Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field) to General Mitchell International ROA → MKE
496 nautical miles (570 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 315°, about 323° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 16-knot headwind), arriving about 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC). Right now ROA is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25; MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 10 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 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 426 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft, from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC). Over the first 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 ROA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- MD83 climbing, 11 nm east, 1:04 am EDT (05:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 208 nm along the route, 11 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV LCK/TM 0504/FLDURC/TP MD83/SK B010 T037
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over LCK
- Time
- 05:04 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- MD83
- Sky
- B010 T037
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 5 forecast points nearest it (ROA, CRW, CMH, FWA, MKG). 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 19 kt | +19 kt | 101 kt | 4 h 55 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 58 min | 7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 10 °C | 101 kt | 4 h 55 min | 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 4 h 49 min | 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 2 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 46 min | 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +21 kt | -2 °C | 99 kt | 5 h 01 min | 7:37 am CDT (12:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -6 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 13 min | 7:49 am CDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 29 kt | +29 kt | -9 °C | 91 kt | 5 h 27 min | 8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 37 kt | +37 kt | -20 °C | 83 kt | 5 h 59 min | 8:35 am CDT (13:35 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 47 kt | +46 kt | -36 °C | 74 kt | 6 h 42 min | 9:18 am CDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 56 kt | +55 kt | -42 °C | 65 kt | 7 h 38 min | 10:14 am CDT (15:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 53 kt | +53 kt | -49 °C | 67 kt | 7 h 24 min | 10:00 am CDT (15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| CRW | used from 50 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| CMH | used from 149 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| FWA | used from 248 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| MKG | used from 397 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 260/22 | 290/16 15° | 300/11 10° | 290/5 3° | 300/26 -9° | 300/32 -20° | 320/48 -36° | 320/61 -45° | 310/74 -53° |
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 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 1,175 ft | 2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC) |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 40 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 99 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 4 mi | 600 ft | 947 ft | 07:07 UTC |
| GAS Gallipolis, OH | 139 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 565 ft | ||||
| UNI Athens/Albany, OH | 159 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 100 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | 100 ft | 765 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| TZR Columbus, OH | 218 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 904 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| AXV Wapakoneta, OH | 278 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | none | 912 ft | 07:24 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 327 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 814 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| EKM Elkhart, IN | 387 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 777 ft | 07:15 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 397 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | 476 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| MKE Milwaukee, WI | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 728 ft | 1:52 am CDT (06:52 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKE
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ROA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,200 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,200 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, gusting to 20, 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 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 ROA 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC), at MKE 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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), General Mitchell International.