Albany International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport ALB → IAH
1,287 nautical miles (1,481 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 241°, about 254° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 2:11 pm CDT (19:11 UTC). Right now ALB is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots; IAH is VFR, wind calm. 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
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 708 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 429 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 ALB.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 14 forecast points nearest it (ALB, AVP, PSB, AGC, EKN, CRW, CVG, LOU, BNA, MEM, JAN, SHV, LCH, HOU). 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 | 300° at 9 kt | +4 kt | 13 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 06 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 12 kt | +3 kt | 14 °C | 117 kt | 11 h | 2:17 pm CDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +4 kt | 11 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 06 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +3 kt | 7 °C | 117 kt | 11 h | 2:17 pm CDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 13 kt | +2 kt | 4 °C | 118 kt | 10 h 54 min | 2:11 pm CDT (19:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +3 kt | 0 °C | 117 kt | 11 h | 2:17 pm CDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +4 kt | -4 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 06 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 18 kt | +4 kt | -7 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 06 min | 2:23 pm CDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 21 kt | +6 kt | -19 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 17 min | 2:34 pm CDT (19:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 34 kt | +9 kt | -33 °C | 111 kt | 11 h 36 min | 2:53 pm CDT (19:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 39 kt | +15 kt | -40 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 15 min | 3:32 pm CDT (20:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 35 kt | +12 kt | -50 °C | 108 kt | 11 h 55 min | 3:12 pm CDT (20:12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/9 | 270/8 10° | L/V 5° | 260/9 1° | 260/34 -10° | 250/42 -22° | 240/57 -35° | 240/70 -42° | 240/65 -50° |
| AVP | used from 50 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 150/5 | 350/13 12° | 270/20 8° | 260/17 4° | 260/25 -11° | 240/31 -22° | 240/54 -35° | 230/61 -41° | 240/55 -49° |
| PSB | used from 150 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 360/13 13° | 330/14 7° | 300/11 3° | 290/12 -11° | 240/23 -23° | 270/25 -36° | 250/34 -40° | 250/45 -48° | |
| AGC | used from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| EKN | used from 349 nm out; 57 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° | |
| CRW | used from 399 nm out; 37 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° |
| CVG | used from 499 nm out; 84 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° |
| LOU | used from 549 nm out; 77 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° |
| BNA | used from 648 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| MEM | used from 798 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| JAN | used from 948 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 230/10 | 270/13 18° | 270/11 12° | 310/11 6° | 300/15 -4° | 300/22 -16° | 310/33 -31° | 320/37 -41° | 330/41 -52° |
| SHV | used from 1047 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| LCH | used from 1197 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| HOU | used from 1247 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB Albany, NY | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 700 ft | 284 ft | 3:51 am EDT (07:51 UTC) |
| BGM Binghamton, NY | 100 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 1,635 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| UNV State College, PA | 209 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist | from the south (170°) at 1 knots | 0.75 mi | 1,100 ft | 1,231 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| LBE Latrobe, PA | 289 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | 700 ft | 1,198 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| HTS Huntington, WV | 479 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 828 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| RGA Richmond, KY | 569 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 1.75 mi | 200 ft | 1,002 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | 718 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 599 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 868 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 346 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| GLH Greenville, MS | 977 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 130 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MLU Monroe, LA | 1057 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 78 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| JAS Jasper, TX | 1197 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 212 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 95 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,635 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:11 pm CDT (19:11 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for ALB, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility 4 miles, light drizzle, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light drizzle, mist, overcast at 500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 11 nm from the route, 708 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at ALB 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 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: Albany International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.