Buffalo Niagara International to Alexandria International BUF → AEX
959 nautical miles (1,103 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 228°, about 239° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 11-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; AEX 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: 26 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 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 40 nm along the route.
- 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 140 to 559 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 BUF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, CMH, CVG, LOU, BNA, MEM, JAN, SHV, LCH). 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 | 320° at 12 kt | 0 | 120 kt | 8 h | 9:36 am CDT (14:36 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 15 kt | −4 kt | 14 °C | 124 kt | 7 h 44 min | 9:20 am CDT (14:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 16 kt | −4 kt | 11 °C | 124 kt | 7 h 44 min | 9:20 am CDT (14:20 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 330° at 17 kt | −5 kt | 7 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 40 min | 9:16 am CDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 340° at 18 kt | −7 kt | 3 °C | 127 kt | 7 h 33 min | 9:09 am CDT (14:09 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 330° at 20 kt | −6 kt | 0 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 37 min | 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | −5 kt | -4 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 40 min | 9:16 am CDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 330° at 23 kt | −5 kt | -7 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 40 min | 9:16 am CDT (14:16 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 330° at 30 kt | −7 kt | -19 °C | 127 kt | 7 h 33 min | 9:09 am CDT (14:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 330° at 44 kt | −11 kt | -34 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 19 min | 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 52 kt | −8 kt | -42 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 30 min | 9:06 am CDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 42 kt | −9 kt | -50 °C | 129 kt | 7 h 26 min | 9:02 am CDT (14:02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 320/10 | 010/16 10° | 360/10 6° | 340/13 2° | 330/22 -11° | 300/25 -23° | 320/31 -38° | 300/29 -44° | 280/36 -50° |
| CLE | used from 100 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -49° |
| CMH | used from 200 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| CVG | used from 300 nm out; 37 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 399 nm out; 19 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 499 nm out; 40 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 649 nm out; 55 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 749 nm out; 82 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 899 nm out; 96 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 949 nm out; 85 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Buffalo, NY | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 14,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 14,000 ft | 726 ft | 1:54 am EDT (05:54 UTC) |
| ERI Erie, PA | 80 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| CAK Akron, OH | 170 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 6 mi | 500 ft | 1,225 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| CMH Columbus, OH | 260 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 815 ft | 05:51 UTC |
| ILN Wilmington, OH | 310 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 1,076 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 429 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 6 mi | none | 500 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 549 nm out, 22 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: unknown precipitation | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 501 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| SZY Selmer, TN | 649 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 610 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| UOX Oxford, MS | 719 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 452 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| GWO Greenwood, MS | 779 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 162 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| AEX Alexandria, LA | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 88 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,225 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At AEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for AEX
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for BUF, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 120 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, 130 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, 140 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, 359 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 21 nm from the route, 539 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at AEX 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 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: Buffalo Niagara International, Alexandria International.