Des Moines International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport DSM → IAH
698 nautical miles (803 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 187°, about 186° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:16 am CDT (06:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DSM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 10 knots; IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 10 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: 1,437 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 DSM.
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 20:00–03:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (DSM, MKC, SGF, FSM, SHV, CLL, HOU). 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 | 210° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 101 kt | 6 h 55 min | 3:01 am CDT (08:01 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +17 kt | 15 °C | 103 kt | 6 h 47 min | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +14 kt | 13 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 35 min | 2:41 am CDT (07:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +10 kt | 10 °C | 110 kt | 6 h 21 min | 2:27 am CDT (07:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +6 kt | 6 °C | 114 kt | 6 h 07 min | 2:13 am CDT (07:13 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 6 h 01 min | 2:07 am CDT (07:07 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | +3 kt | -2 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 58 min | 2:04 am CDT (07:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 19 kt | +3 kt | -5 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 58 min | 2:04 am CDT (07:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 21 kt | +1 kt | -16 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 52 min | 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | −6 kt | -31 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 32 min | 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 34 kt | −6 kt | -41 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 32 min | 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 42 kt | −15 kt | -52 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 10 min | 1:16 am CDT (06:16 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| MKC | used from 100 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SGF | used from 199 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 210/21 | 210/21 16° | 240/28 12° | 260/24 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/26 -18° | 290/38 -31° | 290/37 -41° | 300/49 -52° |
| FSM | used from 299 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 200/18 | 210/19 15° | 230/22 13° | 250/18 7° | 270/20 -5° | 280/24 -16° | 280/35 -30° | 290/37 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| SHV | used from 449 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| CLL | used from 598 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| HOU | used from 648 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 160/18 | 160/14 17° | 180/19 12° | 190/11 8° | 260/12 -4° | 260/14 -13° | 310/26 -30° | 310/30 -40° | 320/21 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSM Des Moines, IA | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 957 ft | 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC) |
| LWD Lamoni, IA | 60 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,130 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| EZZ Cameron, MO | 110 nm out, 15 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| MKC Kansas City, MO | 150 nm out, 25 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| JLN Joplin, MO | 269 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 977 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | 319 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 369 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| LBR Clarksville, TX | 479 nm out, 10 nm west of the line | no report just now | 440 ft | ||||
| GGG Longview, TX | 549 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 365 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TYR Tyler, TX | 559 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 543 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CXO Houston, TX | 678 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 244 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| IAH Houston, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 95 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,288 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, 1:16 am CDT (06:16 UTC)
Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for IAH
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 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 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for DSM, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 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 DSM 6:38 pm CDT (23:38 UTC), at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAH is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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: Des Moines International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.