Plan a flight · Sun 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC)

St. Simons Island Airport to William P Hobby Airport SSI → HOU

724 nautical miles (833 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 266°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SSI is VFR, wind calm; HOU is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) 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 TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 278 to 367 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 SSI.

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

B737 at 26,000 ft, 46 nm north, 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-11. 308 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GZH UA /OV MVC/TM 2319/FL260/TP B737/TB CONS MOD CHOP 260-280/RM ZTLFD-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GZH
Where
over MVC
Time
23:19 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop from 26,000 ft to 28,000 ft
Remarks
ZTLFD-11
B739 at 32,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 6:23 pm EDT (22:23 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 357 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOB UA /OV SJI/TM 2223/FL320/TP B739/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOB
Where
over SJI
Time
22:23 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
zhu
B789 at 27,000 ft, 18 nm south, 8:30 pm EDT (00:30 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zhu. 605 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LFT UA /OV LLA270030/TM 0030/FL270/TP B789/TB MOD CAT/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LFT
Where
30 nm west (270°) of LLA
Time
00:30 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zhu
B752 at 39,000 ft, 48 nm south, 6:01 pm EDT (22:01 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JAX UA /OV CRG/TM 2201/FL390/TP B752/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through JAX
Where
over CRG
Time
22:01 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
none
B739 at 34,000 ft, 24 nm north, 6:27 pm EDT (22:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. 337 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MOB UA /OV SJI040025/TM 2227/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through MOB
Where
25 nm northeast (040°) of SJI
Time
22:27 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
zhu
E75L at 27,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): remarks: zhu. 605 nm along the route, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LCH UA /OV LCH08510/TM 0020/FL270/TP E75L/TB CONS CHOP/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through LCH
Where
LCH08510
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
continuous chop
Remarks
zhu
B737 at 28,000 ft, 16 nm southeast, 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 28,000 ft, remarks: below 26,000 ft zhu. 625 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BPT UA /OV BPT109042/TM 2252/FL280/TP B737/TB INTMT LGT-MOD FL280 /RM BLO FL260. ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through BPT
Where
42 nm east (109°) of BPT
Time
22:52 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
intermittent light to moderate FL280
Remarks
below 26,000 ft zhu
B39M at 27,000 ft, 19 nm north, 8:42 pm EDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the destination end, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
IH340035
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
lt chop during the climb
Remarks
zhu
A320 at 24,000 ft, 19 nm north, 6:07 pm EDT (22:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zhu. At the destination end, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IAH/TM 2207/FL240/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP /RM DURC. ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
over IAH
Time
22:07 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
during the climb zhu

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 6 forecast points nearest it (JAX, TLH, MOB, MSY, 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	320° at 7 kt	+5 kt		115 kt	6 h 18 min	2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 10 kt	+5 kt	17 °C	115 kt	6 h 18 min	2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC)
8,500 ft	300° at 9 kt	+8 kt	13 °C	112 kt	6 h 28 min	2:26 am CDT (07:26 UTC)
10,500 ft	280° at 12 kt	+11 kt	10 °C	109 kt	6 h 39 min	2:37 am CDT (07:37 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 15 kt	+15 kt	7 °C	105 kt	6 h 54 min	2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	+15 kt	2 °C	105 kt	6 h 54 min	2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	+15 kt	-2 °C	105 kt	6 h 54 min	2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 16 kt	+15 kt	-5 °C	105 kt	6 h 54 min	2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 20 kt	+20 kt	-16 °C	100 kt	7 h 14 min	3:12 am CDT (08:12 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 26 kt	+21 kt	-32 °C	99 kt	7 h 19 min	3:17 am CDT (08:17 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 21 kt	+16 kt	-41 °C	104 kt	6 h 58 min	2:56 am CDT (07:56 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 23 kt	+19 kt	-52 °C	101 kt	7 h 10 min	3:08 am CDT (08:08 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
JAX	used from 0 nm out; 39 nm from the line	280/14	300/22 16°	260/27 15°	260/26 9°	240/41 -6°	230/38 -16°	220/44 -32°	200/49 -41°	200/52 -53°
TLH	used from 99 nm out; 46 nm from the line	300/17	340/32 17°	320/27 13°	300/27 8°	280/23 -7°	250/37 -17°	230/44 -33°	220/53 -41°	220/48 -51°
MOB	used from 248 nm out; 81 nm from the line	310/7	350/18 18°	330/16 12°	300/18 7°	320/17 -6°	330/27 -17°	340/52 -33°	350/53 -43°	330/38 -50°
MSY	used from 397 nm out; 47 nm from the line	L/V	020/6 18°	L/V 12°	300/11 7°	330/15 -4°	320/22 -16°	330/38 -32°	350/47 -42°	340/56 -52°
LCH	used from 546 nm out; 45 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 645 nm out; 55 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
SSI St Simons Island, GA	departure	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	18 ft	8:35 pm EDT (00:35 UTC)
HOE Homerville, GA	69 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				186 ft
VLD Valdosta, GA	99 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	203 ft	00:53 UTC
BGE Bainbridge, GA	169 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	reported, no category	from the west (260°) at 4 knots		none	141 ft	00:35 UTC
VPS Valparaiso/Destin-Ft Walton Beach, FL	268 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	84 ft	23:55 UTC
BFM Mobile, AL	347 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	00:53 UTC
HSA Bay St Louis, MS	417 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	22 ft	23:50 UTC
HDC Hammond, LA	466 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	46 ft	00:35 UTC
LFT Lafayette, LA	546 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	40 ft	00:53 UTC
LCH Lake Charles, LA	615 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	00:53 UTC
BPT Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX	655 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	14 ft	00:53 UTC
HOU Houston, TX	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	46 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At HOU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:16 am CDT (07:16 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for HOU

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the 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 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 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 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 13 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet

The forecast for SSI, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 15, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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 SSI 6:57 pm EDT (22:57 UTC), at HOU 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at HOU is before sunrise there (7:20 am CDT (12:20 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: St. Simons Island Airport, William P Hobby Airport.