Plan a flight · Sun 8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC)

Kansas City International to Buffalo Niagara International MCI → BUF

754 nautical miles (868 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 066° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 33-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MCI is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 10 knots; BUF is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 7 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: 8 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 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the first 30 nm of the route.
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 route from 516 to 556 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 0 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 MCI.

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

A320 at 33,000 ft, 29 nm north, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 466 nm along the route, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
B39M at 35,000 ft, 16 nm north, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 347 nm along the route, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 44 nm north, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 387 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
B38M at 31,000 ft, 31 nm north, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 446 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
E145 at 2,600 ft, 46 nm south, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 446 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B026
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 31 nm north, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 466 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over BTL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 3,100 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
tops 3,100 ft
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 13 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 476 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E170 at 21,000 ft, 31 nm north, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 496 nm along the route, 31 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAN
Where
20 nm south (180°) of LAN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
lght chop
Remarks
during the climb zob
C525 descending, 27 nm south, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 516 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
01:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C525
Sky
TOPS035 BKN010
Weather
2SM
A320 climbing, 27 nm south, 7:14 pm CDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. 516 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
00:14 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A320
Sky
B025 overcast T040
P28A descending, 41 nm south, 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC): a broken layer from 2,200 ft to 2,500 ft. 516 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV 1G0/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK BKN022 TOPS025
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over 1G0
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
a broken layer from 2,200 ft, tops 2,500 ft
A320 descending, 27 nm south, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. 516 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Wind
wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft
E55P descending, 7 nm north, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 536 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015

16 more routine reports are on the map.

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 7 forecast points nearest it (MKC, COU, BRL, JOT, FWA, 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	220° at 8 kt	−7 kt		127 kt	5 h 56 min	3:48 am EDT (07:48 UTC)
5,500 ft	280° at 9 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	5 h 51 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
7,500 ft	290° at 11 kt	−9 kt	12 °C	129 kt	5 h 51 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 12 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	5 h 51 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	−9 kt	5 °C	129 kt	5 h 51 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−9 kt	1 °C	129 kt	5 h 51 min	3:43 am EDT (07:43 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−10 kt	-4 °C	130 kt	5 h 48 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−10 kt	-8 °C	130 kt	5 h 48 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 15 kt	−10 kt	-9 °C	130 kt	5 h 48 min	3:40 am EDT (07:40 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 21 kt	−12 kt	-20 °C	132 kt	5 h 43 min	3:35 am EDT (07:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 33 kt	−19 kt	-35 °C	139 kt	5 h 25 min	3:17 am EDT (07:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 38 kt	−25 kt	-42 °C	145 kt	5 h 12 min	3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 47 kt	−33 kt	-50 °C	153 kt	4 h 56 min	2:48 am EDT (06:48 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
MKC	used from 0 nm out; 26 nm from the line	200/28	220/30 16°	270/20 11°	280/22 7°	260/27 -6°	270/27 -18°	280/38 -32°	270/38 -40°	280/50 -52°
COU	used from 50 nm out; 73 nm from the line	210/16	220/19 15°	240/33 10°	250/29 7°	280/21 -6°	280/19 -18°	300/34 -31°	300/40 -42°	300/60 -52°
BRL	used from 99 nm out; 67 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
JOT	used from 248 nm out; 58 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
FWA	used from 397 nm out; 52 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CLE	used from 546 nm out; 66 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
BUF	used from 645 nm out; 84 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -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
MCI Kansas City, MO	departure	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,027 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
GPH Mosby, MO	20 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	777 ft	22:55 UTC
IRK Kirksville, MO	109 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	reported, no category	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	966 ft	00:55 UTC
MQB Macomb, IL	198 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	705 ft	01:35 UTC
PIA Peoria, IL	248 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	660 ft	00:54 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	357 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	596 ft	00:50 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	427 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	4 mi	none	777 ft	23:35 UTC
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	526 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	00:53 UTC
DTW Detroit, MI	546 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 4 knots	9 mi	2,000 ft	645 ft	01:18 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	645 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	no report just now				776 ft
CYSN St Catharines,	734 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 6 knots	15 mi	5,000 ft	321 ft	01:00 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the east (090°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	726 ft	8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,027 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, 2:48 am EDT (06:48 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet low IFR

The whole forecast for BUF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

The forecast for MCI, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 17 knots, gusting to 26, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BUF is before sunrise there (7:24 am EDT (11:24 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 upper 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: Kansas City International, Buffalo Niagara International.