Southwest Florida International to Lehigh Valley International RSW → ABE
904 nautical miles (1,040 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 019°, about 023° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 5 h at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 61-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RSW is VFR, wind calm; ABE is marginal VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 9 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: 145 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). Over the last 159 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 89 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 13,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 RSW.
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (PIE, MLB, JAX, CHS, ILM, RDU, RIC, ACY, AVP). 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 | 230° at 17 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 6 h 45 min | 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −14 kt | 134 kt | 6 h 45 min | 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −18 kt | 13 °C | 138 kt | 6 h 33 min | 4:30 am EDT (08:30 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −22 kt | 11 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 22 min | 4:19 am EDT (08:19 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 30 kt | −24 kt | 8 °C | 144 kt | 6 h 17 min | 4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | −27 kt | 4 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 09 min | 4:06 am EDT (08:06 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 37 kt | −30 kt | 0 °C | 150 kt | 6 h 02 min | 3:59 am EDT (07:59 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 41 kt | −33 kt | -4 °C | 153 kt | 5 h 55 min | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 42 kt | −34 kt | -5 °C | 154 kt | 5 h 52 min | 3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 49 kt | −44 kt | -16 °C | 164 kt | 5 h 31 min | 3:28 am EDT (07:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 59 kt | −55 kt | -30 °C | 175 kt | 5 h 10 min | 3:07 am EDT (07:07 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 210° at 62 kt | −61 kt | -41 °C | 181 kt | 5 h | 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 210° at 59 kt | −58 kt | -52 °C | 178 kt | 5 h 05 min | 3:02 am EDT (07:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIE | used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 310/7 | 270/12 17° | 270/14 13° | 260/14 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/24 -16° | 220/26 -31° | 200/31 -41° | 180/33 -53° |
| MLB | used from 50 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 240/7 | 240/11 17° | 240/13 13° | 250/15 8° | 230/25 -5° | 210/25 -16° | 210/24 -31° | 190/29 -41° | 190/27 -53° |
| JAX | used from 199 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 280/14 | 300/22 16° | 260/27 15° | 260/26 9° | 240/41 -6° | 230/38 -16° | 220/44 -32° | 200/49 -41° | 200/52 -53° |
| CHS | used from 298 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 260/22 | 280/26 12° | 260/37 12° | 250/40 8° | 240/54 -4° | 230/55 -15° | 220/61 -31° | 200/66 -41° | 210/62 -52° |
| ILM | used from 447 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 230/27 | 220/35 14° | 230/45 13° | 230/48 8° | 240/59 -4° | 230/57 -14° | 220/66 -30° | 210/66 -40° | 210/59 -52° |
| RDU | used from 546 nm out; 44 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° |
| RIC | used from 646 nm out; 28 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° |
| ACY | used from 795 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 230/15 | 230/22 15° | 230/31 11° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 230/51 -17° | 230/71 -31° | 230/81 -41° | 230/86 -53° |
| AVP | used from 894 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 110/36 | 190/34 13° | 230/11 8° | 230/16 4° | 230/26 -8° | 220/40 -19° | 230/73 -33° | 230/98 -41° | 230/87 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSW Fort Myers, FL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 9:53 pm EDT (01:53 UTC) |
| PGD Punta Gorda, FL | 20 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| EVB New Smyrna Beach, FL | 159 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 10 ft | 01:48 UTC |
| GGE Georgetown, SC | 427 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 39 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| CRE North Myrtle Beach, SC | 467 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 01:53 UTC |
| ISO Kinston, NC | 566 nm out, 22 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 4,400 ft | 92 ft | 01:50 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 695 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 167 ft | 01:54 UTC |
| ESN Easton, MD | 795 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 1,900 ft | 72 ft | 00:45 UTC |
| MTN Baltimore, MD | 814 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 22 ft | 01:45 UTC |
| ABE Allentown, PA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 393 ft | 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 393 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ABE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:57 am EDT (06:57 UTC)
Wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR
The whole forecast for ABE
- From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for RSW, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 24 nm from the route, 109 nm along the route · security · ZJX
- 6/8298 Daytona Beach, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, 169 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 7 nm from the route, 516 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 16 nm from the route, 775 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, 804 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC), at ABE 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ABE is before sunrise there (7:09 am EDT (11:09 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: Southwest Florida International, Lehigh Valley International.