 nm east (090°) of HVQ
Time
11:57 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
C25A at 36,000 ft, 12 nm south, 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 178 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV HVQ088045/TM 1154/FL360/TP C25A/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
45 nm east (088°) of HVQ
Time
11:54 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
SR20 climbing, 26 nm south, 8:05 am EDT (12:05 UTC): a broken layer from 1,200 ft to 4,600 ft. 208 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1205/FLDURC/TP SR20/SK BKN012-TOP046
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
12:05 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
SR20
Sky
a broken layer from 1,200 ft, tops 4,600 ft
B350 climbing, 26 nm south, 7:12 am EDT (11:12 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 208 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1112/FLDURC/TP B350/SK TOP050
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
11:12 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B350
Sky
TOP050
BE20 climbing, 26 nm south, 7:11 am EDT (11:11 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. 208 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1111/FLDURC/TP BE20/SK OVC013-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
11:11 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops unknown
CRJ9 climbing, 26 nm south, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): a broken layer above 1,300 ft. 208 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 1015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BKN013-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
10:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 1,300 ft, tops unknown
SR22 , 32 nm north, 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC): no icing. 218 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV PKB/TM 1030/FL000/TP SR22/SK TOP 045 BASE 004/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over PKB
Time
10:30 UTC
Height
at 0 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
top 4,500 ft base 400 ft
Icing
none
A21N at 800 ft, 46 nm north, 7:56 am EDT (11:56 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 297 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 1156/FL008/TP A21N/SK B008
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
11:56 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
B008
E170 at 6,000 ft, 46 nm north, 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 297 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 1000/FL060/TP E170/SK B008-TOP031/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
10:00 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B008-TOP031
Remarks
during the climb
C550 at 1,500 ft, 47 nm north, 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC): overcast above 1,600 ft, remarks: during the descent. 307 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV OSU/TM 1125/FL015/TP C550/SK OVC016/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over OSU
Time
11:25 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
C550
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft
Remarks
during the descent

12 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (RIC, ROA, EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, IND, JOT, SPI, BRL, DSM). 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 19 kt	+20 kt	10 °C	100 kt	7 h 56 min	3:03 pm CDT (20:03 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	+18 kt	14 °C	102 kt	7 h 46 min	2:53 pm CDT (19:53 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	+17 kt	10 °C	103 kt	7 h 42 min	2:49 pm CDT (19:49 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	+18 kt	6 °C	102 kt	7 h 46 min	2:53 pm CDT (19:53 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	+20 kt	3 °C	100 kt	7 h 56 min	3:03 pm CDT (20:03 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+22 kt	-1 °C	98 kt	8 h 06 min	3:13 pm CDT (20:13 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	8 h 21 min	3:28 pm CDT (20:28 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 28 kt	+27 kt	-7 °C	93 kt	8 h 32 min	3:39 pm CDT (20:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 33 kt	+34 kt	-20 °C	86 kt	9 h 13 min	4:20 pm CDT (21:20 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 39 kt	+39 kt	-34 °C	81 kt	9 h 47 min	4:54 pm CDT (21:54 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 52 kt	+51 kt	-41 °C	69 kt	11 h 30 min	6:37 pm CDT (23:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 53 kt	+52 kt	-49 °C	68 kt	11 h 40 min	6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	350/34	340/27 12°	340/36 8°	330/31 3°	310/32 -9°	320/34 -21°	300/37 -34°	290/37 -39°	290/42 -46°
ROA	used from 50 nm out; 69 nm from the line	310/32	340/32 14°	350/25 9°	340/24 3°	340/42 -8°	340/52 -20°	350/62 -34°	350/64 -39°	310/44 -48°
EKN	used from 99 nm out; 37 nm from the line		330/20 10°	350/29 7°	340/32 2°	340/44 -8°	350/50 -21°	350/63 -35°	340/69 -40°	330/42 -50°
CRW	used from 149 nm out; 42 nm from the line	320/17	340/23 12°	340/32 8°	340/35 4°	330/40 -7°	340/45 -20°	340/57 -34°	340/64 -42°	320/38 -50°
CMH	used from 248 nm out; 52 nm from the line	320/12	340/26 15°	340/22 9°	320/24 3°	320/32 -7°	320/36 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/59 -44°	320/57 -50°
CVG	used from 297 nm out; 49 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
IND	used from 397 nm out; 28 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
JOT	used from 496 nm out; 68 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
SPI	used from 545 nm out; 60 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
BRL	used from 595 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DSM	used from 744 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -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
RIC Richmond, VA	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 3,900 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	3,900 ft	167 ft	7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC)
CHO Charlottesville, VA	59 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	640 ft	11:53 UTC
SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA	89 nm out, 14 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,500 feet	calm	7 mi	3,500 ft	1,201 ft	11:55 UTC
USW Spencer, WV	208 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				928 ft
EOP Waverly, OH	278 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,000 ft	661 ft	11:55 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH	327 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	0.25 mi	100 ft	1,076 ft	11:54 UTC
AID Anderson, IN	416 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	919 ft	11:55 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	486 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	11:54 UTC
PIA Peoria, IL	605 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	660 ft	11:54 UTC
GBG Galesburg, IL	644 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	764 ft	11:55 UTC
PEA Pella, IA	763 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 12,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	12,000 ft	885 ft	11:55 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	6:54 am CDT (11:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,201 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At DSM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:49 pm CDT (19:49 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DSM

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

The forecast for RIC, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 23 nm from the route, 347 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Richmond International, Des Moines International.