Plan a flight · Sun 8:34 pm CDT (01:34 UTC)

William P Hobby Airport to Louisville Muhammad Ali International HOU → SDF

698 nautical miles (803 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 040°, about 037° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 30 min at the quickest height in today's winds (9,500 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots; SDF is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 4 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: 566 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

B39M at 27,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 15 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
B39M at 32,000 ft, 45 nm southeast, 6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 169 nm along the route, 45 nm southeast 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
A319 at 39,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. 419 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through MEM
Where
over MEM
Time
23:11 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
smooth
BCS3 at 35,000 ft, 32 nm northwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME33. 489 nm along the route, 32 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DYR UA /OV DYR/TM 0013/FL350/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM ZME33
```
Report
a routine report filed through DYR
Where
over DYR
Time
00:13 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME33
B38M at 25,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 518 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26
B738 at 34,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 578 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 25 nm southeast, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 578 nm along the route, 25 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 35 nm southeast, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 578 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
A319 at 25,000 ft, 35 nm southeast, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): no turbulence. 638 nm along the route, 35 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BWG070017/TM 2314/FL250/TP A319/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
17 nm east (070°) of BWG
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none

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, SHV, JAN, LIT, MEM, BNA, EVV, LOU). 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	250° at 7 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	5 h 32 min	3:06 am EDT (07:06 UTC)
5,500 ft	290° at 9 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	5 h 40 min	3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 12 kt	−5 kt	14 °C	125 kt	5 h 35 min	3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC)
9,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	−7 kt	10 °C	127 kt	5 h 30 min	3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	−5 kt	7 °C	125 kt	5 h 35 min	3:09 am EDT (07:09 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−3 kt	3 °C	123 kt	5 h 40 min	3:14 am EDT (07:14 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	−1 kt	-1 °C	121 kt	5 h 46 min	3:20 am EDT (07:20 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 21 kt	+1 kt	-5 °C	119 kt	5 h 52 min	3:26 am EDT (07:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 21 kt	+1 kt	-6 °C	119 kt	5 h 52 min	3:26 am EDT (07:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	320° at 25 kt	+3 kt	-17 °C	117 kt	5 h 58 min	3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 42 kt	+3 kt	-32 °C	117 kt	5 h 58 min	3:32 am EDT (07:32 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 44 kt	+7 kt	-40 °C	113 kt	6 h 11 min	3:45 am EDT (07:45 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 39 kt	+5 kt	-50 °C	115 kt	6 h 04 min	3:38 am EDT (07:38 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; 64 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°
SHV	used from 150 nm out; 53 nm from the line	190/11	230/19 17°	230/26 12°	260/15 7°	280/16 -4°	300/17 -15°	300/34 -30°	300/31 -41°	310/42 -52°
JAN	used from 249 nm out; 97 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°
LIT	used from 299 nm out; 84 nm from the line	220/12	250/12 17°	250/18 12°	260/22 6°	310/14 -5°	310/25 -17°	310/40 -31°	310/38 -41°	310/46 -52°
MEM	used from 349 nm out; 49 nm from the line	240/9	280/14 17°	280/20 12°	290/25 5°	320/25 -6°	330/31 -18°	320/52 -32°	330/58 -41°	320/42 -50°
BNA	used from 498 nm out; 79 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
EVV	used from 598 nm out; 55 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
LOU	used from 648 nm out; 30 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°

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)
HPY Baytown, TX	20 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				33 ft
JAS Jasper, TX	100 nm out, 1 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet	from the south (190°) at 5 knots, gusting to 11	10+ mi	none	212 ft	01:15 UTC
IER Natchitoches, LA	169 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	121 ft	01:15 UTC
MLU Monroe, LA	239 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	78 ft	00:53 UTC
GLH Greenville, MS	319 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	130 ft	00:53 UTC
CKM Clarksdale, MS	369 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	173 ft	01:15 UTC
MKL Jackson, TN	479 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	434 ft	00:53 UTC
HZD Huntingdon, TN	518 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	496 ft	01:10 UTC
HVC Hopkinsville, KY	588 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	563 ft	01:15 UTC
EKX Elizabethtown, KY	668 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	775 ft	23:35 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	8:56 pm EDT (00:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 775 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SDF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SDF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Sun 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): wind from the southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 SDF 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SDF is before sunrise there (7:48 am EDT (11:48 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 central Great Lakes · 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, Louisville Muhammad Ali International.