Plan a flight · Mon 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC)

St. Louis Downtown Airport to Buffalo Niagara International CPS → BUF

581 nautical miles (669 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 060° magnetic at the departure end (variation 0E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 02 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC). Right now CPS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots; BUF is IFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) 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: 5 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). Over the last 374 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 10 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 CPS.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A21N at 31,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 187 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAF
Where
over BVT
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B38M at 32,000 ft, 4 nm southwest, 6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. 227 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MZZ UA /OV MZZ240015/TM 1103/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through MZZ
Where
15 nm southwest (240°) of MZZ
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light
B39M at 34,000 ft, 17 nm north, 6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC): no turbulence. 236 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUS UA /OV IWH/TM 1123/FL340/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUS
Where
over IWH
Time
11:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
E75S at 24,000 ft, 1 nm northeast, 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC): light chop turbulence from 24,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 236 nm along the route, 1 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MZZ UA /OV MZZ/TM 1107/FL240/TP E75S/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 250-240
```
Report
a routine report filed through MZZ
Where
over MZZ
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
occasional light chop from 25,000 ft to 24,000 ft
A320 at 30,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 6:49 am CDT (11:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent FL300-260 FL250 better. 266 nm along the route, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASW UA /OV OLK/TM 1149/FL300/TP A320/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM DURD FL300-260 FL250 BETTER
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASW
Where
over OLK
Time
11:49 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
during the descent FL300-260 FL250 better
A321 at 34,000 ft, 17 nm north, 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC): no turbulence. 266 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 1120/FL340/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
11:20 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
F2TH at 40,000 ft, 5 nm north, 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC): no turbulence. 266 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA170012/TM 1106/FL400/TP F2TH/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
12 nm south (170°) of FWA
Time
11:06 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Turbulence
none
E75L at 32,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 296 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV ROD/TM 1221/FL320/TP E75L/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over ROD
Time
12:21 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
during the climb
B738 climbing, 21 nm northwest, 7:19 am CDT (12:19 UTC): remarks: base 200 ft tops 1,200 ft. 345 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1219/FLDURC/TP B738/RM BASE 002 TOPS 012
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
12:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
base 200 ft tops 1,200 ft
BE58 climbing, 21 nm northwest, 6:34 am CDT (11:34 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 345 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1134/FLDURC/TP BE58/SK B002 T018
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
11:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE58
Sky
B002 T018
MD83 at 2,500 ft, 21 nm northwest, 5:43 am CDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. 345 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
10:43 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
MD83
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
C172 at 3,000 ft, 49 nm northwest, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): overcast from 1,000 ft to 1,500 ft; clear from 1,500 ft to 60,000 ft, dust storm. 365 nm along the route, 49 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO 270010/TM 1241/FL030/TP C172/SK 010 OVC 015/WX VIS 1 MI BLO CLOUDS CLR ABV
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
10 nm west (270°) of DXO
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
at 1,000 ft overcast at 1,500 ft
Weather
visibility, 1, shallow, below, cl ou dust storm, clear, above
B722 at 6,000 ft, 36 nm northwest, 7:08 am CDT (12:08 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 365 nm along the route, 36 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO210015/TM 1208/FL060/TP B722/SK TOPS 016
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
15 nm southwest (210°) of DXO
Time
12:08 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
B722
Sky
tops 1,600 ft
BE58 climbing, 42 nm southeast, 7:17 am CDT (12:17 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 374 nm along the route, 42 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MFD UA /OV 2NM NE MFD/TM 1217/FLDURC/TP BE58/SK T025
```
Report
a routine report filed through MFD
Where
2NM northeast mfd
Time
12:17 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BE58
Sky
T025

15 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (STL, SPI, IND, FWA, CLE, BUF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	4 h 22 min	1:17 pm EDT (17:17 UTC)
5,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−8 kt		128 kt	4 h 32 min	1:27 pm EDT (17:27 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−8 kt	12 °C	128 kt	4 h 32 min	1:27 pm EDT (17:27 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	4 h 30 min	1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
11,500 ft	290° at 17 kt	−11 kt	4 °C	131 kt	4 h 26 min	1:21 pm EDT (17:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 20 kt	−12 kt	1 °C	132 kt	4 h 24 min	1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−12 kt	-3 °C	132 kt	4 h 24 min	1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 26 kt	−13 kt	-7 °C	133 kt	4 h 22 min	1:17 pm EDT (17:17 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 27 kt	−13 kt	-8 °C	133 kt	4 h 22 min	1:17 pm EDT (17:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 29 kt	−16 kt	-20 °C	136 kt	4 h 16 min	1:11 pm EDT (17:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 38 kt	−20 kt	-35 °C	140 kt	4 h 09 min	1:04 pm EDT (17:04 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 52 kt	−23 kt	-43 °C	143 kt	4 h 04 min	12:59 pm EDT (16:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 61 kt	−24 kt	-51 °C	144 kt	4 h 02 min	12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
STL	used from 0 nm out; 31 nm from the line	250/26	240/21 15°	240/22 11°	250/23 6°	270/28 -7°	260/30 -19°	280/52 -31°	280/57 -40°	300/57 -49°
SPI	used from 49 nm out; 57 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
IND	used from 99 nm out; 73 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
FWA	used from 246 nm out; 16 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
CLE	used from 345 nm out; 55 nm from the line	310/7	350/20 14°	340/16 9°	320/21 2°	320/32 -8°	330/34 -20°	330/45 -36°	320/60 -45°	320/64 -51°
BUF	used from 493 nm out; 64 nm from the line	300/11	330/15 11°	340/26 8°	330/28 2°	340/31 -10°	340/32 -21°	340/52 -37°	340/59 -46°	330/66 -53°

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
CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL	departure	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	412 ft	6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC)
VLA Vandalia, IL	49 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	no report just now				537 ft
MTO Mattoon/Charleston, IL	99 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	722 ft	11:53 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	138 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	589 ft	11:53 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	227 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	11:55 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	266 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots	3 mi	25,000 ft	814 ft	11:54 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	345 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	1 mi	300 ft	683 ft	12:52 UTC
PCW Port Clinton, OH	374 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	590 ft	12:35 UTC
BKL Cleveland, OH	424 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	583 ft	12:53 UTC
ERI Erie, PA	503 nm out, 22 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
DKK Dunkirk, NY	552 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the west (280°) at 8 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	1,200 ft	692 ft	12:37 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	4 mi	600 ft	726 ft	7:54 am EDT (11:54 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 BUF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for BUF

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

The forecast for CPS, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the Northeast · 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: St. Louis Downtown Airport, Buffalo Niagara International.