Louisville Muhammad Ali International to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall SDF → BWI
429 nautical miles (494 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 079°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 28-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SDF is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots; BWI is low IFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 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: 2,992 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 E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Over the last 120 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120255 MKCE WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E VALID UNTIL 0455Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 whole route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 180 to 369 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 180 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 SDF.
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 02:00–09:00 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 (LOU, CVG, CRW, EKN, RIC). 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 | 320° at 19 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 3 h 20 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | −8 kt | 12 °C | 128 kt | 3 h 21 min | 2:45 am EDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −7 kt | 11 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 340° at 25 kt | −6 kt | 7 °C | 126 kt | 3 h 24 min | 2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −4 kt | 3 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 28 min | 2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 340° at 22 kt | −5 kt | -1 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 26 min | 2:50 am EDT (06:50 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 330° at 24 kt | −7 kt | -4 °C | 127 kt | 3 h 23 min | 2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −9 kt | -8 °C | 129 kt | 3 h 20 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 26 kt | −10 kt | -9 °C | 130 kt | 3 h 18 min | 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 31 kt | −14 kt | -20 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 12 min | 2:36 am EDT (06:36 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 38 kt | −19 kt | -34 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 05 min | 2:29 am EDT (06:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 41 kt | −28 kt | -39 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 54 min | 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 35 kt | −26 kt | -48 °C | 146 kt | 2 h 56 min | 2:20 am EDT (06:20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| CVG | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/32 16° | 350/35 10° | 350/30 3° | 330/30 -7° | 340/44 -20° | 340/58 -35° | 330/72 -41° | 320/36 -49° |
| CRW | used from 100 nm out; 73 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° |
| EKN | used from 249 nm out; 5 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| RIC | used from 399 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDF Louisville, KY | departure | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC) |
| FFT Frankfort, KY | 40 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | reported, no category | calm | none | 812 ft | 02:53 UTC | |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 50 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| FGX Flemingsburg, KY | 100 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 1,100 ft | 913 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 150 nm out, 14 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: mist | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 700 ft | 828 ft | 02:51 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 200 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist | variable at 4 knots | 1 mi | 700 ft | 947 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 279 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 1,200 ft | 1,987 ft | 03:09 UTC |
| LUA Luray, VA | 339 nm out, 22 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,300 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: heavy rain | calm | 5 mi | 1,300 ft | 902 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 369 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,700 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 9 mi | 500 ft | 564 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 389 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the north (350°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 389 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| BWI Baltimore, MD | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 8 knots | 5 mi | 400 ft | 143 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BWI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:18 am EDT (06:18 UTC)
Wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 600 feet IFR
The whole forecast for BWI
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for SDF, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 399 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 2 nm from the route, 409 nm along the route · security · ZDC
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC), at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BWI is before sunrise there (7:13 am EDT (11:13 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: Louisville Muhammad Ali International, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall.