William P Hobby Airport to EL Paso International HOU → ELP
587 nautical miles (676 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 286°, about 283° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 13-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:47 pm MDT (05:47 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 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: 2,081 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: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 17 nm north, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 17 nm north 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
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 6 forecast points nearest it (HOU, CLL, SAT, DRT, INK, ELP). 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 | 160° at 21 kt | −13 kt | 20 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 25 min | 11:47 pm MDT (05:47 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 160° at 21 kt | −11 kt | 17 °C | 131 kt | 4 h 29 min | 11:51 pm MDT (05:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 180° at 18 kt | −5 kt | 14 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 42 min | 12:04 am MDT (06:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 200° at 15 kt | +1 kt | 10 °C | 119 kt | 4 h 56 min | 12:18 am MDT (06:18 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 14 kt | +5 kt | 6 °C | 115 kt | 5 h 06 min | 12:28 am MDT (06:28 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +9 kt | 2 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 17 min | 12:39 am MDT (06:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +13 kt | -1 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 29 min | 12:51 am MDT (06:51 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 22 kt | +15 kt | -4 °C | 105 kt | 5 h 35 min | 12:57 am MDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 27 kt | +20 kt | -14 °C | 100 kt | 5 h 52 min | 1:14 am MDT (07:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 29 kt | +23 kt | -28 °C | 97 kt | 6 h 03 min | 1:25 am MDT (07:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 30 kt | +28 kt | -39 °C | 92 kt | 6 h 23 min | 1:45 am MDT (07:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 32 kt | +32 kt | -51 °C | 88 kt | 6 h 40 min | 2:02 am MDT (08:02 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° |
| CLL | used from 50 nm out; 40 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° |
| SAT | used from 100 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 130/22 | 140/24 18° | 170/19 13° | 190/13 7° | 240/15 -4° | 220/14 -13° | 270/11 -28° | 280/10 -40° | 310/18 -51° |
| DRT | used from 249 nm out; 88 nm from the line | 150/25 | 150/27 16° | 170/19 12° | 200/12 7° | 230/23 -4° | 230/27 -12° | 240/24 -28° | 290/20 -38° | 300/28 -51° |
| INK | used from 348 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 160/27 20° | 190/18 13° | 240/19 7° | 250/23 -4° | 250/33 -15° | 230/45 -28° | 250/45 -39° | 270/49 -50° | |
| ELP | used from 498 nm out; 65 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° |
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 southeast (140°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
| TME Houston, TX | 30 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 165 ft | 22:15 UTC |
| GYB Giddings, TX | 90 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 484 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| AUS Austin, TX | 129 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 541 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| AQO Llano, TX | 189 nm out, 22 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 1,101 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| JCT Junction, TX | 239 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,753 ft | 00:51 UTC |
| OZA Ozona, TX | 318 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 2,376 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| FST Fort Stockton, TX | 398 nm out, 20 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 15 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 3,011 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| PEQ Pecos, TX | 438 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 17 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 2,613 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 13,000 feet, a broken layer at 21,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 21,000 ft | 3,961 ft | 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,961 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:47 pm MDT (05:47 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 VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- 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
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
- 6/5849 Austin, TX, Friday, October 2, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZHU
- 6/4240 SAN ANGELO, TX, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 25 nm from the route, 279 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ELP is before sunrise there (7:06 am MDT (13:06 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, EL Paso International.