William P Hobby Airport to John Wayne/Orange County HOU → SNA
1,177 nautical miles (1,355 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 288°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 1-knot headwind), arriving about 10:38 am PDT (17:38 UTC). Right now HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; SNA is VFR, wind calm. 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: 1 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 SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Near the route, 798 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 908 to 1127 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft, from 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC). Over the route from 1137 to 1157 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
Not fetched just now.
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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (HOU, CLL, SAT, ABI, INK, ELP, TUS, PHX, BLH, ONT). 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 | 200° at 15 kt | +1 kt | 17 °C | 119 kt | 9 h 53 min | 10:38 am PDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 200° at 17 kt | +2 kt | 14 °C | 118 kt | 9 h 58 min | 10:43 am PDT (17:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 20 kt | +3 kt | 11 °C | 117 kt | 10 h 04 min | 10:49 am PDT (17:49 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | +5 kt | 8 °C | 115 kt | 10 h 14 min | 10:59 am PDT (17:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 23 kt | +9 kt | 4 °C | 111 kt | 10 h 36 min | 11:21 am PDT (18:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | +12 kt | 0 °C | 108 kt | 10 h 54 min | 11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +16 kt | -4 °C | 104 kt | 11 h 19 min | 12:04 pm PDT (19:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 36 kt | +18 kt | -7 °C | 102 kt | 11 h 32 min | 12:17 pm PDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 44 kt | +26 kt | -16 °C | 94 kt | 12 h 31 min | 1:16 pm PDT (20:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 52 kt | +34 kt | -28 °C | 86 kt | 13 h 41 min | 2:26 pm PDT (21:26 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 52 kt | +37 kt | -37 °C | 83 kt | 14 h 11 min | 2:56 pm PDT (21:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 44 kt | +35 kt | -48 °C | 85 kt | 13 h 51 min | 2:36 pm PDT (21:36 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° |
| CLL | used from 50 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 170/22 | 170/26 18° | 200/15 14° | 240/13 8° | 240/15 -5° | 260/17 -13° | 290/27 -29° | 290/22 -40° | 320/30 -51° |
| SAT | used from 100 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 150/26 | 180/18 19° | 180/18 14° | 200/14 9° | 230/16 -6° | 210/9 -13° | 270/8 -29° | 280/6 -39° | 340/19 -51° |
| ABI | used from 249 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 200/31 17° | 210/21 15° | 240/15 9° | 250/14 -4° | 250/24 -14° | 250/36 -28° | 270/35 -38° | 290/41 -50° | |
| INK | used from 299 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 190/23 20° | 200/18 15° | 230/18 8° | 240/23 -4° | 240/37 -14° | 240/46 -27° | 250/42 -38° | 260/36 -50° | |
| ELP | used from 499 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° | |
| TUS | used from 698 nm out; 106 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° | |
| PHX | used from 848 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| BLH | used from 948 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| ONT | used from 1097 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
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 3,300 feet, a broken layer at 23,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 23,000 ft | 46 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
| TME Houston, TX | 30 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,600 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,600 ft | 165 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| AUS Austin, TX | 130 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 541 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| SJT San Angelo, TX | 289 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,918 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| INK Wink, TX | 429 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | none | 2,821 ft | 06:53 UTC | |
| ELP El Paso, TX | 589 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 758 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 3,178 ft | 06:51 UTC |
| CHD Chandler, AZ | 878 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,243 ft | 07:35 UTC |
| BLH Blythe, CA | 1017 nm out, 15 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (170°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 399 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| RIV Riverside, CA | 1147 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 1,536 ft | 07:10 UTC |
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 55 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (06:53 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 SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:38 am PDT (17:38 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SNA
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for HOU, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 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
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4240 SAN ANGELO, TX, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, 279 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZFW
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 23 nm from the route, 1077 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, 1097 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 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, John Wayne/Orange County.