Seattle-Tacoma International to Buffalo Niagara International SEA → BUF
1,839 nautical miles (2,116 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 082°, about 066° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 130 to 360 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 220 to 520 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 270 to 760 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 340 to 990 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Near the route, 1029 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 last 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 10 nm of the route.
- 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.
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 SEA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 4:35 pm PDT (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
- E170 at 25,000 ft, 10 nm east, 3:37 pm PDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
- Time
- 22:37 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- moderate at 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 8 nm north, 4:12 pm PDT (23:12 UTC): light chop turbulence. 800 nm along the route, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
MOT UA /OV MOT225061/TM 2312/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through MOT
- Where
- 61 nm southwest (225°) of MOT
- Time
- 23:12 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- BE20 at 3,000 ft, 45 nm south, 3:56 pm PDT (22:56 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 800 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2256/FL030/TP BE20/SK BASE031/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 22:56 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE20
- Sky
- BASE031
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- TBM7 at 3,000 ft, 45 nm south, 2:55 pm PDT (21:55 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 5 °C. 800 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DIK UA /OV DIK/TM 2155/FL030/TP TBM7/SK BASE030-TOP043/ BASE060-TOP081/TA 05/TB NEG/IC NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through DIK
- Where
- over DIK
- Time
- 21:55 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- TBM7
- Sky
- BASE030-TOP043; BASE060-TOP081
- Temperature
- 5 °C
- Turbulence
- none
- Icing
- none
- C56X at 1,300 ft, 5 nm southwest, 4:17 pm PDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. 1039 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 23:17 UTC
- Height
- at 1,300 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Sky
- overcast from 1,300 ft
- E170 at 6,000 ft, 14 nm southwest, 3:18 pm PDT (22:18 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. 1039 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 2218/FL060/TP E170/SK TOP060-OVC014/RM DURD RWY 36
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over FAR
- Time
- 22:18 UTC
- Height
- at 6,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- TOP060-OVC014
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 36
- E170 descending, 5 nm southwest, 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. 1039 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2137/FLUNKN/TP E170/SK TOP030-OVC016/RM DURD RWY 36
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- over KFAR
- Time
- 21:37 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- E170
- Sky
- TOP030-OVC016
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 36
- CRJ7 at 18,000 ft, 12 nm southwest, 4:41 pm PDT (23:41 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent. 1089 nm along the route, 12 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FAR UA /OV FAR090050/TM 2341/FL180/TP CRJ7/SK BASE180-TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME 180-200/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through FAR
- Where
- 50 nm east (090°) of FAR
- Time
- 23:41 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Sky
- BASE180-TOP200
- Temperature
- −13 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- PC12 at 20,000 ft, 22 nm north, 4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC): light rime icing, -13 °C. 1179 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GPZ UA /OV GPZ160020/TM 2355/FL200/TP PC12/SK TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through GPZ
- Where
- 20 nm south (160°) of GPZ
- Time
- 23:55 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PC12
- Sky
- TOP200
- Temperature
- −13 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- A319 at 4,300 ft, 12 nm south, 4:14 pm PDT (23:14 UTC): overcast above 4,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
BUF UA /OV BUF270020/TM 2314/FL043/TP A319/SK OVC 043/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through BUF
- Where
- 20 nm west (270°) of BUF
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 4,300 ft
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- overcast from 4,300 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- B38M at 500 ft, 48 nm east, 4:52 pm PDT (23:52 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2352/FL005/TP B38M/SK BKN005-TOPUNKN
- Report
- a routine report filed through ROC
- Where
- over ROC
- Time
- 23:52 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 500 ft, tops unknown
- A21N at 30,000 ft, 27 nm south, 4:36 pm PDT (23:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
JHW UA /OV JHW050025/TM 2336/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JHW
- Where
- 25 nm northeast (050°) of JHW
- Time
- 23:36 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- zob
- B38M at 30,000 ft, 39 nm south, 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
JHW UA /OV JHW080020/TM 2254/FL300/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JHW
- Where
- 20 nm east (080°) of JHW
- Time
- 22:54 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- zob
7 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 14 forecast points nearest it (SEA, YKM, GEG, GPI, GTF, GGW, DIK, MOT, GFK, AXN, DLH, GRB, TVC, 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 7 kt | −2 kt | 122 kt | 15 h 04 min | 11:21 am EDT (15:21 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 070° at 2 kt | +3 kt | 1 °C | 117 kt | 15 h 43 min | 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | light and variable | 0 | 6 °C | 120 kt | 15 h 20 min | 11:37 am EDT (15:37 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 250° at 4 kt | −3 kt | 2 °C | 123 kt | 14 h 57 min | 11:14 am EDT (15:14 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 8 kt | −6 kt | -1 °C | 126 kt | 14 h 36 min | 10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 12 kt | −10 kt | -4 °C | 130 kt | 14 h 09 min | 10:26 am EDT (14:26 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −13 kt | -8 °C | 133 kt | 13 h 50 min | 10:07 am EDT (14:07 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −16 kt | -12 °C | 136 kt | 13 h 31 min | 9:48 am EDT (13:48 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 20 kt | −17 kt | -13 °C | 137 kt | 13 h 25 min | 9:42 am EDT (13:42 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 30 kt | −28 kt | -23 °C | 148 kt | 12 h 26 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 42 kt | −40 kt | -37 °C | 160 kt | 11 h 30 min | 7:47 am EDT (11:47 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 47 kt | −45 kt | -45 °C | 165 kt | 11 h 09 min | 7:26 am EDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 55 kt | −54 kt | -50 °C | 174 kt | 10 h 34 min | 6:51 am EDT (10:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 360/9 | 350/10 1° | 010/10 -5° | 030/20 -11° | 020/60 -17° | 010/86 -26° | 360/90 -40° | 010/68 -42° | 360/31 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 030/16 | 020/18 0° | 030/30 -8° | 030/23 -13° | 020/40 -23° | 010/73 -29° | 010/54 -36° | 360/29 -37° | 330/16 -40° |
| GEG | used from 100 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 050/18 -2° | 060/19 -8° | L/V -11° | 160/11 -24° | 190/17 -31° | 200/19 -35° | 220/14 -37° | 250/11 -41° | |
| GPI | used from 250 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 060/19 -3° | 110/11 -8° | 130/6 -8° | 200/40 -19° | 190/58 -28° | 200/101 -39° | 220/73 -43° | 230/41 -43° | |
| GTF | used from 400 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 070/21 | 080/18 -6° | 120/5 -5° | 180/30 -14° | 200/53 -24° | 210/80 -38° | 220/83 -44° | 230/68 -46° | |
| GGW | used from 550 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 090/18 0° | 140/12 -2° | 150/13 -3° | 200/35 -12° | 230/56 -22° | 240/75 -37° | 240/81 -46° | 240/78 -49° | |
| DIK | used from 700 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 110/15 6° | 200/17 5° | 230/31 1° | 240/47 -10° | 240/52 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 240/57 -45° | 250/67 -51° | |
| MOT | used from 800 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 070/8 6° | 180/7 2° | 220/18 -1° | 240/37 -11° | 250/55 -20° | 250/64 -36° | 250/70 -46° | 250/80 -54° | |
| GFK | used from 950 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 050/18 | L/V 10° | 240/20 7° | 240/36 1° | 250/47 -11° | 260/53 -21° | 270/59 -36° | 270/65 -47° | 260/88 -56° |
| AXN | used from 1049 nm out; 63 nm from the line | L/V | 220/23 17° | 230/24 12° | 240/25 5° | 260/32 -11° | 260/40 -21° | 270/50 -35° | 270/57 -45° | 270/81 -55° |
| DLH | used from 1149 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 240/6 | 230/22 15° | 250/28 11° | 230/22 4° | 270/33 -12° | 280/47 -21° | 280/59 -37° | 290/65 -47° | 290/88 -55° |
| GRB | used from 1349 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 240/24 | 260/18 16° | 270/20 11° | 290/14 4° | 280/24 -9° | 300/34 -21° | 310/51 -38° | 310/54 -48° | 300/71 -51° |
| TVC | used from 1449 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 210/17 | 290/14 15° | 310/20 9° | 310/18 2° | 310/24 -11° | 320/35 -22° | 320/53 -39° | 310/45 -49° | 290/58 -51° |
| BUF | used from 1699 nm out; 115 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEA Seattle, WA | departure | no report just now | 432 ft | ||||
| EAT Wenatchee, WA | 80 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,248 ft | ||||
| SFF Spokane, WA | 200 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,956 ft | ||||
| CII Choteau, MT | 410 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,946 ft | ||||
| SDY Sidney, MT | 730 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,985 ft | ||||
| HZE Hazen, ND | 840 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,814 ft | ||||
| FAR Fargo, ND | 1039 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 901 ft | ||||
| AIT Aitkin, MN | 1169 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,206 ft | ||||
| PKF Park Falls, WI | 1309 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,501 ft | ||||
| GOV Grayling, MI | 1559 nm out, 1 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,158 ft | ||||
| CYSN St Catharines, | 1819 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | no report just now | 321 ft | ||||
| BUF Buffalo, NY | destination | no report just now | 726 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,946 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, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC)
BUF has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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 SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 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
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: Seattle-Tacoma International, Buffalo Niagara International.