Denver International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport DEN → IAH
749 nautical miles (862 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 139°, about 131° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:19 pm CDT (20:19 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) 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: 9,913 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 0 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 DEN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (DEN, PUB, GCK, GAG, SPS, DAL, CLL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +5 kt | 21 °C | 115 kt | 6 h 31 min | 4:31 pm CDT (21:31 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +2 kt | 15 °C | 118 kt | 6 h 21 min | 4:21 pm CDT (21:21 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +2 kt | 12 °C | 118 kt | 6 h 21 min | 4:21 pm CDT (21:21 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | 0 | 8 °C | 120 kt | 6 h 14 min | 4:14 pm CDT (21:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | −2 kt | 4 °C | 122 kt | 6 h 08 min | 4:08 pm CDT (21:08 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | −4 kt | -1 °C | 124 kt | 6 h 02 min | 4:02 pm CDT (21:02 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 33 kt | −5 kt | -5 °C | 125 kt | 6 h | 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 33 kt | −6 kt | -6 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 57 min | 3:57 pm CDT (20:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 41 kt | −7 kt | -17 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 54 min | 3:54 pm CDT (20:54 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 54 kt | −15 kt | -29 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 33 min | 3:33 pm CDT (20:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 53 kt | −21 kt | -38 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 19 min | 3:19 pm CDT (20:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 46 kt | −21 kt | -50 °C | 141 kt | 5 h 19 min | 3:19 pm CDT (20:19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 230/7 11° | 230/13 4° | 230/40 -9° | 230/48 -20° | 240/66 -32° | 240/88 -38° | 230/100 -47° | ||
| PUB | used from 50 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/31 11° | 240/42 5° | 230/46 -7° | 230/59 -20° | 240/77 -30° | 230/94 -37° | 240/95 -49° | ||
| GCK | used from 150 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 250/23 20° | 230/35 13° | 240/47 7° | 240/42 -7° | 250/43 -20° | 240/81 -28° | 250/87 -37° | 250/83 -49° | |
| GAG | used from 250 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/27 21° | 230/27 15° | 230/26 8° | 240/41 -7° | 250/54 -19° | 250/72 -27° | 260/70 -37° | 260/64 -49° | |
| SPS | used from 400 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 190/18 | 220/24 18° | 210/17 15° | 230/19 8° | 250/27 -5° | 250/41 -16° | 260/48 -28° | 270/42 -37° | 270/28 -50° |
| DAL | used from 499 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/15 | 210/22 19° | 210/17 13° | 230/12 8° | 250/26 -5° | 250/25 -14° | 260/34 -28° | 290/32 -38° | 310/23 -50° |
| CLL | used from 599 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 180/21 | 200/24 17° | 200/15 13° | 200/7 8° | 260/21 -5° | 230/25 -13° | 260/18 -29° | 310/16 -39° | 360/27 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC) |
| LIC Limon, CO | 60 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| LAA Lamar, CO | 140 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,705 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 220 nm out, 9 nm west of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 3,621 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| GUY Guymon, OK | 240 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 15 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 3,125 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| HHF Canadian, TX | 310 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,396 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| AXS Altus, OK | 400 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,433 ft | 14:35 UTC |
| SPS Wichita Falls, TX | 460 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 1,019 ft | 14:52 UTC |
| FWS Fort Worth, TX | 569 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 700 ft | 14:50 UTC |
| CNW Waco, TX | 619 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet Weather: haze | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 2,300 ft | 470 ft | 14:55 UTC |
| CXO Houston, TX | 729 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 244 ft | 14:53 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 95 ft | 9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:19 pm CDT (20:19 UTC)
Wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light rain showers
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light rain showers
- From Mon 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
- At times between Tue 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): overcast at 1,500 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- At times between Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Tue 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 23 nm from the route, 559 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 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: Denver International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.