EL Paso International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International ELP → PHX
301 nautical miles (347 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 290°, about 282° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 7:04 pm MST (02:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ELP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19; PHX is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 14 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: 5,063 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
- SIGMET W64W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm MDT (00:55 UTC). Over the last 291 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112255 MKCW WST 112255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 64W VALID UNTIL 0055Z TX NM AZ FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-10W ELP-30E TUS-70SE EED-50ENE PGS AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 233 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 49 to 243 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 78 to 243 nm out.
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 ELP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- urgent P32T at 10,000 ft, 19 nm south, 2:40 pm MDT (20:40 UTC): remarks: zab fdcs. 223 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TUS UUA /OV TUS010041/TM 2040/FL100/TP P32T/TB LLWS +/-20KT/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- an urgent report filed through TUS
- Where
- 41 nm north (010°) of TUS
- Time
- 20:40 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- P32T
- Turbulence
- low-level wind shear a 20-knot loss of airspeed
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- C68A at 43,000 ft, 12 nm south, 2:42 pm MDT (20:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zab fdcs. 97 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LSB UA /OV SSO083052/TM 2042/FL430/TP C68A/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through LSB
- Where
- 52 nm east (083°) of SSO
- Time
- 20:42 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C68A
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- B739 at 31,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 2:59 pm MDT (20:59 UTC): remarks: zab fdcs. 107 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SVC UA /OV SVC/TM 2059/FL310/TP B739/SK TOP310/RM ZAB FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through SVC
- Where
- over SVC
- Time
- 20:59 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- TOP310
- Remarks
- zab fdcs
- B38M at 13,000 ft, 20 nm southwest, 3:03 pm MDT (21:03 UTC): no icing, overcast up to 13,000 ft, 0 °C, wind 210° at 45 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. At the destination end, 20 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GYR UA /OV PXR216021 /TM 2103 /FL130 /TP B38M /SK BKN-OVC-TOP130 /TA 00 /WV 21045KT /IC NEG /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through GYR
- Where
- 21 nm southwest (216°) of PXR
- Time
- 21:03 UTC
- Height
- at 13,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- BKN-OVC-TOP130
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Wind
- from 210° at 45 knots
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
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 3 forecast points nearest it (ELP, TUS, PHX). 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 17 kt | +4 kt | 15 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 36 min | 7:06 pm MST (02:06 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 14 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 36 min | 7:06 pm MST (02:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 23 kt | +3 kt | 8 °C | 117 kt | 2 h 34 min | 7:04 pm MST (02:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | +4 kt | 7 °C | 116 kt | 2 h 36 min | 7:06 pm MST (02:06 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 35 kt | +6 kt | 4 °C | 114 kt | 2 h 38 min | 7:08 pm MST (02:08 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 40 kt | +9 kt | 0 °C | 111 kt | 2 h 43 min | 7:13 pm MST (02:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 44 kt | +11 kt | -4 °C | 109 kt | 2 h 46 min | 7:16 pm MST (02:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 48 kt | +13 kt | -7 °C | 107 kt | 2 h 49 min | 7:19 pm MST (02:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 60 kt | +27 kt | -18 °C | 93 kt | 3 h 14 min | 7:44 pm MST (02:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 76 kt | +30 kt | -26 °C | 90 kt | 3 h 21 min | 7:51 pm MST (02:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 75 kt | +42 kt | -36 °C | 78 kt | 3 h 52 min | 8:22 pm MST (03:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 66 kt | +40 kt | -48 °C | 80 kt | 3 h 46 min | 8:16 pm MST (03:16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELP | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 200/15 | 200/16 15° | 200/17 6° | 220/40 -6° | 240/53 -16° | 230/62 -27° | 240/63 -38° | 250/59 -49° | |
| TUS | used from 97 nm out; 120 nm from the line | 220/17 15° | 210/32 7° | 210/43 5° | 210/49 -7° | 220/64 -18° | 220/83 -26° | 230/81 -36° | 230/72 -48° | |
| PHX | used from 243 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 210/19 | 210/20 14° | 200/20 6° | 210/40 1° | 220/58 -8° | 220/68 -20° | 220/82 -26° | 230/83 -34° | 230/69 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELP El Paso, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 4:51 pm MDT (22:51 UTC) |
| DNA Santa Teresa, NM | 19 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots, gusting to 17 | 9 mi | none | 4,112 ft | 23:15 UTC |
| DMN Deming, NM | 78 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 4,314 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| LSB Lordsburg, NM | 126 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 18 knots, gusting to 29 | 10+ mi | none | 4,287 ft | 23:15 UTC |
| CFT Clifton/Morenci, AZ | 155 nm out, 17 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,797 ft | ||||
| SAD Safford, AZ | 175 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots, gusting to 30 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 3,178 ft | 22:51 UTC |
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 282 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 17 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 1,384 ft | 23:27 UTC |
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a few clouds at 7,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet | from the west (270°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,134 ft | 3:51 pm MST (22:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,314 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:04 pm MST (02:04 UTC)
Wind from the west at 9 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHX
- From Sun 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC): wind from the south at 19 knots, gusting to 31, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet and more above
- From Sun 3:00 pm MST (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 5:00 pm MST (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MST (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
The forecast for ELP, the departure
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered 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 ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC), at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHX is after sunset there (5:59 pm MST (00:59 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: EL Paso International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.