Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport PHX → TCL
1,221 nautical miles (1,405 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 072° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC). Right now PHX is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots; TCL is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 99 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 189 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 route from 129 to 129 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 139 to 228 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 route from 556 to 675 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist, fog). Over the last 109 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 PHX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 11 forecast points nearest it (PHX, TUS, ABQ, ROW, LBB, SPS, DAL, SHV, LIT, JAN, BHM). 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 20 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 9 h 15 min | 4:32 pm CDT (21:32 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −14 kt | 19 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 07 min | 4:24 pm CDT (21:24 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −14 kt | 14 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 07 min | 4:24 pm CDT (21:24 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −14 kt | 10 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 07 min | 4:24 pm CDT (21:24 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | −14 kt | 7 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 07 min | 4:24 pm CDT (21:24 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 3 °C | 137 kt | 8 h 55 min | 4:12 pm CDT (21:12 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −21 kt | -1 °C | 141 kt | 8 h 40 min | 3:57 pm CDT (20:57 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 29 kt | −25 kt | -5 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 25 min | 3:42 pm CDT (20:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 30 kt | −26 kt | -6 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 22 min | 3:39 pm CDT (20:39 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 38 kt | −34 kt | -17 °C | 154 kt | 7 h 56 min | 3:13 pm CDT (20:13 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 48 kt | −47 kt | -28 °C | 167 kt | 7 h 19 min | 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 46 kt | −47 kt | -38 °C | 167 kt | 7 h 19 min | 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 42 kt | −44 kt | -50 °C | 164 kt | 7 h 27 min | 2:44 pm CDT (19:44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX | used from 0 nm out; 25 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° |
| TUS | used from 99 nm out; 115 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° | |
| ABQ | used from 149 nm out; 126 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| ROW | used from 298 nm out; 62 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° | |
| LBB | used from 447 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 220/25 21° | 230/20 15° | 220/20 7° | 230/36 -6° | 240/50 -15° | 240/59 -28° | 260/52 -37° | 260/45 -50° | |
| SPS | used from 596 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 220/35 | 220/31 18° | 230/16 14° | 230/10 8° | 250/18 -5° | 250/32 -16° | 260/51 -28° | 280/46 -38° | 300/50 -50° |
| DAL | used from 745 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 190/30 | 200/28 18° | 220/18 13° | 250/13 8° | 240/24 -6° | 270/20 -14° | 270/35 -29° | 290/34 -39° | 310/41 -51° |
| SHV | used from 844 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 210/20 | 210/20 18° | 230/20 11° | 240/16 7° | 270/17 -7° | 250/11 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 310/34 -40° | 320/36 -51° |
| LIT | used from 943 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 250/22 | 250/25 18° | 240/23 12° | 240/20 7° | 250/17 -6° | 260/25 -17° | 300/45 -29° | 300/49 -40° | 310/43 -51° |
| JAN | used from 1043 nm out; 78 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° |
| BHM | used from 1192 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 310/19 | 310/15 16° | 320/19 11° | 330/15 5° | 330/23 -5° | 320/14 -18° | 320/36 -32° | 330/44 -40° | 340/36 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 1,134 ft | 4:51 am MST (11:51 UTC) |
| IWA Phoenix, AZ | 20 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 1,384 ft | 11:47 UTC |
| ONM Socorro, NM | 258 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 4,875 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| LIU Littlefield, TX | 487 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 3,615 ft | ||||
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 506 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| SPS Wichita Falls, TX | 675 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 8 mi | none | 1,019 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| GYI Sherman/Denison, TX | 765 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 749 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| TXK Texarkana, AR | 904 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 389 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GLH Greenville, MS | 1053 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 130 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS | 1172 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 264 ft | 11:56 UTC |
| TCL Tuscaloosa, AL | destination | marginal VFR Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | none | 169 ft | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,875 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TCL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:36 pm CDT (19:36 UTC)
Wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for TCL
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, mist
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for PHX, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am MST (12:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm MST (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MST (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Tue 6:00 am MST (13:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 308 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at PHX 5:57 pm MST (00:57 UTC), at TCL 6:20 pm CDT (23:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 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: Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Tuscaloosa Ntl Airport.