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

William P Hobby Airport to Norfolk International HOU → ORF

1,049 nautical miles (1,208 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 31-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots; ORF is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 24. 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: 4 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). Over the route from 920 to 999 nm out.

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. Over the route from 410 to 540 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 610 to 700 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 640 to 800 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 HOU.

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

B39M at 27,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 18 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, 18 nm northwest, 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. At the departure end, 18 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
B737 at 28,000 ft, 48 nm southeast, 5:52 pm CDT (22:52 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 28,000 ft, remarks: below 26,000 ft zhu. 90 nm along the route, 48 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BPT UA /OV BPT109042/TM 2252/FL280/TP B737/TB INTMT LGT-MOD FL280 /RM BLO FL260. ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BPT
Where
42 nm east (109°) of BPT
Time
22:52 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
intermittent light to moderate FL280
Remarks
below 26,000 ft zhu
E75L at 27,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 110 nm along the route, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LCH
Where
LCH08510
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
continuous chop
Remarks
zhu
B39M at 32,000 ft, 16 nm north, 6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 170 nm along the route, 16 nm north 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
B738 at 34,000 ft, 17 nm south, 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 230 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HEZ UA /OV HEZ180025/TM 2207/FL340/TP B738/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through HEZ
Where
25 nm south (180°) of HEZ
Time
22:07 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zhu
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. 410 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1770 3230N 08800W 2255 F340 349/061KT TB CONT LGT CHOP CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B712 at 30,000 ft, 7 nm south, 6:09 pm CDT (23:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 430 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2309/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZME46
A21N at 34,000 ft, 7 nm south, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 430 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2305/FL340/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZME46
B752 descending, 35 nm southeast, 6:03 pm CDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 600 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 35 nm southeast, 5:38 pm CDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 600 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
C55B at 3,000 ft, 26 nm southeast, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 630 nm along the route, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 27 nm north, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 800 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
CRJ7 descending, 15 nm north, 5:32 pm CDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 860 nm along the route, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft

2 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 9 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, JAN, BHM, ATL, GSP, RDU, RIC, ORF). 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	260° at 13 kt	−12 kt		132 kt	7 h 57 min	4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC)
5,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	8 h 04 min	4:51 am EDT (08:51 UTC)
7,500 ft	280° at 14 kt	−12 kt	13 °C	132 kt	7 h 57 min	4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−14 kt	10 °C	134 kt	7 h 50 min	4:37 am EDT (08:37 UTC)
11,500 ft	270° at 19 kt	−17 kt	7 °C	137 kt	7 h 39 min	4:26 am EDT (08:26 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 21 kt	−18 kt	3 °C	138 kt	7 h 36 min	4:23 am EDT (08:23 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 23 kt	−20 kt	0 °C	140 kt	7 h 30 min	4:17 am EDT (08:17 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 25 kt	−22 kt	-4 °C	142 kt	7 h 23 min	4:10 am EDT (08:10 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 25 kt	−22 kt	-5 °C	142 kt	7 h 23 min	4:10 am EDT (08:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 30 kt	−29 kt	-16 °C	149 kt	7 h 02 min	3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 34 kt	−31 kt	-31 °C	151 kt	6 h 57 min	3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 32 kt	−29 kt	-40 °C	149 kt	7 h 02 min	3:49 am EDT (07:49 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 34 kt	−31 kt	-51 °C	151 kt	6 h 57 min	3:44 am EDT (07:44 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; 42 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°
JAN	used from 200 nm out; 88 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°
BHM	used from 400 nm out; 71 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
ATL	used from 550 nm out; 45 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
GSP	used from 650 nm out; 59 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
RDU	used from 800 nm out; 88 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°
RIC	used from 949 nm out; 64 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°
ORF	used from 999 nm out; 25 nm from the line	210/45	210/41 15°	210/39 13°	220/37 7°	230/55 -5°	230/65 -16°	220/71 -30°	220/75 -40°	220/72 -53°

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)
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	70 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	23:53 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	170 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	88 ft	23:53 UTC
JAN Jackson, MS	310 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	346 ft	23:54 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	370 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	297 ft	23:58 UTC
TCL Tuscaloosa, AL	450 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	169 ft	23:53 UTC
RYY Atlanta, GA	600 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet	from the west (270°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	1,040 ft	23:50 UTC
GMU Greenville, SC	730 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	1,048 ft	23:53 UTC
JQF Concord, NC	810 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	704 ft	23:50 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	910 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	4,800 ft	435 ft	23:51 UTC
FKN Franklin, VA	1009 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,600 feet, scattered clouds at 2,300 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	40 ft	23:35 UTC
ORF Norfolk, VA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 feet	from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	none	26 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,048 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ORF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:44 am EDT (07:44 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for ORF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at HOU 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC), at ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm EDT (22:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORF is before sunrise there (7:09 am EDT (11:09 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 Southeast · 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, Norfolk International.