Plan a flight · Mon 6:27 am CDT (11:27 UTC)

Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field to Buffalo Niagara International LFT → BUF

994 nautical miles (1,144 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 036°, about 033° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 3-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:32 pm EDT (19:32 UTC). Right now LFT is VFR, wind calm; BUF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) 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: 1 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 557 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 944 nm along 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 LFT.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

BE36 at 8,000 ft, 8 nm west, 6:18 am CDT (11:18 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: ZME65. 129 nm along the route, 8 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAN UA /OV MHZ225040/TM 1118/FL080/TP BE36/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZME65
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAN
Where
40 nm southwest (225°) of MHZ
Time
11:18 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZME65
E75L at 33,000 ft, 4 nm west, 6:09 am CDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 487 nm along the route, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA045040/TM 1109/FL330/TP E75L/TB NEG/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
40 nm northeast (045°) of BNA
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME62
E170 at 100 ft, 2 nm west, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 596 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 2 nm west, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 596 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 5 nm north, 4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 596 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 17 nm northwest, 6:01 am CDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. 626 nm along the route, 17 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
35 nm north (360°) of HYK
Time
11:01 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Remarks
lil dark
B737 at 100 ft, 43 nm northwest, 5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 636 nm along the route, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
10:24 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
B739 climbing, 44 nm northwest, 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 636 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 west cvg
Time
10:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
tops 1,100 ft
B763 at 100 ft, 44 nm northwest, 4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 636 nm along the route, 44 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
CL35 climbing, 30 nm northwest, 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 736 nm along the route, 30 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OSU UA /OV OSU270003/TM 1100/FLDURC/TP CL35/SK B016
```
Report
a routine report filed through OSU
Where
3 nm west (270°) of OSU
Time
11:00 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CL35
Sky
B016
E170 at 6,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 736 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 1000/FL060/TP E170/SK B008-TOP031/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
10:00 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B008-TOP031
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 39,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC): light chop turbulence. 755 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV APE/TM 0840/FL390/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP 390 NEG 350-330
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over APE
Time
08:40 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 39,000 ft no from 35,000 ft to 33,000 ft
E75L at 21,000 ft, 19 nm southeast, 5:23 am CDT (10:23 UTC): clear from 21,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 765 nm along the route, 19 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ZZV UA /OV ZZV/TM 1023/FL210/TP E75L/SK SKC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ZZV
Where
over ZZV
Time
10:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
clear
B007T034 , 19 nm northwest, 6:10 am CDT (11:10 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 805 nm along the route, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CAK UA /OV BJJ280001/TM 1110/FLC210/TP B007 T034
```
Report
a routine report filed through CAK
Where
1 nm west (280°) of BJJ
Time
11:10 UTC
Height
at C210
Aircraft
B007 T034

9 more routine reports are on the map.

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 10 forecast points nearest it (MSY, JAN, MEM, HSV, BNA, LOU, CVG, CMH, CLE, BUF). 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	290° at 12 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	8 h 05 min	3:32 pm EDT (19:32 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	−1 kt		121 kt	8 h 13 min	3:40 pm EDT (19:40 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	+1 kt	13 °C	119 kt	8 h 21 min	3:48 pm EDT (19:48 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	+1 kt	9 °C	119 kt	8 h 21 min	3:48 pm EDT (19:48 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 15 kt	0	5 °C	120 kt	8 h 17 min	3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	0	1 °C	120 kt	8 h 17 min	3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	0	-2 °C	120 kt	8 h 17 min	3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	0	-5 °C	120 kt	8 h 17 min	3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 23 kt	0	-6 °C	120 kt	8 h 17 min	3:44 pm EDT (19:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 25 kt	−2 kt	-19 °C	122 kt	8 h 09 min	3:36 pm EDT (19:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 37 kt	+7 kt	-33 °C	113 kt	8 h 48 min	4:15 pm EDT (20:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 49 kt	+9 kt	-42 °C	111 kt	8 h 57 min	4:24 pm EDT (20:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 51 kt	+10 kt	-51 °C	110 kt	9 h 02 min	4:29 pm EDT (20:29 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
MSY	used from 0 nm out; 82 nm from the line	150/9	140/8 18°	L/V 13°	L/V 6°	320/15 -5°	310/16 -16°	320/32 -31°	340/35 -40°	350/34 -52°
JAN	used from 50 nm out; 86 nm from the line	240/10	260/15 18°	280/10 11°	290/6 6°	290/15 -5°	300/15 -17°	320/35 -30°	330/38 -40°	330/39 -51°
MEM	used from 249 nm out; 94 nm from the line	250/19	260/19 17°	270/20 12°	270/16 6°	270/21 -6°	290/27 -17°	300/37 -30°	300/49 -40°	310/40 -51°
HSV	used from 298 nm out; 68 nm from the line	300/20	310/14 16°	310/18 10°	310/15 4°	320/19 -5°	290/16 -18°	320/36 -32°	320/47 -41°	330/42 -50°
BNA	used from 398 nm out; 22 nm from the line	300/20	300/14 15°	300/14 10°	300/13 4°	310/22 -5°	280/24 -18°	310/37 -33°	310/50 -41°	320/49 -51°
LOU	used from 497 nm out; 69 nm from the line	300/16	310/19 15°	310/17 9°	300/15 4°	300/26 -6°	280/34 -19°	290/30 -34°	310/49 -42°	310/58 -51°
CVG	used from 596 nm out; 47 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
CMH	used from 696 nm out; 24 nm from the line	320/12	340/26 15°	340/22 9°	320/24 3°	320/32 -7°	320/36 -20°	330/42 -35°	320/59 -44°	320/57 -50°
CLE	used from 795 nm out; 41 nm from the line	310/7	350/20 14°	340/16 9°	320/21 2°	320/32 -8°	330/34 -20°	330/45 -36°	320/60 -45°	320/64 -51°
BUF	used from 895 nm out; 75 nm from the line	300/11	330/15 11°	340/26 8°	330/28 2°	340/31 -10°	340/32 -21°	340/52 -37°	340/59 -46°	330/66 -53°

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
LFT Lafayette, LA	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	40 ft	5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC)
BTR Baton Rouge, LA	40 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	69 ft	10:53 UTC
JAN Jackson, MS	159 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	346 ft	10:54 UTC
TUP Tupelo, MS	288 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	none	346 ft	10:53 UTC
MSL Muscle Shoals, AL	348 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	550 ft	10:53 UTC
BNA Nashville, TN	447 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	599 ft	10:53 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	596 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	11:23 UTC
AMT West Union, OH	666 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				896 ft
LCK Columbus, OH	726 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the west (260°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	743 ft	10:55 UTC
CAK Akron, OH	825 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots	8 mi	500 ft	1,225 ft	10:51 UTC
ERI Erie, PA	915 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	732 ft	00:51 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	6 mi	1,300 ft	726 ft	7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,225 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BUF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:32 pm EDT (19:32 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for BUF

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 feet

The forecast for LFT, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 13 nm from the route, 457 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 835 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 855 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 5 nm from the route, 865 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field, Buffalo Niagara International.