George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Rapid City Regional IAH → RAP
921 nautical miles (1,059 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 339°, about 336° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (110°) at 4 knots; RAP is low IFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 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: 20 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). Over the route from 327 to 822 nm out.
- 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 109 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
- 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). 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
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, DAL, SPS, OKC, GAG, GCK, GLD, BFF, RAP). 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 33 kt | −20 kt | 18 °C | 140 kt | 6 h 35 min | 6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 31 kt | −16 kt | 17 °C | 136 kt | 6 h 46 min | 6:54 am MDT (12:54 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 28 kt | −12 kt | 15 °C | 132 kt | 6 h 59 min | 7:07 am MDT (13:07 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −8 kt | 11 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 12 min | 7:20 am MDT (13:20 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −6 kt | 7 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 19 min | 7:27 am MDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −6 kt | 2 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 19 min | 7:27 am MDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −5 kt | -3 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 22 min | 7:30 am MDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 22 kt | −5 kt | -6 °C | 125 kt | 7 h 22 min | 7:30 am MDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 27 kt | −4 kt | -18 °C | 124 kt | 7 h 26 min | 7:34 am MDT (13:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 45 kt | +2 kt | -30 °C | 118 kt | 7 h 48 min | 7:56 am MDT (13:56 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 46 kt | +9 kt | -38 °C | 111 kt | 8 h 18 min | 8:26 am MDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 44 kt | +15 kt | -49 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 46 min | 8:54 am MDT (14:54 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; 45 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; 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 99 nm out; 65 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 247 nm out; 58 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° |
| OKC | used from 297 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| GAG | used from 396 nm out; 62 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 495 nm out; 66 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 594 nm out; 70 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° | |
| BFF | used from 742 nm out; 92 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° | |
| RAP | used from 841 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° |
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, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (100°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 244 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| HQZ Mesquite, TX | 178 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (090°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 446 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ADS Dallas, TX | 198 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 7 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 644 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| OKC Oklahoma City, OK | 346 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,295 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| AVK Alva, OK | 436 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,476 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| LQR Larned, KS | 525 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,012 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| OIN Oberlin, KS | 643 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,706 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 663 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 841 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east (080°) at 11 knots | 3 mi | 300 ft | 3,562 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms, mist | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 4 mi | 300 ft | 3,203 ft | 11:59 pm MDT (05:59 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,562 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC)
Wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet low IFR
The whole forecast for RAP
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, a broken layer at 1,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 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
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 4 nm from the route, 188 nm along the route · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 21 nm from the route, 188 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 RAP 6:12 pm MDT (00:12 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm MDT (00:41 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is before sunrise there (7:02 am MDT (13:02 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, Rapid City Regional.