Plan a flight · Sun 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC)

George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Lakeland Linder International IAH → LAL

709 nautical miles (816 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 096°, about 093° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 22-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots; LAL 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: 743 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 430 to 540 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 IAH.

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

B789 at 27,000 ft, 4 nm west, 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 130 nm along the route, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LFT UA /OV LLA270030/TM 0030/FL270/TP B789/TB MOD CAT/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LFT
Where
30 nm west (270°) of LLA
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zhu
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
E75L at 27,000 ft, 24 nm north, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 110 nm along the route, 24 nm north 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
B737 at 28,000 ft, 3 nm south, 5:52 pm CDT (22:52 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 28,000 ft, remarks: below 26,000 ft zhu. 110 nm along the route, 3 nm south 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
A21N at 32,000 ft, 37 nm south, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 290 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSY UA /OV LEV154030/TM 2315/FL320/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSY
Where
30 nm southeast (154°) of LEV
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
zhu
MD11 at 35,000 ft, 34 nm south, 6:18 pm CDT (23:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ080015/TM 2318/FL350/TP MD11/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
15 nm east (080°) of SRQ
Time
23:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
MD11
Turbulence
none
C172 at 1,100 ft, 49 nm northeast, 8:12 pm CDT (01:12 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 0112/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORL
Where
over ORL
Time
01:12 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
smooth
C172 at 1,100 ft, 49 nm northeast, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORL UA /OV 1SM N/TM 0012/FL011/TP C172/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORL
Where
1SM north
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
smooth
C172 at 4,000 ft, 42 nm east, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): clear from 4,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the destination end, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MLB UA /OV MLB252035/TM 2330/FL040/TP C172/SK SKC 040
```
Report
a routine report filed through MLB
Where
35 nm west (252°) of MLB
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
clear from 4,000 ft
P28A at 1,100 ft, 49 nm northeast, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,100 ft to 60,000 ft. At the destination end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 2315/FL011/TP P28A/SK SKC/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORL
Where
over ORL
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
P28A at 1,100 ft, 49 nm northeast, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 1,100 ft to 60,000 ft. At the destination end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORL UA /OV ORL/TM 2300/FL011/TP P28A/SK SKC/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORL
Where
over ORL
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth

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 6 forecast points nearest it (HOU, LCH, MSY, MOB, TLH, PIE). 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	290° at 4 kt	−4 kt		124 kt	5 h 43 min	3:24 am EDT (07:24 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 6 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	5 h 40 min	3:21 am EDT (07:21 UTC)
7,500 ft	300° at 6 kt	−6 kt	15 °C	126 kt	5 h 38 min	3:19 am EDT (07:19 UTC)
9,500 ft	280° at 7 kt	−8 kt	11 °C	128 kt	5 h 32 min	3:13 am EDT (07:13 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 11 kt	−11 kt	8 °C	131 kt	5 h 25 min	3:06 am EDT (07:06 UTC)
13,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	−13 kt	4 °C	133 kt	5 h 20 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
15,500 ft	280° at 13 kt	−13 kt	0 °C	133 kt	5 h 20 min	3:01 am EDT (07:01 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 14 kt	−14 kt	-4 °C	134 kt	5 h 17 min	2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 14 kt	−14 kt	-5 °C	134 kt	5 h 17 min	2:58 am EDT (06:58 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 18 kt	−18 kt	-16 °C	138 kt	5 h 08 min	2:49 am EDT (06:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 23 kt	−22 kt	-32 °C	142 kt	5 h	2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 20 kt	−17 kt	-41 °C	137 kt	5 h 11 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 20 kt	−18 kt	-52 °C	138 kt	5 h 08 min	2:49 am EDT (06:49 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; 28 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; 40 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°
MSY	used from 200 nm out; 52 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -52°
MOB	used from 350 nm out; 96 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -50°
TLH	used from 450 nm out; 143 nm from the line	300/17	340/32 17°	320/27 13°	300/27 8°	280/23 -7°	250/37 -17°	230/44 -33°	220/53 -41°	220/48 -51°
PIE	used from 550 nm out; 102 nm from the line	310/7	270/12 17°	270/14 13°	260/14 8°	240/22 -5°	230/24 -16°	220/26 -31°	200/31 -41°	180/33 -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
IAH Houston, TX	departure	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	95 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	70 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	00:53 UTC
LCH Lake Charles, LA	110 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	00:53 UTC
PTN Patterson, LA	210 nm out, 11 nm north of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	8 ft	00:56 UTC
HUM Houma, LA	250 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	8 ft	23:47 UTC
TPA Tampa, FL	679 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	25,000 ft	26 ft	00:53 UTC
LAL Lakeland, FL	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	141 ft	8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 141 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LAL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC)

Wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for LAL

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for IAH, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 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

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

Daylight

Sunset at IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at LAL 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LAL is before sunrise there (7:26 am EDT (11:26 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Lakeland Linder International.