Plan a flight · Sun 10:04 pm AKDT (06:04 UTC)

Ted Stevens Anchorage International to Chicago/Rockford International ANC → RFD

2,422 nautical miles (2,788 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 089°, about 073° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 13 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:40 pm CDT (19:40 UTC). Right now ANC is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots; RFD is VFR, wind calm. 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: 368 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 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 1864 to 2064 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 2233 to 2373 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 ANC.

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

B77L at 8,000 ft, 14 nm west, 9:30 pm AKDT (05:30 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 14 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED250015/TM 0530/FL080/TP B77L/SK TOPS 050/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
15 nm west (250°) of TED
Time
05:30 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
B77L
Sky
tops 5,000 ft
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
B737 at 5,000 ft, 7 nm southwest, 8:41 pm AKDT (04:41 UTC): light rime icing above 8,000 ft, -11 °C, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 7 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED230008/TM 0441/FL050/TP B737/TA M11/IC LGT RIME AT 080/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
8 nm southwest (230°) of TED
Time
04:41 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Temperature
−11 °C
Icing
light rime at at 8,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
A21N at 3,900 ft, 4 nm north, 8:31 pm AKDT (04:31 UTC): light rain, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 4 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ANC UA /OV TED320005/TM 0431/FL039/TP A21N/SK BASES 025/WX -RA/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ANC
Where
5 nm northwest (320°) of TED
Time
04:31 UTC
Height
at 3,900 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
bases 2,500 ft
Weather
light rain
Remarks
during the climb

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 5 forecast points nearest it (ANC, GKN, YAK, JNU, ANN). 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	190° at 14 kt	+4 kt		116 kt	20 h 53 min	9:57 pm CDT (02:57 UTC)
5,500 ft	220° at 19 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	19 h 23 min	8:27 pm CDT (01:27 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	−7 kt	0 °C	127 kt	19 h 04 min	8:08 pm CDT (01:08 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−8 kt	-4 °C	128 kt	18 h 55 min	7:59 pm CDT (00:59 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	−10 kt	-7 °C	130 kt	18 h 38 min	7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 31 kt	−13 kt	-10 °C	133 kt	18 h 13 min	7:17 pm CDT (00:17 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 34 kt	−18 kt	-14 °C	138 kt	17 h 33 min	6:37 pm CDT (23:37 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 37 kt	−22 kt	-17 °C	142 kt	17 h 03 min	6:07 pm CDT (23:07 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 38 kt	−23 kt	-18 °C	143 kt	16 h 56 min	6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 48 kt	−29 kt	-30 °C	149 kt	16 h 15 min	5:19 pm CDT (22:19 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 55 kt	−43 kt	-43 °C	163 kt	14 h 52 min	3:56 pm CDT (20:56 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 66 kt	−58 kt	-50 °C	178 kt	13 h 36 min	2:40 pm CDT (19:40 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 55 kt	−49 kt	-54 °C	169 kt	14 h 20 min	3:24 pm CDT (20:24 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
ANC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	200/5	220/9 -5°	210/8 -12°	210/7 -18°	220/8 -31°	240/9 -41°	210/12 -52°	240/30 -49°	240/42 -46°
GKN	used from 100 nm out; 62 nm from the line	190/14	190/9 -5°	210/6 -11°	220/11 -18°	240/17 -31°	260/18 -42°	240/25 -53°	230/38 -49°	240/42 -46°
YAK	used from 249 nm out; 88 nm from the line	210/8	240/15 -5°	250/20 -11°	250/25 -18°	240/49 -27°	240/60 -35°	240/78 -45°	240/74 -47°	240/68 -46°
JNU	used from 399 nm out; 131 nm from the line	180/24	230/31 0°	230/32 -6°	230/41 -12°	240/62 -21°	240/73 -32°	240/94 -45°	250/94 -50°	250/78 -50°
ANN	used from 797 nm out; 348 nm from the line	180/12	230/21 4°	230/24 0°	230/29 -4°	250/35 -15°	250/46 -27°	270/51 -41°	280/67 -51°	280/54 -57°

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
ANC Anchorage, AK	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,300 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	4,300 ft	151 ft	9:53 pm AKDT (05:53 UTC)
VDZ Valdez, AK	110 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	5,500 ft	128 ft	05:56 UTC
CYXY Whitehorse,	439 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,700 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots, gusting to 19	15 mi	5,700 ft	2,317 ft	05:00 UTC
CYZW Teslin,	508 nm out, 1 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 5,300 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	30 mi	5,300 ft	2,313 ft	00:00 UTC
GFK Grand Forks, ND	1934 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the north (010°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	845 ft	05:53 UTC
ANE Minneapolis, MN	2173 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 16,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	9 mi	16,000 ft	912 ft	05:55 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	2283 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	05:53 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,317 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:40 pm CDT (19:40 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for ANC, the departure

From Sun 10:00 pm AKDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 am AKDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm AKDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet

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

6/8772 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · starts tomorrow · ZAN
6/8889 Anchorage, AK, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZAN
6/4348 GRAND FORKS AFB, ND, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 1924 nm along the route · security · until 1 November · ZMP
6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 2163 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at ANC 6:57 pm AKDT (02:57 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 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, Alaska · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Ted Stevens Anchorage International, Chicago/Rockford International.