Shenandoah Valley Regional to Huntsville Intl-Carl T Jones Field SHD → HSV
438 nautical miles (504 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 243°, about 252° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 2-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SHD is marginal VFR, wind calm; HSV is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 3 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 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120455 MKCE WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E VALID UNTIL 0655Z CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.
- 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 TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 329 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 169 to 169 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 SHD.
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (ROA, TRI, TYS, HSV). 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 | 320° at 23 kt | +3 kt | 11 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 45 min | 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 25 kt | −1 kt | 12 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 37 min | 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 28 kt | −2 kt | 9 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 35 min | 3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | −2 kt | 6 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 35 min | 3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 29 kt | −1 kt | 3 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 37 min | 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 30 kt | +1 kt | -1 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 41 min | 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 31 kt | +3 kt | -5 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 45 min | 3:59 am CDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 32 kt | +5 kt | -8 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 49 min | 4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 32 kt | +6 kt | -20 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 51 min | 4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 39 kt | +10 kt | -33 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 59 min | 4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 42 kt | +12 kt | -39 °C | 108 kt | 4 h 03 min | 4:17 am CDT (09:17 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 35 kt | +10 kt | -48 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 59 min | 4:13 am CDT (09:13 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; 53 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° |
| TRI | used from 149 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 249 nm out; 15 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| HSV | used from 349 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHD Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | calm | 7 mi | 2,600 ft | 1,201 ft | 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC) |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 70 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 2,100 ft | 2,301 ft | 02:15 UTC |
| BLF Bluefield, WV | 119 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots, gusting to 17 | 7 mi | 400 ft | 2,856 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| JFZ Richlands, VA | 159 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 7 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,653 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 199 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 2,000 ft | 1,518 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MOR Morristown, TN | 249 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a few clouds at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 1,312 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 289 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,700 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,700 ft | 986 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| RKW Rockwood, TN | 309 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | VFR | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,664 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 358 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MDQ Huntsville, AL | 418 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.75 mi | none | 763 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| HSV Huntsville, AL | destination | VFR | from the east (090°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 628 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,856 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HSV when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:49 am CDT (08:49 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies marginal VFR
At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies IFR
The whole forecast for HSV
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 SHD 6:42 pm EDT (22:42 UTC), at HSV 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HSV is before sunrise there (6:50 am CDT (11:50 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: Shenandoah Valley Regional, Huntsville Intl-Carl T Jones Field.