Plan a flight · Mon 4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to San Diego International BUF → SAN

1,905 nautical miles (2,192 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 18 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots; SAN is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 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

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 279 nm of the route.
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 499 to 1087 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 1137 to 1636 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 1167 to 1596 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 1286 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1496 to 1695 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1576 to 1616 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 259 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1805 to 1815 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

A333 descending, 17 nm south, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 209 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0544/FLDURD/TP A333/SK TOPS 025
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
05:44 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A333
Sky
tops 2,500 ft
A320 at 31,000 ft, 36 nm north, 2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 1237 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 3:47 am EDT (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 1277 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
46 nm east (105°) of HBU
Time
07:47 UTC
Height
at 47,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Remarks
moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
BE20 at 9,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 1366 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0752/FL090/TP BE20/SK BASE110 TOP165/TA M05/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM DURD. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
07:52 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
BASE110 TOP165
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime
Remarks
during the descent zdvwc
PC12 at 11,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 1366 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE117
Turbulence
continuous light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36
B739 at 1,800 ft, 0 nm northwest, 3:34 am EDT (07:34 UTC): a broken layer, 18 °C, remarks: bases 1,800 ft to the east. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV FINAL RWY 27/TM 0734/FL018/TP B739/SK BKN/WX 4SM/TA 18/WV CALM/RM BASES 018 TO THE EAST
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
final runway 27
Time
07:34 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer
Weather
4SM
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
calm
Remarks
bases 1,800 ft to the east
E75L at 700 ft, 0 nm northwest, 2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC): a broken layer, 18 °C, wind 170° at 6 knots, remarks: rain bases 700 ft to the east. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV FINAL RWY 27/TM 0640/FL007/TP E75L/SK BKN/WX 5SM/TA 18/WV 17006/RM -RA BASES 007 TO THE EAST
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
final runway 27
Time
06:40 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
a broken layer
Weather
5SM
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
from 170° at 6 knots
Remarks
rain bases 700 ft to the east
BCS3 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm northwest, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0620/FL010/TP BCS3/SK BASE010/RM DURD RY27
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
over SAN
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
BASE010
Remarks
during the descent runway 27
B737 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 1:07 am EDT (05:07 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0507/FL025/TP B737/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY27
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
over SAN
Time
05:07 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent runway 27

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 (BUF, CLE, MKG, JOT, BRL, DSM, OMA, SLN, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). 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	240° at 24 kt	+24 kt		96 kt	19 h 51 min	8:52 pm PDT (03:52 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+22 kt	13 °C	98 kt	19 h 26 min	8:27 pm PDT (03:27 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	+19 kt	10 °C	101 kt	18 h 52 min	7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 19 kt	+19 kt	7 °C	101 kt	18 h 52 min	7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 19 kt	+20 kt	3 °C	100 kt	19 h 03 min	8:04 pm PDT (03:04 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 23 kt	+23 kt	-1 °C	97 kt	19 h 38 min	8:39 pm PDT (03:39 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+27 kt	-6 °C	93 kt	20 h 29 min	9:30 pm PDT (04:30 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 29 kt	+30 kt	-9 °C	90 kt	21 h 10 min	10:11 pm PDT (05:11 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 35 kt	+38 kt	-20 °C	82 kt	23 h 14 min	12:15 am PDT (07:15 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 48 kt	+51 kt	-31 °C	69 kt	27 h 37 min	4:38 am PDT (11:38 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 57 kt	+60 kt	-38 °C	60 kt	31 h 45 min	8:46 am PDT (15:46 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 52 kt	+55 kt	-48 °C	65 kt	29 h 18 min	6:19 am PDT (13:19 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; 78 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°
MKG	used from 249 nm out; 79 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
JOT	used from 349 nm out; 57 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; 54 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 598 nm out; 60 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°
OMA	used from 748 nm out; 57 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
SLN	used from 848 nm out; 64 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°
GLD	used from 947 nm out; 91 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
PUB	used from 1147 nm out; 38 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 1247 nm out; 10 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
FMN	used from 1346 nm out; 32 nm from the line			220/28 9°	220/40 2°	220/53 -10°	220/62 -22°	230/79 -28°	240/91 -34°	230/71 -45°
PRC	used from 1546 nm out; 71 nm from the line			210/25 5°	200/30 1°	220/55 -10°	220/61 -21°	220/84 -28°	230/90 -34°	230/73 -45°
BLH	used from 1695 nm out; 52 nm from the line	210/13	200/21 11°	200/22 5°	210/25 -1°	210/51 -10°	220/61 -20°	220/81 -29°	220/92 -34°	220/79 -45°
SAN	used from 1845 nm out; 35 nm from the line	200/11	200/23 7°	210/27 4°	210/31 -3°	220/56 -10°	220/56 -19°	220/52 -30°	220/64 -37°	220/67 -44°

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)
DET Detroit, MI	189 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	624 ft	07:53 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	289 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	8 mi	none	951 ft	07:53 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	439 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	07:52 UTC
OTM Ottumwa, IA	618 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				845 ft
TKO Mankato, KS	898 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	no report just now				1,859 ft
HLC Hill City, KS	977 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 19 knots, gusting to 30	10+ mi	none	2,238 ft	07:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	1207 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	07:53 UTC
FMN Farmington, NM	1406 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,506 ft	07:53 UTC
FLG Flagstaff, AZ	1596 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25	4 mi	1,100 ft	7,014 ft	07:57 UTC
RNM Ramona, CA	1885 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	5 mi	600 ft	1,394 ft	07:53 UTC
SAN San Diego, CA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	4 mi	2,200 ft	16 ft	12:51 am PDT (07:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SAN

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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

6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 12 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 25 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 12 October · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is after sunset there (6:19 pm PDT (01:19 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Buffalo Niagara International, San Diego International.