Buffalo Niagara International to Southwest Florida International BUF → RSW
996 nautical miles (1,146 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 190°, about 201° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC). Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots; RSW is low IFR, 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: 259 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, fog). Over the first 349 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 378 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 458 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 398 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 588 to 737 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 13 forecast points nearest it (BUF, PSB, AGC, EKN, ROA, RDU, FLO, CAE, CHS, SAV, JAX, MLB, PIE). 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 | 310° at 15 kt | −8 kt | 12 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 47 min | 11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −9 kt | 13 °C | 129 kt | 7 h 43 min | 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | −9 kt | 10 °C | 129 kt | 7 h 43 min | 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | −8 kt | 7 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 47 min | 11:54 am EDT (15:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 290° at 19 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 58 min | 12:05 pm EDT (16:05 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 20 kt | −3 kt | 0 °C | 123 kt | 8 h 06 min | 12:13 pm EDT (16:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | −1 kt | -4 °C | 121 kt | 8 h 14 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 24 kt | +1 kt | -7 °C | 119 kt | 8 h 22 min | 12:29 pm EDT (16:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 29 kt | +5 kt | -19 °C | 115 kt | 8 h 40 min | 12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 32 kt | +14 kt | -33 °C | 106 kt | 9 h 24 min | 1:31 pm EDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 41 kt | +26 kt | -40 °C | 94 kt | 10 h 36 min | 2:43 pm EDT (18:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 38 kt | +22 kt | -50 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 10 min | 2:17 pm EDT (18:17 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° |
| PSB | used from 50 nm out; 65 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° | |
| AGC | used from 100 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 350/14 | 330/20 11° | 340/18 8° | 330/17 3° | 340/22 -11° | 340/31 -22° | 330/33 -36° | 300/34 -41° | 300/35 -47° |
| EKN | used from 199 nm out; 27 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° | |
| ROA | used from 299 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 310/29 | 330/31 13° | 340/28 7° | 330/25 3° | 310/32 -8° | 300/32 -22° | 290/32 -31° | 270/35 -38° | 270/32 -47° |
| RDU | used from 398 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 280/33 | 300/23 11° | 300/28 8° | 290/28 4° | 260/41 -6° | 240/52 -18° | 230/66 -31° | 230/76 -39° | 240/52 -49° |
| FLO | used from 448 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 300/16 | 320/14 12° | 320/19 7° | 290/26 5° | 260/39 -6° | 250/45 -18° | 230/62 -32° | 230/83 -40° | 230/64 -51° |
| CAE | used from 548 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 330/15 | 330/13 12° | 330/22 9° | 300/26 6° | 280/33 -7° | 270/38 -18° | 250/45 -33° | 240/46 -40° | 270/38 -49° |
| CHS | used from 598 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 280/21 | 270/23 12° | 280/28 11° | 260/35 6° | 250/41 -5° | 250/45 -16° | 230/59 -32° | 220/74 -40° | 230/67 -52° |
| SAV | used from 647 nm out; 22 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| JAX | used from 697 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -52° |
| MLB | used from 847 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/6 | 230/12 17° | 240/13 12° | 240/14 7° | 240/20 -5° | 240/24 -16° | 210/21 -32° | 190/33 -41° | 200/36 -52° |
| PIE | used from 946 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 350/6 | L/V 18° | 290/6 14° | 280/9 9° | 250/18 -6° | 250/23 -17° | 240/30 -31° | 220/31 -41° | 220/30 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Buffalo, NY | departure | VFR Sky: overcast at 3,200 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 3,200 ft | 726 ft | 3:54 am EDT (07:54 UTC) |
| JHW Jamestown, NY | 50 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,723 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| LBE Latrobe, PA | 159 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | 700 ft | 1,198 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 249 nm out, 12 nm west of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots | 4 mi | 1,000 ft | 1,987 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| ROA Roanoke, VA | 339 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a few clouds at 3,500 feet | from the west (280°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 1,175 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| VUJ Albemarle, NC | 458 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 609 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| PYG Pageland, SC | 498 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 574 ft | ||||
| HXD Hilton Head Island, SC | 647 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots, gusting to 10 | 10+ mi | none | 19 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SGJ St Augustine, FL | 787 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| ISM Orlando, FL | 886 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 82 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| BOW Bartow, FL | 916 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 124 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| RSW Fort Myers, FL | destination | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 29 ft | 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RSW
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 200 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 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
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 767 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 777 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8298 Daytona Beach, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 827 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 4 nm from the route, 886 nm along the route · security · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 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, Southwest Florida International.