Buffalo Niagara International to St. Louis Lambert International BUF → STL
585 nautical miles (673 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 248°, about 259° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC). Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots; STL is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 6 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: 2 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 337 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
- A333 descending, 40 nm north, 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 208 nm along the route, 40 nm north 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
- B738 at 1,700 ft, 15 nm northwest, 2:20 am EDT (06:20 UTC): overcast from 1,700 ft to 2,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 238 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0620/FL017/TP B738/SK OVC017-TOP020/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 06:20 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,700 ft, tops 2,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B738 at 1,800 ft, 15 nm northwest, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 238 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through TOL
- Where
- over KTOL
- Time
- 05:18 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
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 6 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA, IND, SPI, STL). 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 | 300° at 11 kt | +6 kt | 114 kt | 5 h 08 min | 8:14 am CDT (13:14 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 13 kt | +4 kt | 13 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 03 min | 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 15 kt | +5 kt | 10 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 05 min | 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 14 kt | +3 kt | 6 °C | 117 kt | 5 h | 8:06 am CDT (13:06 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 330° at 14 kt | +2 kt | 3 °C | 118 kt | 4 h 57 min | 8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 17 kt | +5 kt | -1 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 05 min | 8:11 am CDT (13:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 21 kt | +7 kt | -6 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 11 min | 8:17 am CDT (13:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 23 kt | +9 kt | -9 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 16 min | 8:22 am CDT (13:22 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 31 kt | +11 kt | -20 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 22 min | 8:28 am CDT (13:28 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 40 kt | +8 kt | -36 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 13 min | 8:19 am CDT (13:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 51 kt | +16 kt | -43 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 38 min | 8:44 am CDT (13:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 53 kt | +15 kt | -50 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 34 min | 8:40 am CDT (13:40 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 99 nm out; 51 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 248 nm out; 40 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° |
| IND | used from 347 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| SPI | used from 446 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/21 | 250/23 16° | 260/27 9° | 270/14 6° | 270/23 -7° | 270/31 -19° | 270/28 -33° | 290/48 -42° | 300/55 -52° |
| STL | used from 545 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
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) |
| DKK Dunkirk, NY | 30 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 692 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| ERI Erie, PA | 79 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 732 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| LNN Willoughby, OH | 139 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,100 ft | 625 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CYPT Pelee Island, | 188 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 571 ft | ||||
| TOL Toledo, OH | 238 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots | 8 mi | none | 683 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 307 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet Weather: mist, shallow fog | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | none | 814 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| GUS Peru, IN | 357 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 810 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 466 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| DEC Decatur, IL | 496 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 681 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| ALN Alton/St Louis, IL | 565 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| STL St Louis, MO | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 617 ft | 2:51 am CDT (07:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 814 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At STL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:03 am CDT (13:03 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for STL
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at STL 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 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, St. Louis Lambert International.