Blue Grass Airport to EL Paso International LEX → ELP
1,132 nautical miles (1,302 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 257°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 41 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 8:12 am MDT (14:12 UTC). Right now LEX is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 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: 2 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 3C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Over the last 79 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120255 MKCC WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3C VALID UNTIL 0455Z TX NM FROM 50SE CIM-70WNW MRF-30W ELP-10W FTI-50SE CIM AREA TS MOV FROM 22030KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 129 nm of the route.
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 LEX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- B38M at 21,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 9:09 pm EDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. At the departure end, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through SDF
- Where
- over IIU
- Time
- 01:09 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 41 nm south, 9:51 pm EDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 109 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of BWG
- Time
- 01:51 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- continuous light occasional moderate chop
- Remarks
- zme
- A320 at 35,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 8:43 pm EDT (00:43 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZFW47. 814 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CDS UA /OV CDS270030/TM 0043/FL350/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZFW47
- Report
- a routine report filed through CDS
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of CDS
- Time
- 00:43 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop
- Remarks
- ZFW47
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 11 forecast points nearest it (LOU, EVV, CGI, SGF, FSM, TUL, OKC, SPS, LBB, ROW, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 18 °C | 100 kt | 11 h 19 min | 8:50 am MDT (14:50 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 16 °C | 101 kt | 11 h 12 min | 8:43 am MDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 13 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 53 min | 8:24 am MDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | +14 kt | 10 °C | 106 kt | 10 h 41 min | 8:12 am MDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | +14 kt | 6 °C | 106 kt | 10 h 41 min | 8:12 am MDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | +16 kt | 2 °C | 104 kt | 10 h 53 min | 8:24 am MDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | +19 kt | -2 °C | 101 kt | 11 h 12 min | 8:43 am MDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 20 kt | +21 kt | -6 °C | 99 kt | 11 h 26 min | 8:57 am MDT (14:57 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 28 kt | +29 kt | -16 °C | 91 kt | 12 h 26 min | 9:57 am MDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 41 kt | +40 kt | -30 °C | 80 kt | 14 h 09 min | 11:40 am MDT (17:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 46 kt | +42 kt | -39 °C | 78 kt | 14 h 31 min | 12:02 pm MDT (18:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 42 kt | +35 kt | -50 °C | 85 kt | 13 h 19 min | 10:50 am MDT (16:50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOU | used from 0 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| EVV | used from 99 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 280/15 | 290/12 17° | 310/16 10° | 320/13 5° | 310/22 -6° | 320/26 -18° | 320/38 -33° | 310/56 -41° | 320/55 -51° |
| CGI | used from 199 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| SGF | used from 347 nm out; 78 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° |
| FSM | used from 447 nm out; 38 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° |
| TUL | used from 546 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 210/37 | 240/29 17° | 260/15 14° | 260/11 7° | 240/22 -6° | 250/29 -16° | 270/45 -29° | 270/47 -40° | 280/44 -50° |
| OKC | used from 596 nm out; 36 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° |
| SPS | used from 695 nm out; 36 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° |
| LBB | used from 794 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 200/36 18° | 220/19 15° | 240/20 8° | 230/24 -4° | 240/37 -16° | 250/57 -28° | 250/51 -38° | 270/47 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 943 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| ELP | used from 1042 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEX Lexington, KY | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 9 mi | 1,800 ft | 979 ft | 10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC) |
| SDF Louisville, KY | 50 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 02:56 UTC |
| PAH Paducah, KY | 208 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 410 ft | 00:00 UTC |
| CGI Cape Girardeau, MO | 238 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 341 ft | 20:53 UTC |
| BBG Branson, MO | 417 nm out, 22 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,302 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| FYV Fayetteville, AR | 477 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,252 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| OUN Norman, OK | 645 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,181 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| LAW Lawton, OK | 695 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,110 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 874 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 18 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| HOB Hobbs, NM | 963 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots, gusting to 24 | 10+ mi | none | 3,660 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| CNM Carlsbad, NM | 1023 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 17 knots, gusting to 28 | 8 mi | none | 3,294 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 3,961 ft | 8:51 pm MDT (02:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,961 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, 8:12 am MDT (14:12 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- From Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Sun 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind variable at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility 4 miles, rain showers
The forecast for LEX, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 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: Blue Grass Airport, EL Paso International.