George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Reno/Tahoe International IAH → RNO
1,328 nautical miles (1,528 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 302°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:44 am PDT (10:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 knots; RNO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14. 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: 98 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 W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 599 to 809 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1188 to 1228 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W VALID UNTIL 0155Z NV FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 549 to 1088 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 579 to 669 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 729 to 1148 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 809 to 1148 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 809 to 849 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 869 to 1218 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 948 to 988 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1108 to 1198 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
- urgent GLF6 at 45,000 ft, 48 nm northeast, 6:57 pm CDT (23:57 UTC): severe turbulence, remarks: a/c had to exit auto pilot, 45 degree pitch-zdv. 809 nm along the route, 48 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UUA /OV RSK280050/TM 2357/FL450/TP GLF6/TB SEV/RM A/C HAD TO EXIT AUTO PILOT, 45 DEGREE PITCH-ZDV
- Report
- an urgent report filed through FMN
- Where
- 50 nm west (280°) of RSK
- Time
- 23:57 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF6
- Turbulence
- severe
- Remarks
- a/c had to exit auto pilot, 45 degree pitch-zdv
- GLF5 at 10,000 ft, 37 nm southwest, 5:06 pm CDT (22:06 UTC): moderate turbulence. 220 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TEB UA /OV MUGSY/TM 2206/FL100/TP GLF5/TB MODERATE FROM 100 TO 50
- Report
- a routine report filed through TEB
- Where
- mugsy
- Time
- 22:06 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Turbulence
- moderate from 10,000 ft to 50
- E545 at 45,000 ft, 46 nm northeast, 5:29 pm CDT (22:29 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 759 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UA /OV RSK2950301/TM 2229/FL450/TP E545/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through FMN
- Where
- 301 nm southwest (950°) of RSK2
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E545
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- A320 at 24,000 ft, 2 nm south, 5:07 pm CDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAH UA /OV IAH/TM 2207/FL240/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP /RM DURC. ZHU
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAH
- Where
- over IAH
- Time
- 22:07 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop
- Remarks
- during the climb zhu
- CRJ7 at 10,000 ft, 30 nm northeast, 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC): remarks: light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF. 639 nm along the route, 30 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAF UA /OV KSAF/TM 2349/FL100 /TP CRJ7/RM LIGHT TURBULENCE, BASES ABOVE 100, VSBY 3 MILES CONTINUOUSLY, DURD RNAV RY20 KSAF
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAF
- Where
- over KSAF
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Remarks
- light turbulence, bases above 10,000 ft, vsby 3 miles continuously, during the descent rnav RY20 KSAF
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): light turbulence above 14,000 ft. 659 nm along the route, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ275007/TM 0015/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT ABV 140
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 7 nm west (275°) of ABQ
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light above 14,000 ft
- HDJT at 18,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 5:38 pm CDT (22:38 UTC): light rime icing from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft, -9 °C, remarks: during the climb out of abq zab/fd. 669 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ABQ UA /OV ABQ285015/TM 2238/FL180/TP HDJT/TA M09/IC LGT RIME 160-175/RM DURC OUT OF ABQ - ZAB/FD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ABQ
- Where
- 15 nm west (285°) of ABQ
- Time
- 22:38 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- HDJT
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 16,000 ft to 17,500 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb out of abq zab/fd
- B737 at 27,000 ft, 48 nm southwest, 5:14 pm CDT (22:14 UTC): remarks: mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed +/-300FT entered by zoa fdcs. At the destination end, 48 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
RNO UA /OV 3830N11910W/TM 2214/FL270/TP B737/RM MTN WAVE +/-10KTS +/-300FT ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS
- Report
- a routine report filed through RNO
- Where
- 3830N11910W
- Time
- 22:14 UTC
- Height
- at 27,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed +/-300FT entered by zoa fdcs
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 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 (CLL, ABI, LBB, ROW, ABQ, FMN, BCE, ELY, BIH, RNO). 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 | 180° at 18 kt | −9 kt | 18 °C | 129 kt | 10 h 18 min | 3:44 am PDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 190° at 18 kt | −7 kt | 16 °C | 127 kt | 10 h 27 min | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 20 kt | 0 | 12 °C | 120 kt | 11 h 04 min | 4:30 am PDT (11:30 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 25 kt | +4 kt | 6 °C | 116 kt | 11 h 27 min | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | +7 kt | 2 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 45 min | 5:11 am PDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +7 kt | -1 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 45 min | 5:11 am PDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +8 kt | -6 °C | 112 kt | 11 h 51 min | 5:17 am PDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 35 kt | +9 kt | -9 °C | 111 kt | 11 h 58 min | 5:24 am PDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 39 kt | +14 kt | -19 °C | 106 kt | 12 h 32 min | 5:58 am PDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 55 kt | +27 kt | -28 °C | 93 kt | 14 h 17 min | 7:43 am PDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 53 kt | +30 kt | -37 °C | 90 kt | 14 h 45 min | 8:11 am PDT (15:11 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 48 kt | +30 kt | -48 °C | 90 kt | 14 h 45 min | 8:11 am PDT (15:11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLL | used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| ABI | used from 150 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 180/26 17° | 220/18 12° | 230/25 8° | 230/28 -5° | 240/29 -14° | 250/35 -28° | 270/37 -39° | 280/37 -51° | |
| LBB | used from 349 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 180/26 20° | 210/21 13° | 230/21 7° | 250/25 -5° | 250/34 -16° | 250/52 -28° | 260/47 -38° | 260/49 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 449 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 180/23 | 190/24 15° | 210/27 7° | 230/35 -6° | 240/53 -17° | 240/62 -27° | 250/64 -38° | 260/60 -50° | |
| ABQ | used from 549 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 200/28 13° | 210/28 5° | 210/44 -7° | 230/46 -20° | 230/80 -28° | 240/74 -35° | 240/58 -47° | ||
| FMN | used from 699 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 849 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| ELY | used from 1048 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 210/20 4° | 240/21 -1° | 230/37 -13° | 200/58 -25° | 220/73 -27° | 220/73 -36° | 220/69 -44° | ||
| BIH | used from 1198 nm out; 100 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| RNO | used from 1248 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 320/7 | 260/13 1° | 230/21 -7° | 210/38 -17° | 220/43 -26° | 230/54 -29° | 230/59 -32° | 230/54 -41° |
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 east-southeast (120°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 95 ft | 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC) |
| CLL College Station, TX | 60 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 320 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | 140 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,015 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| ABI Abilene, TX | 270 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 1,790 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 399 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| AEG Albuquerque, NM | 659 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 5,837 ft | 23:47 UTC |
| PGA Page, AZ | 909 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 25 | 8 mi | 9,000 ft | 4,316 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| CDC Cedar City, UT | 998 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots, gusting to 30 | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 5,622 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| SPZ Silver Springs, NV | 1308 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | no report just now | 4,265 ft | ||||
| RNO Reno, NV | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14 | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,837 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:44 am PDT (10:44 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RNO
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
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
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 14 nm from the route, 140 nm along the route · security · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at IAH 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC), at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RNO is before sunrise there (7:05 am PDT (14:05 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, Reno/Tahoe International.
