Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field to San Diego International LFT → SAN
1,296 nautical miles (1,492 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 283°, about 280° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 05 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 6:13 pm PDT (01:13 UTC). Right now LFT is VFR, wind calm; SAN is VFR, wind from the west (280°) at 4 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1227 to 1286 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). 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 LFT.
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 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 (LCH, CLL, ABI, INK, ROW, ELP, TUS, PHX, BLH, SAN). 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 | 200° at 16 kt | +3 kt | 18 °C | 117 kt | 11 h 05 min | 6:13 pm PDT (01:13 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 200° at 17 kt | +3 kt | 15 °C | 117 kt | 11 h 05 min | 6:13 pm PDT (01:13 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 18 kt | +5 kt | 11 °C | 115 kt | 11 h 16 min | 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 19 kt | +7 kt | 8 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 28 min | 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +10 kt | 4 °C | 110 kt | 11 h 47 min | 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +15 kt | 0 °C | 105 kt | 12 h 21 min | 7:29 pm PDT (02:29 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +20 kt | -4 °C | 100 kt | 12 h 58 min | 8:06 pm PDT (03:06 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 34 kt | +23 kt | -7 °C | 97 kt | 13 h 22 min | 8:30 pm PDT (03:30 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | +32 kt | -16 °C | 88 kt | 14 h 44 min | 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 48 kt | +36 kt | -28 °C | 84 kt | 15 h 26 min | 10:34 pm PDT (05:34 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 46 kt | +39 kt | -38 °C | 81 kt | 16 h | 11:08 pm PDT (06:08 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 42 kt | +37 kt | -50 °C | 83 kt | 15 h 37 min | 10:45 pm PDT (05:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCH | used from 0 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 170/21 | 160/23 18° | 170/13 13° | 170/6 8° | 300/12 -7° | 280/16 -14° | 320/27 -30° | 330/23 -41° | 340/38 -51° |
| CLL | used from 150 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 180/24 | 170/21 19° | 180/10 14° | 230/7 8° | 230/16 -6° | 260/20 -13° | 290/23 -29° | 320/21 -39° | 340/35 -51° |
| ABI | used from 349 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/30 19° | 220/12 16° | 220/11 9° | 230/15 -5° | 250/26 -15° | 250/39 -28° | 270/36 -38° | 280/30 -51° | |
| INK | used from 499 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 220/17 21° | 230/12 14° | 210/13 7° | 220/29 -5° | 240/41 -14° | 230/43 -28° | 250/41 -38° | 250/33 -51° | |
| ROW | used from 648 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 230/12 | 230/17 13° | 220/30 7° | 230/41 -5° | 240/52 -17° | 230/66 -28° | 240/63 -38° | 240/60 -50° | |
| ELP | used from 698 nm out; 36 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° | |
| TUS | used from 848 nm out; 110 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° | |
| PHX | used from 997 nm out; 50 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° |
| BLH | used from 1097 nm out; 75 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° |
| SAN | used from 1247 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/10 | 220/19 6° | 230/26 2° | 230/29 -3° | 230/43 -11° | 220/61 -20° | 220/72 -29° | 220/75 -38° | 220/71 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFT Lafayette, LA | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 40 ft | 8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC) |
| CWF Lake Charles, LA | 60 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the east (100°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 16 ft | 13:47 UTC |
| UTS Huntsville, TX | 189 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 362 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| GRK Fort Hood (Killeen), TX | 309 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,300 feet, overcast at 16,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 9 mi | 16,000 ft | 1,015 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| SJT San Angelo, TX | 449 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the south (180°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 1,918 ft | 13:51 UTC |
| MAF Midland, TX | 539 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 16 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 2,872 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LRU Las Cruces, NM | 778 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,456 ft | 13:55 UTC |
| MZJ Marana, AZ | 997 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 1,893 ft | 13:50 UTC |
| NYL Yuma, AZ | 1167 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 8,000 ft | 213 ft | 13:57 UTC |
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 16 ft | 6:51 am PDT (13:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,456 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:13 pm PDT (01:13 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAN
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Tue 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
- From Tue 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 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
- 6/0543 MCGREGOR, TX 11 nm from the route, 289 nm along the route · security · ZFW
- 6/4240 SAN ANGELO, TX, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, 439 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZFW
- 6/2656 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local on the route, 1177 nm along the route · security · until 2 January · ZLA
- 6/2657 Calexico, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local on the route, 1177 nm along the route · security · until 2 January · ZLA
- 6/2652 Coyote Wells, CA, Saturday, July 4, 2026 through Saturday, January 2, 2027 Local 5 nm from the route, 1217 nm along the route · security · until 2 January · ZLA
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 18 nm from the route, 1237 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at LFT 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 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: Lafayette Rgnl/Paul Fournet Field, San Diego International.