Laredo International to Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport LRD → MEM
662 nautical miles (762 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 045°, about 040° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (9,500 ft, a 16-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LRD is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots; MEM is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 214 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
- A320 at 26,500 ft, 40 nm northwest, 5:46 pm CDT (22:46 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: ZFW86. 376 nm along the route, 40 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
GGG UA /OV GGG/TM 2246/FL265/TP A320/TB MOD CAT/RM ZFW86
- Report
- a routine report filed through GGG
- Where
- over GGG
- Time
- 22:46 UTC
- Height
- at 26,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence
- Remarks
- ZFW86
- B39M at 27,000 ft, 47 nm southeast, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 257 nm along the route, 47 nm southeast 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
- A319 at 39,000 ft, 2 nm south, 6:11 pm CDT (23:11 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the destination end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
MEM UA /OV MEM/TM 2311/FL390/TP A319/TB NEG CHOP/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through MEM
- Where
- over MEM
- Time
- 23:11 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Turbulence
- no chop
- Remarks
- smooth
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 8 forecast points nearest it (LRD, CRP, SAT, PSX, CLL, SHV, LIT, MEM). 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 | 170° at 12 kt | −7 kt | 127 kt | 5 h 13 min | 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 12 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 5 h 06 min | 1:48 am CDT (06:48 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 210° at 14 kt | −14 kt | 14 °C | 134 kt | 4 h 56 min | 1:38 am CDT (06:38 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 220° at 15 kt | −16 kt | 11 °C | 136 kt | 4 h 52 min | 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 13 kt | −13 kt | 8 °C | 133 kt | 4 h 59 min | 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 13 kt | −12 kt | 4 °C | 132 kt | 5 h 01 min | 1:43 am CDT (06:43 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 13 kt | −11 kt | 0 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 03 min | 1:45 am CDT (06:45 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 14 kt | −10 kt | -4 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 06 min | 1:48 am CDT (06:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 14 kt | −10 kt | -5 °C | 130 kt | 5 h 06 min | 1:48 am CDT (06:48 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 15 kt | −9 kt | -15 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 08 min | 1:50 am CDT (06:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 27 kt | −7 kt | -30 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 13 min | 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 27 kt | −6 kt | -40 °C | 126 kt | 5 h 15 min | 1:57 am CDT (06:57 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 30 kt | −4 kt | -52 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 20 min | 2:02 am CDT (07:02 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 49 nm out; 64 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° |
| SAT | used from 99 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 130/22 | 140/24 18° | 170/19 13° | 190/13 7° | 240/15 -4° | 220/14 -13° | 270/11 -28° | 280/10 -40° | 310/18 -51° |
| PSX | used from 148 nm out; 68 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° |
| CLL | used from 198 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 160/18 | 190/18 16° | 200/19 12° | 220/14 7° | 260/18 -5° | 250/20 -13° | 290/29 -29° | 290/31 -40° | 300/22 -53° |
| SHV | used from 346 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| LIT | used from 494 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 220/12 | 250/12 17° | 250/18 12° | 260/22 6° | 310/14 -5° | 310/25 -17° | 310/40 -31° | 310/38 -41° | 310/46 -52° |
| MEM | used from 593 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 240/9 | 280/14 17° | 280/20 12° | 290/25 5° | 320/25 -6° | 330/31 -18° | 320/52 -32° | 330/58 -41° | 320/42 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| CLL College Station, TX | 247 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 320 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| UTS Huntsville, TX | 277 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 362 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| OCH Nacogdoches, TX | 346 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | none | 343 ft | 00:56 UTC | |
| SHV Shreveport, LA | 415 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 257 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| ELD El Dorado, AR | 484 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 277 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| LLQ Monticello, AR | 544 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 267 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HEE Helena/West Helena, AR | 623 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 241 ft | ||||
| MEM Memphis, TN | destination | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 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 MEM when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:34 am CDT (06:34 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MEM
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
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 MEM 6:29 pm CDT (23:29 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MEM is before sunrise there (7:03 am CDT (12:03 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: Laredo International, Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis Airport.