William P Hobby Airport to Jacksonville International HOU → JAX
708 nautical miles (814 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 079° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 19-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots; JAX is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 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: 586 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 HOU.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 37 nm south, 11:25 pm CDT (04:25 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 140 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LFT UA /OV LLA205025/TM 0425/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through LFT
- Where
- 25 nm southwest (205°) of LLA
- Time
- 04:25 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- zhu
- B738 at 37,000 ft, 36 nm north, 11:27 pm CDT (04:27 UTC): light chop turbulence. 558 nm along the route, 36 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
TLH UA /OV TLH353039/TM 0427/FL370/TP B738/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through TLH
- Where
- 39 nm north (353°) of TLH
- Time
- 04:27 UTC
- Height
- at 37,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, MSY, MOB, TLH, JAX). 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 2 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 5 h 48 min | 7:01 am EDT (11:01 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 350° at 4 kt | −1 kt | 121 kt | 5 h 51 min | 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 330° at 5 kt | −3 kt | 16 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 45 min | 6:58 am EDT (10:58 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 310° at 7 kt | −5 kt | 11 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 40 min | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 300° at 9 kt | −8 kt | 9 °C | 128 kt | 5 h 32 min | 6:45 am EDT (10:45 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 11 kt | −10 kt | 4 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 27 min | 6:40 am EDT (10:40 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 290° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 0 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 22 min | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 15 kt | −14 kt | -4 °C | 134 kt | 5 h 17 min | 6:30 am EDT (10:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 16 kt | −15 kt | -5 °C | 135 kt | 5 h 15 min | 6:28 am EDT (10:28 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 21 kt | −19 kt | -16 °C | 139 kt | 5 h 06 min | 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 320° at 29 kt | −18 kt | -31 °C | 138 kt | 5 h 08 min | 6:21 am EDT (10:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 29 kt | −17 kt | -41 °C | 137 kt | 5 h 10 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 330° at 30 kt | −12 kt | -52 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 22 min | 6:35 am EDT (10:35 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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 | 160/22 | 150/27 19° | 180/16 14° | 250/7 9° | 270/10 -5° | 270/16 -13° | 310/23 -29° | 310/26 -40° | 330/20 -52° |
| LCH | used from 50 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 160/21 | 160/18 18° | 180/13 12° | 230/6 8° | 280/10 -4° | 260/13 -14° | 310/29 -30° | 320/32 -40° | 330/33 -53° |
| MSY | used from 199 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 110/5 | 150/6 19° | L/V 12° | 310/5 7° | 310/13 -4° | 290/20 -16° | 330/36 -31° | 330/37 -41° | 350/43 -52° |
| MOB | used from 299 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 330/5 | 330/6 19° | 340/6 11° | 330/10 7° | 320/16 -5° | 310/26 -16° | 340/40 -32° | 340/47 -42° | 350/51 -52° |
| TLH | used from 448 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 320/18 | 350/31 18° | 340/24 13° | 310/17 8° | 280/22 -7° | 300/25 -17° | 320/28 -33° | 320/24 -41° | 320/25 -50° |
| JAX | used from 648 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU Houston, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 46 ft | 11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC) |
| BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX | 70 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LCH Lake Charles, LA | 110 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 14 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ARA New Iberia, LA | 179 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 24 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| MSY New Orleans, LA | 259 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 3 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| HSA Bay St Louis, MS | 309 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 22 ft | 00:50 UTC |
| JKA Gulf Shores, AL | 399 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 500 ft | 17 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| DTS Destin, FL | 458 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 22 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ECP Panama City, FL | 498 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 68 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| TLH Tallahassee, FL | 568 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 83 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LCQ Lake City, FL | 658 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 200 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| JAX Jacksonville, FL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 29 ft | 12:56 am EDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 200 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:19 am EDT (10:19 UTC)
Wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for JAX
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for HOU, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 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
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at JAX 6:59 pm EDT (22:59 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm EDT (23:23 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at JAX is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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, Jacksonville International.