Plan a flight · Sun 9:44 pm CDT (02:44 UTC)

George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Helena Regional IAH → HLN

1,264 nautical miles (1,454 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 327°, about 324° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:19 am MDT (12:19 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots; HLN is low IFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 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

SIGMET 8W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 816 to 1025 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO MT WY
FROM 40N SHR-60WNW RAP-20ENE CYS-30SW CYS-10NW BOY-40N SHR
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.

AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 498 to 637 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 667 to 1174 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 567 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 836 to 1065 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 955 to 1154 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 308 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 259 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 16,000 ft. Over the last 30 nm of the route.

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 IAH.

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

urgent CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 30 nm northeast, 8:04 pm CDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear dept runway 03 gain/loss unknown. 945 nm along the route, 30 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UUA /OV CPR035002/TM 0104/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB CONT MOD TURB/RM LLWS DEPT RY03 GAIN/LOSS UNKN
```
Report
an urgent report filed through CPR
Where
2 nm northeast (035°) of CPR
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
continuous moderate turbulence
Remarks
low-level wind shear dept runway 03 gain/loss unknown
BCS1 at 24,000 ft, 43 nm southwest, 8:30 pm CDT (01:30 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-05. 766 nm along the route, 43 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DVV270030/TM 0130/FL240/TP BCS1/TB MOD 220-240/RM DURC ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
30 nm west (270°) of DVV
Time
01:30 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Turbulence
moderate from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-05
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 37 nm southwest, 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 826 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG010052/TM 0047/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB COSN MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
52 nm north (010°) of RLG
Time
00:47 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
cosn moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
S22T at 15,000 ft, 45 nm southwest, 8:47 pm CDT (01:47 UTC): moderate rime icing above 15,000 ft, -5 °C. 1104 nm along the route, 45 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAC UA /OV DNW010020/TM 0147/FL150/TP S22T/TA M05/IC MOD RIME 150 /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAC
Where
20 nm north (010°) of DNW
Time
01:47 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
S22T
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
moderate rime at 15,000 ft zlc
B39M at 27,000 ft, 2 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 2 nm south 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
B737 at 14,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. 726 nm along the route, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm south (170°) of DEN
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
B737 descending, 27 nm southwest, 9:29 pm CDT (02:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 746 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
02:29 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
B737 descending, 27 nm southwest, 8:23 pm CDT (01:23 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 746 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0123/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
A321 descending, 27 nm southwest, 7:26 pm CDT (00:26 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 746 nm along the route, 27 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
00:26 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft
E75L at 10,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 766 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm north (350°) of DEN
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
light from the surface to 17,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
C56X at 13,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 8:33 pm CDT (01:33 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 846 nm along the route, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAR UA /OV LAR/TM 0133/FL130/TP C56X/SK BASE160/TB OCNL CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAR
Where
over LAR
Time
01:33 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
BASE160
Turbulence
occasional continuous light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
CRJ2 at 9,000 ft, 14 nm east, 7:35 pm CDT (00:35 UTC): light chop turbulence, vmc, remarks: occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft. 945 nm along the route, 14 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CPR UA /OV CPR215015/TM 0035/FL090/TP CRJ2/WX VMC/TB LGT CHOP/RM OCNL MOD TURB AT 150
```
Report
a routine report filed through CPR
Where
15 nm southwest (215°) of CPR
Time
00:35 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Weather
visual conditions
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
occasional moderate turbulence at at 15,000 ft
E75L descending, 9 nm southwest, 8:04 pm CDT (01:04 UTC): remarks: had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground. 1204 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0104/FLDURD/TP E75L/RM HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AT 400-500FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
had the airport in sight at 400-500FT above ground
B737 descending, 9 nm southwest, 7:28 pm CDT (00:28 UTC): scattered clouds above 8,000 ft, fog, snow, remarks: broke out about 100FT above mins. 1204 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0028/FLDURD/TP B737/SK SCT080/WX 1/2SM SN FG/RM BROKE OUT ABOUT 100FT ABOVE MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
00:28 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
scattered clouds from 8,000 ft
Weather
1/2SM, snow, fog
Remarks
broke out about 100FT above mins

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 12 forecast points nearest it (CLL, DAL, SPS, GAG, GCK, GLD, DEN, BFF, LND, BIL, DLN, GTF). 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	210° at 28 kt	−12 kt	20 °C	132 kt	9 h 35 min	6:19 am MDT (12:19 UTC)
6,500 ft	210° at 27 kt	−9 kt	17 °C	129 kt	9 h 48 min	6:32 am MDT (12:32 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 22 kt	−5 kt	12 °C	125 kt	10 h 07 min	6:51 am MDT (12:51 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−2 kt	8 °C	122 kt	10 h 22 min	7:06 am MDT (13:06 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	0	4 °C	120 kt	10 h 32 min	7:16 am MDT (13:16 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−1 kt	0 °C	121 kt	10 h 27 min	7:11 am MDT (13:11 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−2 kt	-4 °C	122 kt	10 h 22 min	7:06 am MDT (13:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 30 kt	−3 kt	-8 °C	123 kt	10 h 17 min	7:01 am MDT (13:01 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 33 kt	−2 kt	-19 °C	122 kt	10 h 22 min	7:06 am MDT (13:06 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 48 kt	+4 kt	-30 °C	116 kt	10 h 54 min	7:38 am MDT (13:38 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 51 kt	+10 kt	-37 °C	110 kt	11 h 29 min	8:13 am MDT (14:13 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 48 kt	+16 kt	-47 °C	104 kt	12 h 09 min	8:53 am MDT (14:53 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
CLL	used from 0 nm out; 42 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°
DAL	used from 100 nm out; 69 nm from the line	190/29	220/23 17°	220/17 13°	250/18 8°	230/18 -5°	240/18 -15°	270/34 -29°	280/33 -39°	300/36 -51°
SPS	used from 249 nm out; 15 nm from the line	200/39	220/28 17°	230/27 12°	240/15 9°	250/15 -4°	250/24 -15°	260/45 -28°	270/43 -39°	280/45 -51°
GAG	used from 348 nm out; 72 nm from the line		220/40 19°	230/28 14°	240/23 8°	230/21 -6°	240/31 -19°	250/66 -29°	260/58 -38°	260/47 -49°
GCK	used from 498 nm out; 55 nm from the line		220/48 21°	230/37 14°	250/30 8°	230/37 -6°	240/37 -20°	240/69 -28°	250/67 -37°	260/58 -48°
GLD	used from 597 nm out; 68 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
DEN	used from 697 nm out; 37 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°
BFF	used from 846 nm out; 105 nm from the line		180/28	220/33 15°	210/31 7°	230/32 -9°	220/41 -21°	220/40 -33°	240/47 -36°	250/54 -46°
LND	used from 896 nm out; 96 nm from the line			200/23 6°	220/31 1°	220/39 -11°	230/39 -23°	220/51 -28°	220/66 -37°	230/68 -45°
BIL	used from 1095 nm out; 74 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
DLN	used from 1194 nm out; 73 nm from the line			090/6 -6°	240/22 -4°	210/34 -16°	210/62 -25°	210/66 -34°	210/82 -36°	220/77 -42°
GTF	used from 1244 nm out; 63 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -44°

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
IAH Houston, TX	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	95 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
CXO Houston, TX	20 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	244 ft	01:53 UTC
FWS Fort Worth, TX	189 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	700 ft	02:15 UTC
SPS Wichita Falls, TX	289 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,019 ft	01:52 UTC
PYX Perryton, TX	468 nm out, 6 nm west of the line	no report just now				2,918 ft
JHN Johnson City, KS	557 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 16 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	3,325 ft	02:35 UTC
CFO Denver, CO	736 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	02:35 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	786 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,020 ft	01:56 UTC
HSG Thermopolis, WY	1035 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: mist	from the north (010°) at 8 knots	3 mi	800 ft	4,891 ft	02:35 UTC
BZN Bozeman, MT	1204 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: light snow, mist	calm	1 mi	1,400 ft	4,473 ft	02:22 UTC
HLN Helena, MT	destination	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 1,000 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the west (280°) at 8 knots	0.75 mi	1,000 ft	3,877 ft	8:32 pm MDT (02:32 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,515 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At HLN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:19 am MDT (12:19 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for HLN

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 24, visibility ¾ mile, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility 1½ miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light snow, mist, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm MDT (19:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

The forecast for IAH, the departure

From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-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 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 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 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 189 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at HLN 6:46 pm MDT (00:46 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:17 pm MDT (01:17 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HLN is before sunrise there (7:41 am MDT (13:41 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 northern Rockies · 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Helena Regional.