San Diego International to Buffalo Niagara International SAN → BUF
1,905 nautical miles (2,192 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC). Right now SAN is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 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: 1 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 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 40 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 20 to 120 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 618 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 578 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 239 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 239 to 718 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 289 to 329 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 399 to 409 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). Near the route, 558 nm along 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 1675 to 1735 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, at the destination end.
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 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 SAN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 17 forecast points nearest it (SAN, BLH, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, SLN, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, JOT, MKG, 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 | 210° at 16 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 14 h 26 min | 11:31 am EDT (15:31 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 19 °C | 135 kt | 14 h 07 min | 11:12 am EDT (15:12 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 12 °C | 138 kt | 13 h 48 min | 10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 9 °C | 138 kt | 13 h 48 min | 10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 5 °C | 140 kt | 13 h 36 min | 10:41 am EDT (14:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −22 kt | 1 °C | 142 kt | 13 h 25 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -4 °C | 145 kt | 13 h 08 min | 10:13 am EDT (14:13 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 28 kt | −29 kt | -8 °C | 149 kt | 12 h 47 min | 9:52 am EDT (13:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 29 kt | −29 kt | -9 °C | 149 kt | 12 h 47 min | 9:52 am EDT (13:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 33 kt | −34 kt | -20 °C | 154 kt | 12 h 22 min | 9:27 am EDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | −45 kt | -32 °C | 165 kt | 11 h 33 min | 8:38 am EDT (12:38 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | −51 kt | -39 °C | 171 kt | 11 h 08 min | 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 48 kt | −50 kt | -48 °C | 170 kt | 11 h 12 min | 8:17 am EDT (12:17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/10 | 240/19 9° | 240/27 5° | 230/22 -1° | 220/40 -10° | 220/49 -19° | 220/54 -29° | 220/61 -35° | 220/56 -44° |
| BLH | used from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 230/22 | 210/24 11° | 230/23 5° | 230/26 0° | 220/38 -10° | 230/52 -19° | 220/58 -28° | 220/69 -34° | 220/59 -45° |
| PRC | used from 199 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 200/36 6° | 210/46 0° | 220/60 -10° | 220/75 -19° | 220/66 -26° | 230/70 -33° | 230/59 -45° | ||
| FMN | used from 399 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 549 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 210/32 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/49 -20° | 230/78 -30° | 240/74 -36° | 240/61 -47° | |||
| PUB | used from 648 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 210/24 16° | 210/28 8° | 230/43 -8° | 240/42 -21° | 240/77 -30° | 240/72 -36° | 250/51 -47° | ||
| GLD | used from 798 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| SLN | used from 947 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GRI | used from 1047 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| OMA | used from 1097 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 190/34 | 230/34 19° | 250/25 12° | 250/18 6° | 250/22 -7° | 250/28 -19° | 260/34 -32° | 260/39 -41° | 280/56 -51° |
| DSM | used from 1197 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/32 | 240/27 17° | 260/19 10° | 260/16 5° | 260/19 -7° | 240/22 -19° | 270/20 -32° | 270/38 -42° | 290/58 -53° |
| BRL | used from 1296 nm out; 35 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 1396 nm out; 59 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° |
| MKG | used from 1546 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 250/5 | 320/10 15° | 310/19 9° | 320/21 3° | 310/23 -10° | 330/37 -22° | 330/51 -38° | 320/44 -47° | 300/60 -49° |
| FWA | used from 1646 nm out; 102 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 1695 nm out; 83 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 1795 nm out; 85 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN San Diego, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 4,300 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 3,100 ft | 16 ft | 5:51 pm PDT (00:51 UTC) |
| RNM Ramona, CA | 20 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,600 feet, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots, gusting to 12 | 6 mi | 1,600 ft | 1,394 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 309 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots, gusting to 31 | 4 mi | 700 ft | 7,014 ft | 00:57 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 499 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 698 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the west (280°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,729 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HLC Hill City, KS | 927 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,238 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TKO Mankato, KS | 1007 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,859 ft | ||||
| OTM Ottumwa, IA | 1286 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 845 ft | ||||
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 1466 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| BTL Battle Creek, MI | 1616 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 951 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| DET Detroit, MI | 1715 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | 500 ft | 624 ft | 01:01 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 7,014 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, 8:13 am EDT (12:13 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 SAN, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 12 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 25 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC), at BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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: San Diego International, Buffalo Niagara International.