William P Hobby Airport to Duluth International HOU → DLH
1,042 nautical miles (1,200 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 007°, about 004° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC). Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots; DLH is IFR, wind from the east (090°) at 12 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 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 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 347 to 824 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 30 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
Not fetched just now.
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 10 forecast points nearest it (HOU, CLL, SHV, FSM, SGF, MKC, DSM, MCW, MSP, DLH). 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 | 230° at 27 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 7 h 30 min | 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −13 kt | 133 kt | 7 h 50 min | 1:35 pm CDT (18:35 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −12 kt | 15 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 54 min | 1:39 pm CDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −13 kt | 11 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 50 min | 1:35 pm CDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −12 kt | 7 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 54 min | 1:39 pm CDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −11 kt | 3 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 57 min | 1:42 pm CDT (18:42 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −9 kt | -2 °C | 129 kt | 8 h 05 min | 1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 22 kt | −7 kt | -7 °C | 127 kt | 8 h 12 min | 1:57 pm CDT (18:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 22 kt | −7 kt | -8 °C | 127 kt | 8 h 12 min | 1:57 pm CDT (18:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 28 kt | −9 kt | -18 °C | 129 kt | 8 h 05 min | 1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 42 kt | −1 kt | -33 °C | 121 kt | 8 h 37 min | 2:22 pm CDT (19:22 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 47 kt | +3 kt | -39 °C | 117 kt | 8 h 54 min | 2:39 pm CDT (19:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 50 kt | +10 kt | -49 °C | 110 kt | 9 h 28 min | 3:13 pm CDT (20:13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 180/22 | 180/20 16° | 170/7 15° | L/V 8° | 220/11 -6° | 260/15 -13° | 310/20 -30° | 320/20 -40° | 350/32 -51° |
| CLL | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 180/24 | 170/21 19° | 180/10 14° | 230/7 8° | 230/16 -6° | 260/20 -13° | 290/23 -29° | 320/21 -39° | 340/35 -51° |
| SHV | used from 99 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| FSM | used from 248 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 230/33 | 260/23 15° | 240/23 11° | 230/18 8° | 230/20 -8° | 250/31 -17° | 280/51 -30° | 280/52 -39° | 300/47 -51° |
| SGF | used from 397 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| MKC | used from 496 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| DSM | used from 645 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| MCW | used from 745 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| MSP | used from 894 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| DLH | used from 993 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 090/31 | 250/7 14° | 250/26 11° | 250/36 4° | 280/36 -11° | 290/35 -22° | 300/39 -38° | 280/41 -44° | 280/66 -49° |
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: a few clouds at 3,300 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 46 ft | 4:53 am CDT (09:53 UTC) |
| IAH Houston, TX | 20 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast at 23,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 95 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| GGG Longview, TX | 169 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 365 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| DEQ De Queen, AR | 268 nm out, 11 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| FSM Fort Smith, AR | 347 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 469 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| JLN Joplin, MO | 457 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 977 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| RCM Warrensburg, MO | 556 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 797 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 715 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 24,000 ft | 957 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| IFA Iowa Falls, IA | 774 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,137 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 864 nm out, 15 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 09:54 UTC |
| RZN Siren, WI | 983 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the northeast (040°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 989 ft | 10:35 UTC |
| DLH Duluth, MN | destination | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the east (090°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,427 ft | 4:55 am CDT (09:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,427 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DLH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC)
Wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 200 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for DLH
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 9,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east at 15 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 16 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 200 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 16 knots, gusting to 27, visibility 2 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 200 feet
The forecast for HOU, the departure
- 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
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 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 HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at DLH 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 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: William P Hobby Airport, Duluth International.