Los Angeles International to EL Paso International LAX → ELP
620 nautical miles (713 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 099°, about 087° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 42-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC). Right now LAX is marginal VFR, wind from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots; ELP 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: 2,613 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 SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 160 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 LAX.
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 08:00–15:00 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 5 forecast points nearest it (ONT, BLH, PHX, TUS, ELP). 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 15 kt | −8 kt | 128 kt | 4 h 51 min | 8:56 am MDT (14:56 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 14 kt | −6 kt | 13 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 55 min | 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 21 kt | −5 kt | 8 °C | 125 kt | 4 h 58 min | 9:03 am MDT (15:03 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 200° at 28 kt | −6 kt | 5 °C | 126 kt | 4 h 55 min | 9:00 am MDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 32 kt | −9 kt | 2 °C | 129 kt | 4 h 48 min | 8:53 am MDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 37 kt | −15 kt | -1 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 36 min | 8:41 am MDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 43 kt | −21 kt | -4 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 24 min | 8:29 am MDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 49 kt | −27 kt | -8 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 13 min | 8:18 am MDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 50 kt | −29 kt | -9 °C | 149 kt | 4 h 10 min | 8:15 am MDT (14:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 64 kt | −32 kt | -19 °C | 152 kt | 4 h 05 min | 8:10 am MDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 75 kt | −36 kt | -28 °C | 156 kt | 3 h 58 min | 8:03 am MDT (14:03 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 79 kt | −42 kt | -37 °C | 162 kt | 3 h 50 min | 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 78 kt | −39 kt | -48 °C | 159 kt | 3 h 54 min | 7:59 am MDT (13:59 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -46° |
| BLH | used from 100 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| PHX | used from 250 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 190/15 | 210/25 12° | 200/34 4° | 200/34 2° | 220/58 -9° | 220/75 -19° | 220/91 -28° | 220/100 -35° | 220/95 -47° |
| TUS | used from 350 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 200/12 13° | 200/34 7° | 210/41 4° | 230/53 -7° | 220/69 -19° | 220/84 -27° | 220/88 -36° | 220/83 -48° | |
| ELP | used from 500 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 300/8 | 210/14 12° | 210/28 6° | 230/47 -6° | 230/56 -14° | 220/58 -27° | 230/60 -38° | 230/56 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 2,200 ft | 127 ft | 2:53 am PDT (09:53 UTC) |
| FUL Fullerton, CA | 20 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,600 feet, overcast at 4,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 96 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | 90 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 09:53 UTC |
| BLH Blythe, CA | 180 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 399 ft | 09:52 UTC |
| GYR Goodyear, AZ | 300 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 969 ft | 03:47 UTC |
| CHD Chandler, AZ | 330 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 1,243 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| SAD Safford, AZ | 440 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet | from the east (090°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,178 ft | 09:51 UTC |
| LSB Lordsburg, NM | 500 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 4,287 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| DNA Santa Teresa, NM | 600 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 4,112 ft | 09:55 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 3:51 am MDT (09:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,287 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:55 am MDT (13:55 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for LAX, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- At times between Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC) and 7:00 am PDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 4 nm from the route, 30 nm along the route · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC), at ELP 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 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: Los Angeles International, EL Paso International.