Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport ATL → IAH
598 nautical miles (688 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 251°, about 256° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC). Right now ATL is VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 5 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: 10,572 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the route from 110 to 449 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 ATL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- CRJ9 at 1,200 ft, 49 nm south, 7:45 am EDT (11:45 UTC): light haze. 120 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MGM UA /OV MGM 2E/TM 1145/FL012/TP CRJ9/WX -HZ
- Report
- a routine report filed through MGM
- Where
- mgm 2E
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 1,200 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Weather
- light haze
- BE36 at 8,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 7:18 am EDT (11:18 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZME65. 329 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
JAN UA /OV MHZ225040/TM 1118/FL080/TP BE36/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZME65
- Report
- a routine report filed through JAN
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (225°) of MHZ
- Time
- 11:18 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE36
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- ZME65
- B738 at 18,000 ft, 47 nm northwest, 7:59 am EDT (11:59 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
UTS UA /OV KLOA155020/TM 1159/FL180/TP B738/TB LGT CHOPN 180-230/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through UTS
- Where
- 20 nm southeast (155°) of KLOA
- Time
- 11:59 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chopn from 18,000 ft to 23,000 ft
- Remarks
- zhu
- A21N at 32,000 ft, 2 nm south, 8:04 am EDT (12:04 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV KDAS134010/TM 1204/FL320/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (134°) of KDAS
- Time
- 12:04 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- zhu
- SF30 at 21,000 ft, 2 nm south, 5:35 am EDT (09:35 UTC): light rime icing, -10 °C, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV DAS02002/TM 0935/FL210/TP SF30/TA M10/IC LGT RIME/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- DAS02002
- Time
- 09:35 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SF30
- Temperature
- −10 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- zhu
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (ATL, BHM, MGM, JAN, 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 | 250° at 7 kt | +8 kt | 112 kt | 5 h 20 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 7 kt | +7 kt | 16 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 18 min | 12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 290° at 6 kt | +5 kt | 13 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 12 min | 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 6 kt | +3 kt | 9 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 07 min | 12:27 pm CDT (17:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 7 kt | +3 kt | 5 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 07 min | 12:27 pm CDT (17:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 10 kt | +5 kt | 1 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 12 min | 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +7 kt | -2 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 18 min | 12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 15 kt | +8 kt | -6 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 20 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 15 kt | +8 kt | -16 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 20 min | 12:40 pm CDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 33 kt | +10 kt | -31 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 26 min | 12:46 pm CDT (17:46 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 330° at 35 kt | +5 kt | -40 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 12 min | 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 340° at 36 kt | 0 | -51 °C | 120 kt | 4 h 59 min | 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| BHM | used from 50 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -51° |
| MGM | used from 150 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 320/19 | 330/16 17° | 340/21 11° | 330/11 5° | 330/27 -6° | 330/21 -17° | 330/37 -32° | 340/44 -40° | 360/30 -52° |
| JAN | used from 199 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 240/10 | 260/15 18° | 280/10 11° | 290/6 6° | 290/15 -5° | 300/15 -17° | 320/35 -30° | 330/38 -40° | 330/39 -51° |
| LCH | used from 399 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 170/21 | 160/23 18° | 170/13 13° | 170/6 8° | 300/12 -7° | 280/16 -14° | 320/27 -30° | 330/23 -41° | 340/38 -51° |
| HOU | used from 548 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 180/22 | 180/20 16° | 170/7 15° | L/V 8° | 220/11 -6° | 260/15 -13° | 310/20 -30° | 320/20 -40° | 350/32 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL Atlanta, GA | departure | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 7:52 am EDT (11:52 UTC) |
| CTJ Carrollton, GA | 30 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,164 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| SCD Sylacauga, AL | 100 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 7 mi | none | 568 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| EET Alabaster, AL | 120 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 585 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MEI Meridian, MS | 229 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 297 ft | 11:58 UTC |
| JAN Jackson, MS | 299 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots | 9 mi | none | 346 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| HEZ Natchez, MS | 369 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 272 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 439 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 100 ft | 88 ft | 12:02 UTC |
| BMT Beaumont, TX | 538 nm out, 20 nm south of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 31 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 95 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,164 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, 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 12 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 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
- At times between Tue 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): overcast at 1,500 feet
The forecast for ATL, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8928 Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at ATL 7:07 pm EDT (23:07 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: Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.