Plan a flight · Sun 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC)

William P Hobby Airport to Buffalo Niagara International HOU → BUF

1,127 nautical miles (1,296 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 040°, about 037° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:39 am EDT (09:39 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots; BUF is VFR, wind from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 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

SIGMET E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 887 nm along the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112355
MKCE WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.

AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 588 nm along the route.
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 route from 808 to 957 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 1027 to 1087 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 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 HOU.

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

DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
E170 at 25,000 ft, 10 nm east, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B39M at 27,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
IH340035
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
lt chop during the climb
Remarks
zhu
A320 at 24,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. At the departure end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IAH/TM 2207/FL240/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP /RM DURC. ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
over IAH
Time
22:07 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
during the climb zhu
BE35 at 4,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 5:03 pm CDT (22:03 UTC): light clear-air turbulence above 4,000 ft, wind 133° at 26 knots, remarks: ZFW30. 160 nm along the route, 41 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAD UA /OV EMG210025/TM 2203/FL040/TP BE35/WV 133026 KT/TB LGT CAT 040/RM ZFW30
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAD
Where
25 nm southwest (210°) of EMG
Time
22:03 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
BE35
Wind
wind from 133° at 26 knots knots
Turbulence
light clear-air turbulence at 4,000 ft
Remarks
ZFW30
B39M at 32,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 169 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AEX UA /OV AEX/TM 2307/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through AEX
Where
over AEX
Time
23:07 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zhu
PC12 at 24,000 ft, 9 nm north, 5:28 pm CDT (22:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW28. 279 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LLQ UA /OV 17 S MON/TM 2228/FL240/TP PC12/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZFW28
```
Report
a routine report filed through LLQ
Where
17 south mon
Time
22:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZFW28
A319 at 39,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 419 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through MEM
Where
over MEM
Time
23:11 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
smooth
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 489 nm along the route, 32 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B38M at 25,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 518 nm along the route, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
B738 at 34,000 ft, 9 nm southeast, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 578 nm along the route, 9 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 24 nm southeast, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 578 nm along the route, 24 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 578 nm along the route, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
A319 at 25,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 638 nm along the route, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 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 13 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, SHV, JAN, LIT, MEM, BNA, EVV, LOU, CVG, CMH, 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 5 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	9 h 10 min	5:57 am EDT (09:57 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 10 kt	−1 kt		121 kt	9 h 19 min	6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	−2 kt	12 °C	122 kt	9 h 14 min	6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	−3 kt	9 °C	123 kt	9 h 10 min	5:57 am EDT (09:57 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	−2 kt	5 °C	122 kt	9 h 14 min	6:01 am EDT (10:01 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	−1 kt	1 °C	121 kt	9 h 19 min	6:06 am EDT (10:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 18 kt	0	-2 °C	120 kt	9 h 24 min	6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	+2 kt	-6 °C	118 kt	9 h 33 min	6:20 am EDT (10:20 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 20 kt	+2 kt	-7 °C	118 kt	9 h 33 min	6:20 am EDT (10:20 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 22 kt	+3 kt	-19 °C	117 kt	9 h 38 min	6:25 am EDT (10:25 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 35 kt	0	-33 °C	120 kt	9 h 24 min	6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 35 kt	−4 kt	-40 °C	124 kt	9 h 05 min	5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 33 kt	−7 kt	-49 °C	127 kt	8 h 52 min	5:39 am EDT (09:39 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
HOU	used from 0 nm out; 25 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°
LCH	used from 50 nm out; 64 nm from the line	190/6	180/8 18°	170/13 12°	220/12 7°	290/10 -4°	280/15 -14°	320/30 -31°	320/32 -40°	320/39 -53°
SHV	used from 150 nm out; 53 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°
JAN	used from 249 nm out; 96 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°
LIT	used from 299 nm out; 85 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
MEM	used from 349 nm out; 49 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
BNA	used from 498 nm out; 78 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
EVV	used from 598 nm out; 56 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
LOU	used from 648 nm out; 30 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
CVG	used from 748 nm out; 5 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°
CMH	used from 798 nm out; 48 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
CLE	used from 897 nm out; 44 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
BUF	used from 1047 nm out; 55 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -50°

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
HOU Houston, TX	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
JAS Jasper, TX	100 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	212 ft	00:35 UTC
IER Natchitoches, LA	169 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	121 ft	00:35 UTC
MLU Monroe, LA	239 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	78 ft	23:53 UTC
OLV Olive Branch, MS	429 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	401 ft	23:50 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	479 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	23:53 UTC
HVC Hopkinsville, KY	588 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	563 ft	00:35 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	698 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	500 ft	23:56 UTC
OSU Columbus, OH	867 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots	5 mi	900 ft	905 ft	23:53 UTC
CAK Akron, OH	957 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	700 ft	1,225 ft	23:51 UTC
ERI Erie, PA	1047 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	732 ft	23:51 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	726 ft	7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,225 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, 5:39 am EDT (09:39 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for BUF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

The forecast for HOU, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the 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 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 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 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 0 nm from the route, 768 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 977 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 987 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 18 nm from the route, 997 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at HOU 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BUF is before sunrise there (7:24 am EDT (11:24 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: William P Hobby Airport, Buffalo Niagara International.