Buffalo Niagara International to South Bend International BUF → SBN
345 nautical miles (397 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 260°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC). Right now BUF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots; SBN is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the first 20 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
- A321 at 800 ft, 48 nm east, 11:04 am EDT (15:04 UTC): remarks: B008 above ground during the descent runway 22. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV KROC/TM 1504/FL008/TP A321/RM B008 AGL DURD RWY22
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over KROC
- Time
- 15:04 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Remarks
- B008 above ground during the descent runway 22
- CRJ9 at 3,500 ft, 48 nm east, 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1423/FL035/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS 035
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over ROC
- Time
- 14:23 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops 3,500 ft
- CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 48 nm east, 10:23 am EDT (14:23 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1423/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 010
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over ROC
- Time
- 14:23 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- bases 1,000 ft
- CRJ9 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm southwest, 9:26 am EDT (13:26 UTC): remarks: during the descent, ils runway 23. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV KBUF/TM 1326/FL011/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 600 AGL/RM DURD, ILS RWY 23
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- over KBUF
- Time
- 13:26 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- bases 60,000 ft above ground
- Remarks
- during the descent, ils runway 23
- E75L at 3,500 ft, 48 nm east, 9:25 am EDT (13:25 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1325/FL035/TP E75L/SK TOPS 035 BASES 006
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over ROC
- Time
- 13:25 UTC
- Height
- at 3,500 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Sky
- tops 3,500 ft bases 600 ft
- CRJ9 at 1,300 ft, 6 nm southwest, 9:13 am EDT (13:13 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV PLAZZ/TM 1313/FL013/TP CRJ9/SK BNK013 TOPS 033
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- plazz
- Time
- 13:13 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- BNK013 tops 3,300 ft
- B737 at 1,100 ft, 0 nm southwest, 8:45 am EDT (12:45 UTC): remarks: during the descent, ils runway 23. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV KBUF/TM 1245/FL011/TP B737/SK B011/RM DURD, ILS RWY 23
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- over KBUF
- Time
- 12:45 UTC
- Height
- at 1,100 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- B011
- Remarks
- during the descent, ils runway 23
- B737 at 3,200 ft, 10 nm northeast, 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 10 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF050010/TM 1240/FL032/TP B737/SK BASES 011 TOPS 032
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 10 nm northeast (050°) of BUF
- Time
- 12:40 UTC
- Height
- at 3,200 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- bases 1,100 ft tops 3,200 ft
- A320 at 900 ft, 12 nm north, 10:38 am EDT (14:38 UTC): remarks: drud. At the departure end, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAG UA /OV KIAG/TM 1438/FL009/TP A320/SK BASES 009 TOPS UNKN/RM DRUD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAG
- Where
- over KIAG
- Time
- 14:38 UTC
- Height
- at 900 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Sky
- bases 900 ft tops unknown
- Remarks
- drud
- H25B at 500 ft, 12 nm north, 10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC): remarks: drud. At the departure end, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAG UA /OV KIAG/TM 1428/FL005/TP H25B/SK BASES 005 TOPS UNKN/RM DRUD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAG
- Where
- over KIAG
- Time
- 14:28 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- H25B
- Sky
- bases 500 ft tops unknown
- Remarks
- drud
- K35R at 900 ft, 12 nm north, 9:57 am EDT (13:57 UTC): remarks: druc. At the departure end, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAG UA /OV KIAG/TM 1357/FL009/TP K35R/SK BASES 009 TOPS UNKN/RM DRUC
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAG
- Where
- over KIAG
- Time
- 13:57 UTC
- Height
- at 900 ft
- Aircraft
- K35R
- Sky
- bases 900 ft tops unknown
- Remarks
- druc
- H25B at 2,800 ft, 39 nm south, 10:15 am EDT (14:15 UTC): remarks: bases reported ar at 2,800 ft. 69 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
ERI UA /OV KERI/TM 1415/FL028/TP H25B/RM BASES REPORTED AR 028
- Report
- a routine report filed through ERI
- Where
- over KERI
- Time
- 14:15 UTC
- Height
- at 2,800 ft
- Aircraft
- H25B
- Remarks
- bases reported ar at 2,800 ft
- PA46 climbing, 47 nm south, 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 79 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV ERI180005/TM 1303/FLDURC/TP PA46/SK BASES 013 TOPS 035
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 5 nm south (180°) of ERI
- Time
- 13:03 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Sky
- bases 1,300 ft tops 3,500 ft
- CRJ7 climbing, 42 nm south, 8:29 am EDT (12:29 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 4,000 ft. 79 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV ERI/TM 1229/FLDURC/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 016 TOPS 040
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- over ERI
- Time
- 12:29 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 4,000 ft
11 more routine reports are on the map.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 3 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA). 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 | 270° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 101 kt | 3 h 25 min | 2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 280° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 13 °C | 100 kt | 3 h 27 min | 2:50 pm EDT (18:50 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 280° at 24 kt | +22 kt | 10 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 31 min | 2:54 pm EDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 290° at 25 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 31 min | 2:54 pm EDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 300° at 27 kt | +21 kt | 3 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 29 min | 2:52 pm EDT (18:52 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 290° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 3 h 29 min | 2:52 pm EDT (18:52 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 27 kt | +22 kt | -5 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 31 min | 2:54 pm EDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 27 kt | +22 kt | -8 °C | 98 kt | 3 h 31 min | 2:54 pm EDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 34 kt | +30 kt | -21 °C | 90 kt | 3 h 50 min | 3:13 pm EDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 38 kt | +34 kt | -37 °C | 86 kt | 4 h 01 min | 3:24 pm EDT (19:24 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 50 kt | +44 kt | -43 °C | 76 kt | 4 h 32 min | 3:55 pm EDT (19:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 57 kt | +41 kt | -49 °C | 79 kt | 4 h 22 min | 3:45 pm EDT (19:45 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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 | 270/25 | 300/28 14° | 300/29 8° | 310/29 2° | 300/30 -9° | 290/33 -21° | 290/44 -37° | 290/56 -47° | 300/62 -51° |
| CLE | used from 98 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 280/17 | 270/17 14° | 280/22 10° | 290/26 4° | 290/25 -8° | 280/31 -21° | 280/35 -36° | 280/43 -44° | 300/53 -48° |
| FWA | used from 246 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 250/18 | 260/22 15° | 260/27 7° | 290/26 6° | 290/28 -8° | 290/39 -20° | 280/36 -37° | 290/54 -39° | 310/60 -48° |
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 | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 726 ft | 10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC) |
| CYSN St Catharines, | 20 nm out, 18 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 | 15 mi | 1,400 ft | 321 ft | 15:00 UTC |
| CYQS St Thomas, | 108 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | no report just now | 776 ft | ||||
| DTW Detroit, MI | 207 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 8 mi | 20,000 ft | 645 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| YIP Detroit, MI | 217 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 7 mi | none | 715 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 286 nm out, 23 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 951 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| AZO Kalamazoo, MI | 305 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | destination | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 951 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SBN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SBN
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for BUF, the departure
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
- 30% chance between Tue 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8992 Monroe, MI, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, 217 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Thursday 15 October · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 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, South Bend International.
