Buffalo Niagara International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International BUF → PHX
1,658 nautical miles (1,908 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 11:57 am MST (18:57 UTC). 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: 395 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 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1199 to 1438 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO NM FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- SIGMET 7W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1518 to 1558 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7W VALID UNTIL 0355Z NM AZ FROM 30NW SJN-30W TCS-60SE SSO-50SE TUS-70S INW-30NW SJN DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- SIGMET 9W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm EDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1648 to 1648 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 9W VALID UNTIL 0355Z AZ FROM 20S TBC-30S INW-10E PHX-60SW DRK-30WNW DRK-20S TBC DMSHG AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 21020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of 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 190 to 230 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 689 to 1169 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1179 to 1568 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1239 to 1239 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1279 to 1508 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, 1428 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 40 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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA, JOT, BRL, DSM, MKC, SLN, GCK, PUB, ALS, ABQ, PHX). 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 | 230° at 22 kt | +22 kt | 21 °C | 98 kt | 16 h 55 min | 12:37 pm MST (19:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +21 kt | 15 °C | 99 kt | 16 h 45 min | 12:27 pm MST (19:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 16 h 15 min | 11:57 am MST (18:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 7 °C | 102 kt | 16 h 15 min | 11:57 am MST (18:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +19 kt | 4 °C | 101 kt | 16 h 25 min | 12:07 pm MST (19:07 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +22 kt | -1 °C | 98 kt | 16 h 55 min | 12:37 pm MST (19:37 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +26 kt | -5 °C | 94 kt | 17 h 38 min | 1:20 pm MST (20:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 27 kt | +29 kt | -8 °C | 91 kt | 18 h 13 min | 1:55 pm MST (20:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 35 kt | +37 kt | -20 °C | 83 kt | 19 h 59 min | 3:41 pm MST (22:41 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 47 kt | +49 kt | -31 °C | 71 kt | 23 h 21 min | 7:03 pm MST (02:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 54 kt | +55 kt | -39 °C | 65 kt | 25 h 30 min | 9:12 pm MST (04:12 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 49 kt | +49 kt | -49 °C | 71 kt | 23 h 21 min | 7:03 pm MST (02:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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; 72 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° |
| FWA | used from 250 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| JOT | used from 350 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| BRL | used from 499 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 649 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| MKC | used from 699 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| SLN | used from 799 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 949 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 1149 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 1199 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| ABQ | used from 1299 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| PHX | used from 1498 nm out; 135 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
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 | no report just now | 726 ft | ||||
| CYQS St Thomas, | 110 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| DET Detroit, MI | 190 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 624 ft | ||||
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 390 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 596 ft | ||||
| BRL Burlington, IA | 569 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | no report just now | 698 ft | ||||
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 749 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 826 ft | ||||
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 839 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,066 ft | ||||
| GCK Garden City, KS | 1049 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,890 ft | ||||
| AXX Angel Fire, NM | 1279 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 8,379 ft | ||||
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 1338 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,348 ft | ||||
| SOW Show Low, AZ | 1548 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 6,415 ft | ||||
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | no report just now | 1,134 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 8,379 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:57 am MST (18:57 UTC)
PHX has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.
