Plan a flight · Sun 11:31 pm EDT (03:31 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to Seattle-Tacoma International BUF → SEA

1,839 nautical miles (2,116 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 294°, about 305° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:21 am PDT (18:21 UTC). Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the north (010°) at 3 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) 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 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 170 to 210 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 750 to 940 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 980 to 1569 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Over the route from 1339 to 1779 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1369 to 1569 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1449 to 1579 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 170 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

B772 at 37,000 ft, 28 nm north, 10:20 pm EDT (02:20 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 390 nm along the route, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ESC UA /OV ESC/TM 0220/FL370/TP B772/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ESC
Where
over ESC
Time
02:20 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B772
Turbulence
moderate chop
B738 at 4,700 ft, 10 nm southeast, 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC): a broken layer from 4,700 ft to 5,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF140010/TM 0059/FL047/TP B738/SK BKN 047 TOPS 053/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (140°) of BUF
Time
00:59 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 4,700 ft, tops 5,300 ft
Remarks
during the descent
PC12 at 2,800 ft, 14 nm southwest, 10:37 pm EDT (02:37 UTC): overcast from 1,200 ft to 2,900 ft, 10 °C. 800 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 0237/FL028/TP PC12/SK OVC012-TOP029/TA 10
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
02:37 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops 2,900 ft
Temperature
10 °C
E75L at 900 ft, 5 nm southwest, 9:57 pm EDT (01:57 UTC): no icing, overcast above 1,200 ft. 800 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0157/FL009/TP E75L/SK OVC012/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:57 UTC
Height
at 900 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft
Icing
none
A320 descending, 5 nm southwest, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 1,200 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 36. 800 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 0101/FLUNKN/TP A320/SK OVC012-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,200 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 47 nm north, 9:02 pm EDT (01:02 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,800 ft, 11 °C, remarks: during the climb. 830 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GFK UA /OV GFK170008/TM 0102/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK OVC015-TOP048/TA 11/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GFK
Where
8 nm south (170°) of GFK
Time
01:02 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,800 ft
Temperature
11 °C
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ2 at 11,000 ft, 16 nm south, 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 880 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JMS UA /OV JMS/TM 0053/FL110/TP CRJ2/SK BASE020-TOP040/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through JMS
Where
over JMS
Time
00:53 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
BASE020-TOP040
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B789 at 35,000 ft, 24 nm south, 9:57 pm EDT (01:57 UTC): light turbulence. 1019 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DIK UA /OV DIK040030/TM 0157/FL350/TP B789/TB CONS LGT/ OCNL MOD CHOP/ NEG 370
```
Report
a routine report filed through DIK
Where
30 nm northeast (040°) of DIK
Time
01:57 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop no at 37,000 ft
E75L descending, 24 nm north, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. 1509 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GPI UA /OV KGPI/TM 0106/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK OVC040
```
Report
a routine report filed through GPI
Where
over KGPI
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
SB20 at 16,000 ft, 18 nm north, 9:52 pm EDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAE UA /OV PAE075045/TM 0152/FL160/TP SB20/SK TOP120/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAE
Where
45 nm east (075°) of PAE
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
SB20
Sky
TOP120
Remarks
zse
A321 at 13,500 ft, 39 nm south, 9:54 pm EDT (01:54 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SEA UA /OV SEA120045/TM 0154/FL135/TP A321/SK TOP130/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through SEA
Where
45 nm southeast (120°) of SEA
Time
01:54 UTC
Height
at 13,500 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 15,000 ft, 39 nm south, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL150/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 13,000 ft, 39 nm south, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL130/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse

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 14 forecast points nearest it (BUF, TVC, GRB, DLH, AXN, GFK, MOT, DIK, GGW, GTF, GPI, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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	100° at 3 kt	−4 kt	0 °C	124 kt	14 h 50 min	11:21 am PDT (18:21 UTC)
6,500 ft	light and variable	−1 kt	7 °C	121 kt	15 h 12 min	11:43 am PDT (18:43 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 3 kt	+2 kt	4 °C	118 kt	15 h 35 min	12:06 pm PDT (19:06 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 7 kt	+4 kt	0 °C	116 kt	15 h 51 min	12:22 pm PDT (19:22 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 11 kt	+8 kt	-3 °C	112 kt	16 h 25 min	12:56 pm PDT (19:56 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 14 kt	+12 kt	-6 °C	108 kt	17 h 02 min	1:33 pm PDT (20:33 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 18 kt	+16 kt	-10 °C	104 kt	17 h 41 min	2:12 pm PDT (21:12 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 21 kt	+20 kt	-13 °C	100 kt	18 h 23 min	2:54 pm PDT (21:54 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 24 kt	+23 kt	-23 °C	97 kt	18 h 58 min	3:29 pm PDT (22:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 28 kt	+28 kt	-37 °C	92 kt	19 h 59 min	4:30 pm PDT (23:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 34 kt	+34 kt	-44 °C	86 kt	21 h 23 min	5:54 pm PDT (00:54 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 52 kt	+51 kt	-49 °C	69 kt	26 h 39 min	11:10 pm PDT (06:10 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°
TVC	used from 150 nm out; 141 nm from the line	260/31	280/22 15°	290/18 10°	270/13 2°	290/25 -10°	300/35 -21°	310/52 -37°	320/59 -47°	300/84 -54°
GRB	used from 400 nm out; 57 nm from the line	250/36	270/23 16°	270/14 9°	240/18 4°	280/26 -9°	280/29 -20°	290/42 -36°	290/51 -45°	290/72 -55°
DLH	used from 500 nm out; 98 nm from the line	080/28	240/21 15°	250/26 9°	250/32 3°	260/42 -11°	270/40 -21°	260/43 -36°	260/46 -46°	260/65 -54°
AXN	used from 700 nm out; 54 nm from the line	100/14	250/21 14°	240/24 12°	240/31 5°	260/36 -10°	260/40 -21°	250/42 -36°	260/48 -45°	260/53 -50°
GFK	used from 800 nm out; 55 nm from the line	070/18	100/10 9°	250/11 6°	250/27 1°	250/34 -10°	260/43 -21°	260/39 -36°	260/36 -46°	260/59 -53°
MOT	used from 900 nm out; 84 nm from the line		120/14 5°	200/20 4°	230/33 1°	250/39 -11°	250/50 -21°	240/61 -37°	250/56 -45°	260/68 -51°
DIK	used from 1000 nm out; 52 nm from the line		150/24 7°	200/38 6°	220/53 0°	230/51 -9°	230/49 -21°	240/37 -37°	240/47 -44°	250/65 -48°
GGW	used from 1099 nm out; 85 nm from the line		110/23 0°	130/20 -2°	170/24 -3°	230/44 -11°	220/51 -21°	210/52 -39°	220/64 -44°	240/85 -48°
GTF	used from 1299 nm out; 77 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -44°
GPI	used from 1449 nm out; 44 nm from the line		070/19 -5°	100/16 -7°	080/10 -8°	130/8 -19°	170/37 -28°	200/50 -40°	210/43 -40°	220/41 -42°
GEG	used from 1599 nm out; 24 nm from the line		080/16 -2°	050/17 -7°	080/9 -10°	190/33 -21°	180/31 -32°	L/V -35°	L/V -37°	270/8 -40°
YKM	used from 1699 nm out; 79 nm from the line	070/10	040/15 -1°	020/27 -8°	030/25 -13°	020/48 -20°	010/83 -27°	010/77 -37°	010/49 -40°	350/14 -41°
SEA	used from 1799 nm out; 20 nm from the line	050/7	050/11 1°	050/12 -5°	030/31 -7°	010/61 -15°	010/69 -26°	360/73 -40°	360/62 -47°	330/21 -43°

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: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet	from the north (010°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	16,000 ft	726 ft	10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC)
CYSN St Catharines,	20 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 6 knots	15 mi	5,000 ft	321 ft	01:00 UTC
GOV Grayling, MI	280 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,158 ft	02:55 UTC
PKF Park Falls, WI	530 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				1,501 ft
AIT Aitkin, MN	670 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,206 ft	03:15 UTC
FAR Fargo, ND	800 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the north (360°) at 14 knots	2.5 mi	300 ft	901 ft	02:53 UTC
HZE Hazen, ND	1000 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,814 ft	02:35 UTC
SDY Sidney, MT	1109 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots	5 mi	800 ft	1,985 ft	02:56 UTC
CII Choteau, MT	1429 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,946 ft
SFF Spokane, WA	1639 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	1,956 ft	02:53 UTC
EAT Wenatchee, WA	1759 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,500 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,500 ft	1,248 ft	02:55 UTC
SEA Seattle, WA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	432 ft	7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,946 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:21 am PDT (18:21 UTC)

Wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SEA

From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for BUF, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

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 SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.