Plan a flight · Sun 7:58 pm EDT (23:58 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport RDU → IAH

905 nautical miles (1,041 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 252°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 09 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 9-knot headwind), arriving about 3:07 am CDT (08:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22; IAH is VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 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: 2,509 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 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 268 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 219 to 298 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 249 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 378 to 497 nm out.

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 RDU.

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

E75L at 4,000 ft, 49 nm south, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAY UA /OV KFAY/TM 2245/FL040/TP E75L/SK BASES 045
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAY
Where
over KFAY
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
bases 4,500 ft
B763 at 3,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 33 nm northwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 40 nm along the route, 33 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
CRJ7 at 3,000 ft, 34 nm northwest, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC): overcast from 6,700 ft to 5,200 ft. 40 nm along the route, 34 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2115/FL030/TP CRJ7/SK 067OVC052
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
067OVC052
CRJ7 descending, 28 nm northwest, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 50 nm along the route, 28 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
SF50 at 7,000 ft, 39 nm northwest, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, imc, remarks: ZTLFD-45. 109 nm along the route, 39 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HKY UA /OV BZM/TM 2237/FL070/TP SF50/SK IMC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD-45
```
Report
a routine report filed through HKY
Where
over BZM
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-45
C55B at 3,000 ft, 21 nm south, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 278 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LZU UA /OV 070010/TM 2229/FL030/TP C55B/SK BASE030
```
Report
a routine report filed through LZU
Where
wind from 070° at 10 knots
Time
22:29 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C55B
Sky
BASE030
UAL2654 at 35,000 ft, 19 nm northwest, 5:01 pm EDT (21:01 UTC): no turbulence, wind 267° at 37 knots. 298 nm along the route, 19 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2654 3427N 08441W 2101 F350 267/037KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B752 descending, 32 nm southeast, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 308 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 32 nm southeast, 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 308 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
B717 descending, 32 nm southeast, 5:42 pm EDT (21:42 UTC): 18 °C, wind 284° at 15 knots, remarks: final runway 27L atl. 308 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2142/FLDURD/TP B717/SK BASES 030/TA 18/WV 284/15/RM FINAL RWY 27L ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
21:42 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B717
Sky
bases 3,000 ft
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
284/15
Remarks
final runway 27L atl
A320 at 37,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 5:36 pm EDT (21:36 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-27. 308 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GSU180035/TM 2136/FL370/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZTLFD-27
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
35 nm south (180°) of GSU
Time
21:36 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-27
B39M at 34,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 5:20 pm EDT (21:20 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 308 nm along the route, 32 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2120/FL340/TP B39M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
21:20 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
B712 at 30,000 ft, 9 nm southeast, 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME46. 487 nm along the route, 9 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CBM UA /OV IGB135050/TM 2309/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZME46
```
Report
a routine report filed through CBM
Where
50 nm southeast (135°) of IGB
Time
23:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZME46

5 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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RDU, GSP, ATL, BHM, JAN, LCH, HOU). 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	290° at 12 kt	+9 kt		111 kt	8 h 09 min	3:07 am CDT (08:07 UTC)
6,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	+9 kt	14 °C	111 kt	8 h 09 min	3:07 am CDT (08:07 UTC)
8,500 ft	290° at 15 kt	+11 kt	12 °C	109 kt	8 h 18 min	3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC)
10,500 ft	290° at 18 kt	+14 kt	8 °C	106 kt	8 h 32 min	3:30 am CDT (08:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 20 kt	+15 kt	5 °C	105 kt	8 h 37 min	3:35 am CDT (08:35 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 22 kt	+17 kt	1 °C	103 kt	8 h 47 min	3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 23 kt	+18 kt	-2 °C	102 kt	8 h 52 min	3:50 am CDT (08:50 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 24 kt	+19 kt	-5 °C	101 kt	8 h 58 min	3:56 am CDT (08:56 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 26 kt	+24 kt	-16 °C	96 kt	9 h 26 min	4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 31 kt	+25 kt	-32 °C	95 kt	9 h 32 min	4:30 am CDT (09:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 30 kt	+24 kt	-40 °C	96 kt	9 h 26 min	4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 32 kt	+26 kt	-51 °C	94 kt	9 h 38 min	4:36 am CDT (09:36 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
RDU	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°
GSP	used from 99 nm out; 54 nm from the line	300/22	310/22 11°	300/22 7°	290/28 5°	270/36 -5°	250/42 -18°	230/54 -31°	230/59 -40°	230/65 -50°
ATL	used from 249 nm out; 46 nm from the line	300/23	320/26 14°	320/34 10°	320/41 5°	290/32 -6°	290/31 -18°	280/28 -33°	260/32 -41°	250/28 -50°
BHM	used from 348 nm out; 45 nm from the line	300/16	330/32 16°	320/37 11°	330/37 6°	310/33 -7°	310/30 -18°	320/40 -34°	330/43 -41°	330/30 -49°
JAN	used from 497 nm out; 79 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°
LCH	used from 696 nm out; 92 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°
HOU	used from 845 nm out; 46 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°

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
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	4,800 ft	435 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)
VUJ Albemarle, NC	70 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	3,900 ft	609 ft	23:35 UTC
GSP Greer, SC	179 nm out, 1 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	7,000 ft	963 ft	23:53 UTC
GMU Greenville, SC	189 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 7,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	1,048 ft	23:53 UTC
RYY Atlanta, GA	308 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet	from the west (270°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	1,040 ft	23:50 UTC
BHM Birmingham, AL	418 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet	from the west (280°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	650 ft	23:53 UTC
TCL Tuscaloosa, AL	467 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	169 ft	23:53 UTC
JAN Jackson, MS	596 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	346 ft	23:54 UTC
HEZ Natchez, MS	676 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	272 ft	22:56 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	736 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	88 ft	23:53 UTC
JAS Jasper, TX	815 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	212 ft	23:35 UTC
IAH Houston, TX	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	95 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,048 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At IAH when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:07 am CDT (08:07 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for IAH

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

The forecast for RDU, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 25 nm from the route, 308 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at IAH 6:55 pm CDT (23:55 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm CDT (00:19 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at IAH is before sunrise there (7:21 am CDT (12:21 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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: Raleigh-Durham International, George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport.