St. Louis Lambert International to Raleigh-Durham International STL → RDU
579 nautical miles (666 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 104°, about 105° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now STL is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 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: 1,320 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 route from 259 to 409 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 309 to 489 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 409 to 499 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 STL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 359 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- PA46 at 23,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 429 nm along the route, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 10 nm east (090°) of HMV
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Turbulence
- light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-44
- A319 at 25,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 220 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 17 nm east (070°) of BWG
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- none
- E170 climbing, 24 nm north, 5:26 pm CDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 220 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over SDF
- Time
- 22:26 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- B022 T036
- B712 at 600 ft, 32 nm northeast, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 269 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 32 nm northeast, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 269 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
- S22T descending, 24 nm south, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 399 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent RY23 tri
- PC24 at 4,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 459 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
- Report
- a routine report filed through CLT
- Where
- 90 nm north (005°) of CLT
- Time
- 23:00 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC24
- Weather
- fi s
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- 18 final
- C52C at 12,500 ft, 37 nm northeast, 7:34 pm CDT (00:34 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 12,500 ft, 1 °C. 469 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROA UA /OV ROA240030/TM 0034/FL125/TP C52C/SK OVCUNKN-TOP125/TA +1/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROA
- Where
- 30 nm southwest (240°) of ROA
- Time
- 00:34 UTC
- Height
- at 12,500 ft
- Aircraft
- C52C
- Sky
- overcast, tops 12,500 ft
- Temperature
- +1
- Icing
- none
- SF50 at 7,000 ft, 41 nm south, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 469 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
- Report
- a routine report filed through HKY
- Where
- over BZM
- Time
- 22:37 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF50
- Sky
- instrument conditions
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-45
- CRJ7 descending, 11 nm south, 5:32 pm CDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 519 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- over GSO
- Time
- 22:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- a broken layer from 4,500 ft
- B763 at 3,000 ft, 5 nm west, 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 529 nm along the route, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- heved
- Time
- 23:26 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft
- B763 descending, 4 nm west, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 529 nm along the route, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
- Report
- a routine report filed through GSO
- Where
- 10 northeast gso
- Time
- 23:24 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B763
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft
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 6 forecast points nearest it (STL, EVV, LOU, TRI, ROA, RDU). 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 | 290° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 4 h 23 min | 1:37 am EDT (05:37 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 11 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 12 min | 1:26 am EDT (05:26 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 10 min | 1:24 am EDT (05:24 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 8 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 06 min | 1:20 am EDT (05:20 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −20 kt | 5 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 08 min | 1:22 am EDT (05:22 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −20 kt | 1 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 08 min | 1:22 am EDT (05:22 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -3 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 06 min | 1:20 am EDT (05:20 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 06 min | 1:20 am EDT (05:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -8 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 06 min | 1:20 am EDT (05:20 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -19 °C | 145 kt | 4 h | 1:14 am EDT (05:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 34 kt | −32 kt | -33 °C | 152 kt | 3 h 49 min | 1:03 am EDT (05:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 37 kt | −34 kt | -40 °C | 154 kt | 3 h 46 min | 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 32 kt | −30 kt | -49 °C | 150 kt | 3 h 52 min | 1:06 am EDT (05:06 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| EVV | used from 50 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| LOU | used from 200 nm out; 28 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 299 nm out; 81 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° | |
| ROA | used from 449 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 280/9 | 290/15 12° | 290/11 8° | 210/6 3° | 210/30 -6° | 220/46 -19° | 210/74 -30° | 220/78 -39° | 220/64 -48° |
| RDU | used from 499 nm out; 55 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL St Louis, MO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 617 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
| BLV Belleville, IL | 30 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 459 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| ENL Centralia, IL | 60 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 534 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| EVV Evansville, IN | 140 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 421 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 220 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| DVK Danville, KY | 269 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 600 ft | 1,021 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| LOZ London, KY | 309 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north (010°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,212 ft | 20:18 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 389 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 2,684 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| VJI Abingdon, VA | 419 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 2,087 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 519 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 925 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| BUY Burlington, NC | 549 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 616 ft | 01:06 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for STL, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, 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 STL 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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: St. Louis Lambert International, Raleigh-Durham International.
