Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) to Albany International ROA → ALB
432 nautical miles (497 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 039°, about 047° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 12:25 pm EDT (16:25 UTC). Right now ROA is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21; ALB is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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
- 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 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the first 196 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the whole route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 412 nm of the route.
- 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 last 363 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 ROA.
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 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (ROA, EKN, PSB, AVP, ALB). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 350° at 21 kt | +13 kt | 107 kt | 4 h 02 min | 12:45 pm EDT (16:45 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 360° at 21 kt | +16 kt | 11 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 09 min | 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 360° at 22 kt | +16 kt | 10 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 09 min | 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 350° at 24 kt | +16 kt | 7 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 09 min | 12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 350° at 25 kt | +15 kt | 3 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 07 min | 12:50 pm EDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 340° at 27 kt | +15 kt | -1 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 07 min | 12:50 pm EDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 340° at 29 kt | +15 kt | -5 °C | 105 kt | 4 h 07 min | 12:50 pm EDT (16:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 340° at 31 kt | +14 kt | -9 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 05 min | 12:48 pm EDT (16:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 340° at 32 kt | +14 kt | -10 °C | 106 kt | 4 h 05 min | 12:48 pm EDT (16:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 340° at 37 kt | +19 kt | -22 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 17 min | 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 340° at 43 kt | +24 kt | -36 °C | 96 kt | 4 h 30 min | 1:13 pm EDT (17:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 47 kt | +18 kt | -42 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 14 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 33 kt | +3 kt | -50 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 42 min | 12:25 pm EDT (16:25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | used from 0 nm out; 25 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 49 nm out; 55 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° | |
| PSB | used from 147 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 020/21 12° | 360/28 7° | 360/29 1° | 350/33 -10° | 350/42 -22° | 350/49 -37° | 340/63 -43° | 350/39 -52° | |
| AVP | used from 245 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 010/20 | 020/24 11° | 360/19 8° | 350/23 2° | 320/24 -11° | 330/25 -22° | 330/27 -37° | 310/28 -42° | 290/30 -50° |
| ALB | used from 392 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 340/22 | 340/19 9° | 320/16 7° | 330/16 2° | 330/19 -11° | 320/21 -23° | 320/25 -39° | 280/30 -44° | 270/41 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA Roanoke, VA | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,400 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 1,175 ft | 7:54 am EDT (11:54 UTC) |
| HSP Hot Springs, VA | 29 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the west (280°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22 | 0.25 mi | none | 3,792 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| VBW Bridgewater, VA | 78 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,165 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| LUA Luray, VA | 108 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,200 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 902 ft | 12:35 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 157 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,100 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,100 ft | 564 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 177 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 703 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| CXY Harrisburg, PA | 226 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 346 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| RDG Reading, PA | 265 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 343 ft | 12:09 UTC |
| AVP Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA | 314 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (010°) at 8 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 961 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| MSV Monticello, NY | 353 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 1,403 ft | 12:33 UTC |
| ALB Albany, NY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | calm | 3 mi | 1,600 ft | 284 ft | 8:25 am EDT (12:25 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,792 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ALB when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:25 pm EDT (16:25 UTC)
Wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for ALB
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility 6 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
The forecast for ROA, the departure
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC) and 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 14 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 17 nm from the route, 157 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 157 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at ROA 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC), at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:46 pm EDT (22:46 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: Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field), Albany International.