Seattle-Tacoma International to Wilmington International SEA → ILM
2,132 nautical miles (2,453 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 095°, about 079° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC). Right now SEA is VFR, wind from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots; ILM is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 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
- SIGMET W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 588 to 687 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W VALID UNTIL 0155Z MT WY FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 339 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 189 to 608 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 817 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 279 to 917 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 548 to 578 nm out.
- 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 1743 to 1863 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1783 to 1933 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 1873 to 1963 nm out.
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 SEA.
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 23 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, LWS, GPI, DLN, GTF, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, OMA, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND, LOU, TRI, RDU, FLO, ILM). 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 | 240° at 10 kt | −4 kt | 124 kt | 17 h 12 min | 2:03 pm EDT (18:03 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 290° at 3 kt | −2 kt | 10 °C | 122 kt | 17 h 29 min | 2:20 pm EDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 5 kt | −4 kt | 8 °C | 124 kt | 17 h 12 min | 2:03 pm EDT (18:03 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 270° at 8 kt | −6 kt | 5 °C | 126 kt | 16 h 55 min | 1:46 pm EDT (17:46 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 260° at 10 kt | −8 kt | 2 °C | 128 kt | 16 h 39 min | 1:30 pm EDT (17:30 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | −10 kt | -2 °C | 130 kt | 16 h 24 min | 1:15 pm EDT (17:15 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | −12 kt | -6 °C | 132 kt | 16 h 09 min | 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −14 kt | -10 °C | 134 kt | 15 h 55 min | 12:46 pm EDT (16:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 18 kt | −14 kt | -11 °C | 134 kt | 15 h 55 min | 12:46 pm EDT (16:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 25 kt | −19 kt | -21 °C | 139 kt | 15 h 20 min | 12:11 pm EDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 32 kt | −21 kt | -35 °C | 141 kt | 15 h 07 min | 11:58 am EDT (15:58 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 39 kt | −28 kt | -41 °C | 148 kt | 14 h 24 min | 11:15 am EDT (15:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 44 kt | −37 kt | -48 °C | 157 kt | 13 h 35 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 360/9 | 350/10 1° | 010/10 -5° | 030/20 -11° | 020/60 -17° | 010/86 -26° | 360/90 -40° | 010/68 -42° | 360/31 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 030/16 | 020/18 0° | 030/30 -8° | 030/23 -13° | 020/40 -23° | 010/73 -29° | 010/54 -36° | 360/29 -37° | 330/16 -40° |
| GEG | used from 149 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 050/18 -2° | 060/19 -8° | L/V -11° | 160/11 -24° | 190/17 -31° | 200/19 -35° | 220/14 -37° | 250/11 -41° | |
| LWS | used from 199 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 010/5 | 050/14 -2° | 040/12 -6° | 160/7 -10° | 190/30 -22° | 200/54 -27° | 200/48 -35° | 210/40 -37° | 230/32 -41° |
| GPI | used from 299 nm out; 99 nm from the line | 060/19 -3° | 110/11 -8° | 130/6 -8° | 200/40 -19° | 190/58 -28° | 200/101 -39° | 220/73 -43° | 230/41 -43° | |
| DLN | used from 349 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 080/10 -3° | 180/8 -3° | 180/23 -14° | 200/58 -22° | 200/80 -36° | 220/85 -41° | 230/81 -45° | ||
| GTF | used from 448 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 070/21 | 080/18 -6° | 120/5 -5° | 180/30 -14° | 200/53 -24° | 210/80 -38° | 220/83 -44° | 230/68 -46° | |
| BIL | used from 498 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 080/24 | 130/14 -1° | 180/33 0° | 210/43 -10° | 220/58 -21° | 200/55 -36° | 220/75 -44° | 240/83 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 648 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 120/22 5° | 170/18 4° | 200/33 1° | 230/49 -10° | 230/58 -21° | 220/54 -37° | 230/64 -44° | 250/74 -49° | |
| RAP | used from 747 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 897 nm out; 37 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| ONL | used from 996 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 200/20 17° | 230/26 14° | 240/21 7° | 250/27 -9° | 260/32 -19° | 240/44 -34° | 240/56 -41° | 250/62 -51° | |
| FSD | used from 1046 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| OMA | used from 1146 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| DSM | used from 1195 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| BRL | used from 1345 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| SPI | used from 1444 nm out; 17 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/11 17° | 270/18 10° | 290/21 4° | 310/20 -8° | 330/25 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 320/60 -44° | 320/59 -50° |
| IND | used from 1544 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| LOU | used from 1644 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| TRI | used from 1793 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| RDU | used from 1943 nm out; 91 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° |
| FLO | used from 2042 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 240/25 | 270/23 11° | 250/36 10° | 240/38 7° | 240/50 -4° | 230/66 -15° | 220/75 -30° | 210/77 -40° | 220/73 -52° |
| ILM | used from 2092 nm out; 20 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA Seattle, WA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 432 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 120 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,188 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| MSO Missoula, MT | 339 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 2,600 ft | 3,205 ft | 00:41 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 578 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (010°) at 14 knots | 6 mi | 800 ft | 3,662 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 787 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| PHP Philip, SD | 887 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 2,209 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 1265 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 957 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| SPI Springfield, IL | 1474 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 597 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 1514 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 681 ft | 23:54 UTC |
| LEX Lexington, KY | 1733 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 979 ft | 00:31 UTC |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 2002 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 609 ft | 00:35 UTC |
| ILM Wilmington, NC | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,800 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 31 ft | 7:53 pm EDT (23:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,662 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ILM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC)
Wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ILM
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for SEA, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8713 Maxton, NC, Friday, October 16, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · starts Friday 16 October · ZDC
- 6/8508 Johnsontown, NC 1 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC), at ILM 6:41 pm EDT (22:41 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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: Seattle-Tacoma International, Wilmington International.
