Plan a flight · Sun 9:10 pm CDT (02:10 UTC)

William P Hobby Airport to Reno/Tahoe International HOU → RNO

1,342 nautical miles (1,544 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 303°, about 300° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:34 am PDT (12:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots; RNO is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 8 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: 11 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 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 547 to 745 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO NM
FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN
AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.

SIGMET W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 1163 to 1242 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
NV
FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 547 to 696 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 557 to 1183 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 656 to 785 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 845 to 1212 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 875 to 1292 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 894 to 1272 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 934 to 1063 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1193 to 1252 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, 14 nm north, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 14 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
CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 38 nm northeast, 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav runway 20 KSAF. 656 nm along the route, 38 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAF UA /OV KSAF/TM 2349/FL100 /TP CRJ7/RM LIGHT TURBULENCE, BASES ABOVE 100, VSBY 3 MILES CONTINUOUSLY, DURD RNAV RY20 KSAF
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAF
Where
over KSAF
Time
23:49 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Remarks
light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav runway 20 KSAF
B737 at 14,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 676 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABQ
Where
7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light above 14,000 ft
GLF4 at 25,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC): overcast up to 24,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions FL250 zlawc. 984 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUC UA /OV BCE200040/TM 0030/FL250/TP GLF4/SK OVC-TOP240/RM VMC FL250 /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUC
Where
40 nm south (200°) of BCE
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF4
Sky
overcast, tops 24,000 ft
Remarks
visual conditions FL250 zlawc
B38M descending, 9 nm south, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent runway 35L rno. At the destination end, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV KRNO167009/TM 0128/FLUNKN/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM DURD RY35L RNO
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
9 nm south (167°) of KRNO
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
during the descent runway 35L rno

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 11 forecast points nearest it (HOU, CLL, ABI, LBB, ROW, ABQ, FMN, BCE, ELY, BIH, RNO). 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	180° at 17 kt	−9 kt	18 °C	129 kt	10 h 24 min	5:34 am PDT (12:34 UTC)
6,500 ft	190° at 17 kt	−7 kt	16 °C	127 kt	10 h 34 min	5:44 am PDT (12:44 UTC)
8,500 ft	210° at 20 kt	−1 kt	12 °C	121 kt	11 h 05 min	6:15 am PDT (13:15 UTC)
10,500 ft	210° at 25 kt	+3 kt	6 °C	117 kt	11 h 28 min	6:38 am PDT (13:38 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+6 kt	2 °C	114 kt	11 h 46 min	6:56 am PDT (13:56 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+7 kt	-2 °C	113 kt	11 h 53 min	7:03 am PDT (14:03 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 32 kt	+8 kt	-6 °C	112 kt	11 h 59 min	7:09 am PDT (14:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 34 kt	+9 kt	-9 °C	111 kt	12 h 05 min	7:15 am PDT (14:15 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 38 kt	+14 kt	-19 °C	106 kt	12 h 40 min	7:50 am PDT (14:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 53 kt	+26 kt	-28 °C	94 kt	14 h 17 min	9:27 am PDT (16:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 52 kt	+30 kt	-37 °C	90 kt	14 h 55 min	10:05 am PDT (17:05 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 47 kt	+30 kt	-48 °C	90 kt	14 h 55 min	10:05 am PDT (17:05 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; 18 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°
ABI	used from 199 nm out; 61 nm from the line		180/26 17°	220/18 12°	230/25 8°	230/28 -5°	240/29 -14°	250/35 -28°	270/37 -39°	280/37 -51°
LBB	used from 348 nm out; 51 nm from the line		180/26 20°	210/21 13°	230/21 7°	250/25 -5°	250/34 -16°	250/52 -28°	260/47 -38°	260/49 -50°
ROW	used from 447 nm out; 69 nm from the line		180/23	190/24 15°	210/27 7°	230/35 -6°	240/53 -17°	240/62 -27°	250/64 -38°	260/60 -50°
ABQ	used from 596 nm out; 38 nm from the line			200/28 13°	210/28 5°	210/44 -7°	230/46 -20°	230/80 -28°	240/74 -35°	240/58 -47°
FMN	used from 745 nm out; 53 nm from the line			220/25 13°	220/28 4°	210/51 -9°	220/59 -21°	230/78 -30°	230/77 -36°	230/66 -46°
BCE	used from 845 nm out; 104 nm from the line				210/47 0°	200/50 -12°	220/31 -23°	220/56 -26°	220/58 -35°	230/58 -45°
ELY	used from 1043 nm out; 87 nm from the line			210/20 4°	240/21 -1°	230/37 -13°	200/58 -25°	220/73 -27°	220/73 -36°	220/69 -44°
BIH	used from 1193 nm out; 101 nm from the line		L/V	210/14 6°	210/20 -2°	230/26 -14°	220/32 -24°	220/63 -27°	220/56 -35°	230/50 -44°
RNO	used from 1242 nm out; 75 nm from the line		320/7	260/13 1°	230/21 -7°	210/38 -17°	220/43 -26°	230/54 -29°	230/59 -32°	230/54 -41°

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 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
TME Houston, TX	30 nm out, 10 nm southwest 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
GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX	159 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,015 ft	01:55 UTC
ABI Abilene, TX	278 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,790 ft	01:52 UTC
BFE Brownfield, TX	417 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				3,264 ft
ABQ Albuquerque, NM	656 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	13,000 ft	5,354 ft	01:52 UTC
RQE Window Rock, AZ	785 nm out, 24 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	6,742 ft	01:53 UTC
PGA Page, AZ	924 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR	variable at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	4,316 ft	01:53 UTC
CDC Cedar City, UT	1014 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,600 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29	10+ mi	7,000 ft	5,622 ft	01:53 UTC
GAB Gabbs, NV	1252 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	no report just now				4,699 ft
RNO Reno, NV	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	4,414 ft	6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,742 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:34 am PDT (12:34 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RNO

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 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 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RNO is before sunrise there (7:05 am PDT (14:05 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 southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · 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, Reno/Tahoe International.