Plan a flight · Mon 9:08 am CDT (14:08 UTC)

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International to William P Hobby Airport BHM → HOU

495 nautical miles (570 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 247° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:09 pm CDT (18:09 UTC). Right now BHM is VFR, wind calm; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 8 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: 905 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 BHM.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B38M at 39,000 ft, 49 nm northeast, 6:58 am CDT (11:58 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 02. At the departure end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV CTJ300040/TM 1158/FL390/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 02
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
40 nm northwest (300°) of CTJ
Time
11:58 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 02
BE36 at 8,000 ft, 4 nm northwest, 6:18 am CDT (11:18 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZME65. 218 nm along the route, 4 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
PC12 at 20,000 ft, 15 nm north, 8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 337 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AEX UA /OV AEX250010/TM 1349/FL200/TP PC12/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through AEX
Where
10 nm west (250°) of AEX
Time
13:49 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
zhu
HELO at 1,700 ft, 19 nm south, 8:43 am CDT (13:43 UTC): a few clouds above 2,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 426 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BPT UA /OV KBPT160002/TM 1343/FL017/TP HELO/SK FEW020/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BPT
Where
2 nm south (160°) of KBPT
Time
13:43 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
HELO
Sky
a few clouds from 2,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
E145 at 19,000 ft, 17 nm south, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 426 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BPT UA /OV BPT/TM 1302/FL190/TP E145/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BPT
Where
over BPT
Time
13:02 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zhu
A21N at 32,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 7:04 am CDT (12:04 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 18 nm northwest 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
B38M at 2,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 8:22 am CDT (13:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV 5NW HOU/TM 1322/FL020/TP B38M/SK BASE 020
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
5NW hou
Time
13:22 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
base 2,000 ft
C525 at 22,000 ft, 44 nm northwest, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): light rime icing, -12 °C, remarks: during the climb from 19,000 ft to 24,000 ft zhu. At the destination end, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IAH270035/TM 1240/FL220/TP C525/TA M12/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC 190-240 ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
35 nm west (270°) of IAH
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
C525
Temperature
−12 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb from 19,000 ft to 24,000 ft 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 4 forecast points nearest it (BHM, 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	220° at 10 kt	+9 kt		111 kt	4 h 28 min	1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 9 kt	+8 kt	17 °C	112 kt	4 h 25 min	1:33 pm CDT (18:33 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 6 kt	+6 kt	13 °C	114 kt	4 h 21 min	1:29 pm CDT (18:29 UTC)
10,500 ft	270° at 5 kt	+4 kt	9 °C	116 kt	4 h 16 min	1:24 pm CDT (18:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 5 kt	+3 kt	6 °C	117 kt	4 h 14 min	1:22 pm CDT (18:22 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 8 kt	+4 kt	1 °C	116 kt	4 h 16 min	1:24 pm CDT (18:24 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 11 kt	+6 kt	-2 °C	114 kt	4 h 21 min	1:29 pm CDT (18:29 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 14 kt	+7 kt	-6 °C	113 kt	4 h 23 min	1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 14 kt	+9 kt	-16 °C	111 kt	4 h 28 min	1:36 pm CDT (18:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 31 kt	+7 kt	-30 °C	113 kt	4 h 23 min	1:31 pm CDT (18:31 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 33 kt	+2 kt	-40 °C	118 kt	4 h 12 min	1:20 pm CDT (18:20 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	340° at 37 kt	−3 kt	-51 °C	123 kt	4 h 01 min	1:09 pm CDT (18:09 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
BHM	used from 0 nm out; 25 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°
JAN	used from 99 nm out; 60 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 297 nm out; 72 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 446 nm out; 25 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
BHM Birmingham, AL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	650 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
TCL Tuscaloosa, AL	50 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	none	169 ft	13:53 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	119 nm out, 21 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	297 ft	13:58 UTC
JAN Jackson, MS	188 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	346 ft	13:54 UTC
HEZ Natchez, MS	257 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	272 ft	13:56 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	327 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	88 ft	13:53 UTC
ACP Oakdale, LA	347 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	107 ft	13:55 UTC
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	426 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, scattered clouds at 3,400 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	13:53 UTC
HPY Baytown, TX	475 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	no report just now				33 ft
HOU Houston, TX	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	23,000 ft	46 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 650 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, 1:09 pm CDT (18:09 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): light rain showers

The whole forecast for HOU

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC) and 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 3:00 pm CDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet

The forecast for BHM, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest 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 BHM 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 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

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International, William P Hobby Airport.