Watertown Regional to Chicago O'Hare International ATY → ORD
440 nautical miles (506 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 110°, about 104° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 26 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 61-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:31 am CDT (11:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ATY is low IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 150 to 350 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 ATY.
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 08:00–15:00 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 (FSD, MSP, MCW, LSE, DBQ, JOT). 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 | 240° at 24 kt | −16 kt | 136 kt | 3 h 14 min | 7:19 am CDT (12:19 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 3 h 16 min | 7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −14 kt | 15 °C | 134 kt | 3 h 17 min | 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −15 kt | 10 °C | 135 kt | 3 h 16 min | 7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | −19 kt | 6 °C | 139 kt | 3 h 10 min | 7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | −20 kt | 2 °C | 140 kt | 3 h 09 min | 7:14 am CDT (12:14 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 25 kt | −21 kt | -3 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 07 min | 7:12 am CDT (12:12 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 24 kt | −21 kt | -8 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 07 min | 7:12 am CDT (12:12 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -9 °C | 141 kt | 3 h 07 min | 7:12 am CDT (12:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 31 kt | −28 kt | -21 °C | 148 kt | 2 h 58 min | 7:03 am CDT (12:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 36 kt | −32 kt | -36 °C | 152 kt | 2 h 54 min | 6:59 am CDT (11:59 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 50 kt | −47 kt | -40 °C | 167 kt | 2 h 38 min | 6:43 am CDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 62 kt | −61 kt | -48 °C | 181 kt | 2 h 26 min | 6:31 am CDT (11:31 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSD | used from 0 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| MSP | used from 100 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 250/12 | 250/17 17° | 240/26 12° | 250/26 5° | 280/26 -9° | 280/32 -22° | 270/37 -38° | 280/47 -41° | 280/55 -48° |
| MCW | used from 150 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| LSE | used from 250 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 250/25 | 240/21 17° | 240/28 11° | 250/28 5° | 280/24 -10° | 280/31 -21° | 260/35 -37° | 270/45 -43° | 280/59 -47° |
| DBQ | used from 300 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| JOT | used from 400 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATY Watertown, SD | departure | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northeast (020°) at 8 knots | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 1,749 ft | 3:53 am CDT (08:53 UTC) |
| CNB Canby, MN | 40 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog | from the north-northwest (330°) at 6 knots | 0.5 mi | 100 ft | 1,194 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| MML Marshall, MN | 60 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 1 mi | 300 ft | 1,182 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| ULM New Ulm, MN | 120 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,011 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| ACQ Waseca, MN | 160 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,126 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 210 nm out, 19 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| DEH Decorah, IA | 250 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 3,900 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | variable at 6 knots, gusting to 17 | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 1,157 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| PDC Prairie du Chien, WI | 280 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 660 ft | 17:15 UTC |
| MRJ Mineral Point, WI | 320 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 1,170 ft | ||||
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 390 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 420 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 712 ft | 08:52 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 680 ft | 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,749 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:31 am CDT (11:31 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, 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 ATY, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 7 knots, visibility ¾ mile, mist, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC) and 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 1 mile, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 700 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 ATY 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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: Watertown Regional, Chicago O'Hare International.