Plan a flight · Sun 10:33 pm CDT (03:33 UTC)

St. Louis Lambert International to Buffalo Niagara International STL → BUF

585 nautical miles (673 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 061°, about 062° magnetic at the departure end (variation 1W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 15-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now STL is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 8 knots; BUF is VFR, wind from the north (010°) at 3 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 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 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 278 to 387 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 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 STL.

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

urgent B39M at 35,000 ft, 1 nm southeast, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): remarks: no inj/dmg zob. 515 nm along the route, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DKK UUA /OV DKK280040/TM 0315/FL350/TP B39M/TB MTN WVE ACTN +/-5KTS/RM NO INJ/DMG ZOB
```
Report
an urgent report filed through DKK
Where
40 nm west (280°) of DKK
Time
03:15 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
mountain wve actn a 5-knot loss of airspeed
Remarks
no inj/dmg zob
A320 at 34,000 ft, 20 nm southeast, 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 297 nm along the route, 20 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
Time
02:03 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
moderate chop
PA44 descending, 15 nm northwest, 9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC): a broken layer from 900 ft to 1,500 ft; a broken layer from 2,600 ft to 3,500 ft, fog. 347 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0227/FLDURD/TP PA44/SK BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035/WX FG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
02:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
PA44
Sky
BKN009 TOPS015 BKN026 TOPS035
Weather
fog
C525 descending, 15 nm northwest, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 347 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
01:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C525
Sky
TOPS035 BKN010
Weather
2SM
CRJ7 at 600 ft, 40 nm north, 9:07 pm CDT (02:07 UTC): a broken layer above 1,500 ft. 377 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0207/FLSFC/TP CRJ7/SK BKN 015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
02:07 UTC
Height
at the surface
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 1,500 ft
CRJ7 descending, 40 nm north, 8:01 pm CDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. 377 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV FINAL 3R /TM 0101/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK OVC 028
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
final 3R
Time
01:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
overcast from 2,800 ft
B738 at 4,700 ft, 10 nm southeast, 7:59 pm CDT (00:59 UTC): a broken layer from 4,700 ft to 5,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF140010/TM 0059/FL047/TP B738/SK BKN 047 TOPS 053/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (140°) of BUF
Time
00:59 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 4,700 ft, tops 5,300 ft
Remarks
during the descent

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 6 forecast points nearest it (STL, SPI, IND, 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	290° at 11 kt	−8 kt		128 kt	4 h 34 min	4:07 am EDT (08:07 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	4 h 41 min	4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	−5 kt	11 °C	125 kt	4 h 41 min	4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	−5 kt	8 °C	125 kt	4 h 41 min	4:14 am EDT (08:14 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	−2 kt	4 °C	122 kt	4 h 48 min	4:21 am EDT (08:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 16 kt	−4 kt	1 °C	124 kt	4 h 43 min	4:16 am EDT (08:16 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−6 kt	-4 °C	126 kt	4 h 39 min	4:12 am EDT (08:12 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 22 kt	−9 kt	-7 °C	129 kt	4 h 32 min	4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 23 kt	−9 kt	-8 °C	129 kt	4 h 32 min	4:05 am EDT (08:05 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 31 kt	−11 kt	-20 °C	131 kt	4 h 28 min	4:01 am EDT (08:01 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 40 kt	−8 kt	-35 °C	128 kt	4 h 34 min	4:07 am EDT (08:07 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 52 kt	−15 kt	-43 °C	135 kt	4 h 20 min	3:53 am EDT (07:53 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 53 kt	−14 kt	-50 °C	134 kt	4 h 22 min	3:55 am EDT (07:55 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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
STL	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -51°
SPI	used from 50 nm out; 44 nm from the line	220/21	250/23 16°	260/27 9°	270/14 6°	270/23 -7°	270/31 -19°	270/28 -33°	290/48 -42°	300/55 -52°
IND	used from 149 nm out; 43 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
FWA	used from 248 nm out; 8 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
CLE	used from 347 nm out; 59 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -49°
BUF	used from 496 nm out; 64 nm from the line	320/10	010/16 10°	360/10 6°	340/13 2°	330/22 -11°	300/25 -23°	320/31 -38°	300/29 -44°	280/36 -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
STL St Louis, MO	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	617 ft	9:51 pm CDT (02:51 UTC)
ALN Alton/St Louis, IL	20 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	03:15 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	89 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	9 mi	none	681 ft	02:54 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	119 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	754 ft	02:53 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	228 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	02:55 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	278 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 3 knots	8 mi	none	814 ft	02:54 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	347 nm out, 15 nm northwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots	5 mi	400 ft	683 ft	02:52 UTC
CYPT Pelee Island,	396 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	no report just now				571 ft
LNN Willoughby, OH	446 nm out, 25 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet	calm	7 mi	3,200 ft	625 ft	03:15 UTC
ERI Erie, PA	506 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	732 ft	00:51 UTC
DKK Dunkirk, NY	555 nm out, 16 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	692 ft	02:53 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet	from the north (010°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	16,000 ft	726 ft	10:54 pm EDT (02:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 814 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, 3:53 am EDT (07:53 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 STL, the departure

From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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 STL 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 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

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

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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. Louis Lambert International, Buffalo Niagara International.