Westfield-Barnes Regional to William P Hobby Airport BAF → HOU
1,323 nautical miles (1,523 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 243°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 UTC). Right now BAF is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 6 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 E22E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 40,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC). Near the route, 298 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120555 MKCE WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22E VALID UNTIL 0755Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND MA RI DE NJ NY CSTL WTRS FROM 40E HTO-80SSW ACK-100ESE SIE-30SW CSN-40SSE JST-40E HTO AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL400.
- 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 first 786 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 328 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 169 to 647 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Near the route, 398 nm along 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 BAF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- GA6C descending, 5 nm southeast, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. 80 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
- Report
- a routine report filed through SWF
- Where
- 5 nm west (270°) of SWF
- Time
- 04:32 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- GA6C
- Sky
- overcast from 1,000 ft
- Remarks
- bases OVC010
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 15 forecast points nearest it (BDL, JFK, AVP, PSB, EKN, CRW, TRI, TYS, BNA, HSV, 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 8 kt | +3 kt | 12 °C | 117 kt | 11 h 18 min | 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 11 kt | +3 kt | 14 °C | 117 kt | 11 h 18 min | 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 14 kt | +5 kt | 11 °C | 115 kt | 11 h 30 min | 1:04 pm CDT (18:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +4 kt | 7 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 24 min | 12:58 pm CDT (17:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +3 kt | 4 °C | 117 kt | 11 h 18 min | 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +5 kt | 0 °C | 115 kt | 11 h 30 min | 1:04 pm CDT (18:04 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +6 kt | -4 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 36 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 19 kt | +6 kt | -7 °C | 114 kt | 11 h 36 min | 1:10 pm CDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 21 kt | +9 kt | -18 °C | 111 kt | 11 h 55 min | 1:29 pm CDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | +14 kt | -33 °C | 106 kt | 12 h 29 min | 2:03 pm CDT (19:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 36 kt | +17 kt | -40 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 51 min | 2:25 pm CDT (19:25 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 33 kt | +14 kt | -50 °C | 106 kt | 12 h 29 min | 2:03 pm CDT (19:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDL | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 120/24 | 290/23 12° | 280/21 8° | 250/36 3° | 250/41 -11° | 230/48 -21° | 230/78 -32° | 230/96 -41° | 230/86 -52° |
| JFK | used from 50 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 250/18 | 250/23 14° | 240/33 9° | 240/33 4° | 240/38 -10° | 240/45 -21° | 230/86 -32° | 230/102 -40° | 230/84 -51° |
| AVP | used from 99 nm out; 27 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 199 nm out; 56 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° | |
| EKN | used from 298 nm out; 58 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 398 nm out; 43 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° |
| TRI | used from 547 nm out; 67 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 597 nm out; 61 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° |
| BNA | used from 696 nm out; 41 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° |
| HSV | used from 746 nm out; 44 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° |
| MEM | used from 895 nm out; 81 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 945 nm out; 64 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 1094 nm out; 89 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 1144 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 1244 nm out; 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAF Westfield/Springfield, MA | departure | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 9 knots | 9 mi | 600 ft | 270 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
| POU Poughkeepsie, NY | 60 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north (010°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 163 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CXY Harrisburg, PA | 219 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 346 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| HGR Hagerstown, MD | 269 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 703 ft | 06:25 UTC |
| CRW Charleston, WV | 468 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 1 mi | 500 ft | 947 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CPF Hazard, KY | 567 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 400 ft | 1,256 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| SYI Shelbyville, TN | 756 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Weather: mist | from the east (100°) at 4 knots | 5 mi | none | 799 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| TUP Tupelo, MS | 895 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 8 mi | none | 346 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 975 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 162 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | 1154 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HPY Baytown, TX | 1303 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 33 ft | ||||
| HOU Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 46 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,256 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:52 pm CDT (17:52 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 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
The whole forecast for HOU
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the 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 5 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 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
The forecast for BAF, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- At times between Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): rain, a broken layer at 700 feet
- Changing between Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) to: wind from the north at 6 knots, mist, overcast at 1,500 feet
- Changing between Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC) and 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC) to: wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, overcast at 2,000 feet
- Changing between Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm EDT (20:00 UTC) to: wind from the northwest at 9 knots, a broken layer at 2,000 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 BAF 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC), at HOU 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: Westfield-Barnes Regional, William P Hobby Airport.