Plan a flight · Sun 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC)

Laredo International to Key Field LRD → MEI

627 nautical miles (721 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 055° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (24,000 ft, a 12-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LRD is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots; MEI is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 3 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: 4 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 LRD.

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

B789 at 27,000 ft, 49 nm south, 7:30 pm CDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 368 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LFT UA /OV LLA270030/TM 0030/FL270/TP B789/TB MOD CAT/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LFT
Where
30 nm west (270°) of LLA
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zhu
B39M at 27,000 ft, 22 nm northwest, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 259 nm along the route, 22 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
IH340035
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
lt chop during the climb
Remarks
zhu
B737 at 28,000 ft, 41 nm southeast, 5:52 pm CDT (22:52 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 28,000 ft, remarks: below 26,000 ft zhu. 348 nm along the route, 41 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BPT UA /OV BPT109042/TM 2252/FL280/TP B737/TB INTMT LGT-MOD FL280 /RM BLO FL260. ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BPT
Where
42 nm east (109°) of BPT
Time
22:52 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
intermittent light to moderate FL280
Remarks
below 26,000 ft zhu
E75L at 27,000 ft, 22 nm southeast, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 368 nm along the route, 22 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LCH
Where
LCH08510
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
continuous chop
Remarks
zhu
B39M at 32,000 ft, 24 nm northwest, 6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 428 nm along the route, 24 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AEX UA /OV AEX/TM 2307/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through AEX
Where
over AEX
Time
23:07 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zhu
UAL1770 at 34,000 ft, 39 nm east, 5:55 pm CDT (22:55 UTC): light chop turbulence, wind 349° at 61 knots. At the destination end, 39 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1770 3230N 08800W 2255 F340 349/061KT TB CONT LGT CHOP CONT LGT TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP

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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (LRD, CRP, PSX, HOU, LCH, JAN). 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	160° at 9 kt	−1 kt		121 kt	5 h 11 min	2:02 am CDT (07:02 UTC)
5,500 ft	160° at 7 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	5 h 08 min	1:59 am CDT (06:59 UTC)
7,500 ft	180° at 9 kt	−4 kt	15 °C	124 kt	5 h 03 min	1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC)
9,500 ft	190° at 10 kt	−7 kt	11 °C	127 kt	4 h 56 min	1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 9 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	4 h 52 min	1:43 am CDT (06:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 9 kt	−9 kt	4 °C	129 kt	4 h 52 min	1:43 am CDT (06:43 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 10 kt	−9 kt	1 °C	129 kt	4 h 52 min	1:43 am CDT (06:43 UTC)
17,500 ft	280° at 12 kt	−10 kt	-3 °C	130 kt	4 h 49 min	1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 12 kt	−10 kt	-4 °C	130 kt	4 h 49 min	1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 15 kt	−12 kt	-14 °C	132 kt	4 h 45 min	1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 26 kt	−7 kt	-30 °C	127 kt	4 h 56 min	1:47 am CDT (06:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 28 kt	−5 kt	-40 °C	125 kt	5 h 01 min	1:52 am CDT (06:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 32 kt	−8 kt	-52 °C	128 kt	4 h 54 min	1:45 am CDT (06:45 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
LRD	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	130/21	150/19 16°	170/21 12°	170/12 8°	230/20 -4°	200/16 -13°	L/V -28°	L/V -39°	330/16 -51°
CRP	used from 50 nm out; 45 nm from the line	130/19	140/20 18°	160/17 13°	180/10 7°	230/9 -3°	230/11 -13°	310/6 -29°	310/5 -39°	310/13 -52°
PSX	used from 149 nm out; 23 nm from the line	140/20	140/23 18°	160/17 13°	240/5 8°	250/9 -4°	250/11 -13°	310/15 -29°	310/17 -40°	290/11 -52°
HOU	used from 199 nm out; 31 nm from the line	160/18	160/14 17°	180/19 12°	190/11 8°	260/12 -4°	260/14 -13°	310/26 -30°	310/30 -40°	320/21 -52°
LCH	used from 298 nm out; 44 nm from the line	190/6	180/8 18°	170/13 12°	220/12 7°	290/10 -4°	280/15 -14°	320/30 -31°	320/32 -40°	320/39 -53°
JAN	used from 448 nm out; 97 nm from the line	260/6	310/14 17°	280/13 12°	290/19 6°	310/22 -5°	310/28 -17°	320/44 -32°	330/48 -41°	320/52 -51°

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
LRD Laredo, TX	departure	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	508 ft	7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC)
BEA Beeville, TX	99 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	272 ft	23:35 UTC
VCT Victoria, TX	159 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	115 ft	00:51 UTC
SGR Houston, TX	239 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	81 ft	01:53 UTC
EFD Houston, TX	259 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	32 ft	01:54 UTC
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	318 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	00:53 UTC
ACP Oakdale, LA	408 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	107 ft	01:35 UTC
HEZ Natchez, MS	487 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	272 ft	00:56 UTC
MEI Meridian, MS	destination	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	297 ft	7:58 pm CDT (00:58 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 508 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MEI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:36 am CDT (06:36 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for MEI

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for LRD, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am CDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 16 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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 LRD 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC), at MEI 6:26 pm CDT (23:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:50 pm CDT (23:50 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MEI is before sunrise there (6:56 am CDT (11:56 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Laredo International, Key Field.