George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field IAH → MSN
841 nautical miles (967 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 018°, about 015° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 23-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC). Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; MSN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 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: 5 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 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, at the destination end.
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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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, CLL, SHV, FSM, LIT, SGF, COU, BRL, DBQ). 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 | 220° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 143 kt | 5 h 53 min | 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −21 kt | 141 kt | 5 h 58 min | 7:14 am CDT (12:14 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 14 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 11 min | 7:27 am CDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −10 kt | 11 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 28 min | 7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 14 kt | −8 kt | 8 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 34 min | 7:50 am CDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 15 kt | −8 kt | 3 °C | 128 kt | 6 h 34 min | 7:50 am CDT (12:50 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 16 kt | −9 kt | -1 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 31 min | 7:47 am CDT (12:47 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | −9 kt | -5 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 31 min | 7:47 am CDT (12:47 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 18 kt | −10 kt | -6 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 28 min | 7:44 am CDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 23 kt | −11 kt | -17 °C | 131 kt | 6 h 25 min | 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 33 kt | −7 kt | -31 °C | 127 kt | 6 h 37 min | 7:53 am CDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 40 kt | −3 kt | -41 °C | 123 kt | 6 h 50 min | 8:06 am CDT (13:06 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 45 kt | 0 | -52 °C | 120 kt | 7 h | 8:16 am CDT (13:16 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; 44 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 49 nm out; 83 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° |
| SHV | used from 99 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| FSM | used from 247 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| LIT | used from 297 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| SGF | used from 396 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 230/33 | 230/28 15° | 250/20 13° | 240/18 7° | 250/20 -6° | 250/24 -17° | 280/42 -31° | 280/49 -40° | 290/46 -51° |
| COU | used from 495 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| BRL | used from 593 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 742 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
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 20,000 feet | from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 20,000 ft | 95 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
| CXO Houston, TX | 20 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (100°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 244 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GGG Longview, TX | 148 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 365 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| TXK Texarkana, AR | 218 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 389 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| RUE Russellville, AR | 336 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 409 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| FLP Flippin, AR | 405 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 719 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 495 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,159 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 544 nm out, 22 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| UIN Quincy, IL | 633 nm out, 8 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 732 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| JVL Janesville, WI | 821 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 807 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| MSN Madison, WI | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 886 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,159 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MSN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MSN
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for IAH, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 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 MSN 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 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
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, Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field.