Richmond International to Valley International RIC → HRL
1,234 nautical miles (1,420 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 243°, about 253° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 44 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC). 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: 49 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 10:55 pm EDT (02:55 UTC). Over the first 109 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 30 to 50 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 348 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 309 to 408 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 458 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 RIC.
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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (RIC, RDU, ROA, GSP, ATL, BHM, MGM, JAN, MSY, LCH, HOU, PSX, CRP, BRO). 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 | 280° at 7 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 10 h 44 min | 7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 8 kt | +5 kt | 14 °C | 115 kt | 10 h 44 min | 7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 12 °C | 113 kt | 10 h 55 min | 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | +9 kt | 9 °C | 111 kt | 11 h 07 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 280° at 15 kt | +10 kt | 5 °C | 110 kt | 11 h 13 min | 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 280° at 16 kt | +12 kt | 1 °C | 108 kt | 11 h 26 min | 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 18 kt | +14 kt | -2 °C | 106 kt | 11 h 38 min | 8:23 am CDT (13:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 19 kt | +15 kt | -5 °C | 105 kt | 11 h 45 min | 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 24 kt | +21 kt | -16 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 28 min | 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 26 kt | +22 kt | -31 °C | 98 kt | 12 h 36 min | 9:21 am CDT (14:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 26 kt | +21 kt | -40 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 28 min | 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -51 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 28 min | 9:13 am CDT (14:13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
| RDU | used from 50 nm out; 63 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 100 nm out; 51 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° |
| GSP | used from 199 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| ATL | used from 348 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 300/23 | 320/26 14° | 320/34 10° | 320/41 5° | 290/32 -6° | 290/31 -18° | 280/28 -33° | 260/32 -41° | 250/28 -50° |
| BHM | used from 448 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/32 16° | 320/37 11° | 330/37 6° | 310/33 -7° | 310/30 -18° | 320/40 -34° | 330/43 -41° | 330/30 -49° |
| MGM | used from 547 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 300/16 | 330/30 16° | 330/34 11° | 320/31 7° | 310/28 -7° | 320/29 -17° | 290/25 -34° | 300/28 -41° | 320/28 -50° |
| JAN | used from 647 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 260/6 | 310/14 17° | 280/13 12° | 290/19 6° | 310/22 -5° | 310/28 -17° | 320/44 -32° | 330/48 -41° | 320/52 -51° |
| MSY | used from 746 nm out; 53 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 18° | L/V 12° | 300/11 7° | 330/15 -4° | 320/22 -16° | 330/38 -32° | 350/47 -42° | 340/56 -52° |
| LCH | used from 846 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 190/6 | 180/8 18° | 170/13 12° | 220/12 7° | 290/10 -4° | 280/15 -14° | 320/30 -31° | 320/32 -40° | 320/39 -53° |
| HOU | used from 995 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -52° |
| PSX | used from 1045 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 140/20 | 140/23 18° | 160/17 13° | 240/5 8° | 250/9 -4° | 250/11 -13° | 310/15 -29° | 310/17 -40° | 290/11 -52° |
| CRP | used from 1145 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 130/19 | 140/20 18° | 160/17 13° | 180/10 7° | 230/9 -3° | 230/11 -13° | 310/6 -29° | 310/5 -39° | 310/13 -52° |
| BRO | used from 1194 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 130/16 | 160/16 17° | 160/14 13° | 150/12 8° | L/V -3° | 250/13 -14° | 130/15 -29° | 100/18 -39° | L/V -50° |
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 | no report just now | 167 ft | ||||
| BKT Blackstone, VA | 40 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 437 ft | ||||
| HKY Hickory, NC | 219 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,189 ft | ||||
| AVL Asheville, NC | 279 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,163 ft | ||||
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 408 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,040 ft | ||||
| DYA Demopolis, AL | 607 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 111 ft | ||||
| MEI Meridian, MS | 637 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 297 ft | ||||
| BTR Baton Rouge, LA | 806 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 69 ft | ||||
| IYA Abbeville, LA | 866 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 15 ft | ||||
| HRL Harlingen, TX | destination | no report just now | 36 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HRL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC)
HRL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 5/6914 South Padre Island, TX, Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Local 23 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ended 6 May · ZHU
- 5/3678 Brownsville, TX, Thursday, January 1, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027 Local 25 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 January · ZHU
Daylight
Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at HRL 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 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: Richmond International, Valley International.