Plan a flight · Mon 7:27 am EDT (11:27 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to Chicago Midway International BUF → MDW

406 nautical miles (467 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 274° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 10:05 am CDT (15:05 UTC). Right now BUF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 1,628 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 first 287 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 BUF.

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

A321 at 32,000 ft, 48 nm east, 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: occasional moderate from syr to iag zob. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 1104/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD/RM OCNL MOD FROM SYR TO IAG ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
11:04 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
Remarks
occasional moderate from syr to iag zob
B738 climbing, 0 nm southwest, 6:20 am EDT (10:20 UTC): overcast from 2,500 ft to 4,200 ft; scattered clouds above 700 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF/TM 1020/FLDURC/TP B738/SK SCT007 OVC025 TOPS042
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
over BUF
Time
10:20 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B738
Sky
SCT007 OVC025 TOPS042
A319 at 3,000 ft, 42 nm east, 6:17 am EDT (10:17 UTC): overcast above 3,000 ft, remarks: bases 3,000 ft tops 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 42 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC220010/TM 1017/FL030/TP A319/SK 030 OVC/RM BASES 030 TOPS 040
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
10 nm southwest (220°) of ROC
Time
10:17 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
at 3,000 ft overcast
Remarks
bases 3,000 ft tops 4,000 ft
A21N at 35,000 ft, 49 nm southeast, 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 49 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV GEE190015/TM 0852/FL350/TP A21N/TB LGHT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
15 nm south (190°) of GEE
Time
08:52 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
lght-mod chop
Remarks
zob
AC90 at 2,000 ft, 44 nm south, 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 2,000 ft to 4,000 ft. 69 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ERI UA /OV JUNOG/TM 1105/FL020/TP AC90/SK OVC020-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through ERI
Where
junog
Time
11:05 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
AC90
Sky
overcast from 2,000 ft, tops 4,000 ft
AC90 at 2,000 ft, 43 nm south, 7:05 am EDT (11:05 UTC): remarks: bases reported at at 2,000 ft. 69 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ERI UA /OV KERI/TM 1105/FL020/TP AC90/RM BASES REPORTED AT 020
```
Report
a routine report filed through ERI
Where
over KERI
Time
11:05 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
AC90
Remarks
bases reported at at 2,000 ft
UAL2759 at 35,000 ft, 43 nm south, 7:14 am EDT (11:14 UTC): no turbulence, wind 313° at 72 knots. 149 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2759 4155N 08149W 1114 F350 313/072KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B350 at 2,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 7:22 am EDT (11:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 198 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK090005/TM 1122/FL020/TP B350/WX FV10SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
5 nm east (090°) of PTK
Time
11:22 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B350
Weather
flight visibility 10 miles
B739 at 9,000 ft, 9 nm north, 6:33 am EDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 9,000 ft to 60,000 ft, wind 295° at 13 knots, remarks: during the descent. 198 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO033026/TM 1033/FL090/TP B739/SK SKC/WV 29513KTS/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
26 nm northeast (033°) of DXO
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
clear
Wind
from 295° at 13 knots
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
CL35 at 6,000 ft, 15 nm northwest, 6:47 am EDT (10:47 UTC): overcast from 1,400 ft to 2,600 ft; clear from 2,600 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear above 2,600 ft. 208 nm along the route, 15 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270006/TM 1047/FL060/TP CL35/SK OVC014-TOP026/RM CLEAR ABOVE 026
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
6 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
10:47 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CL35
Sky
overcast from 1,400 ft, tops 2,600 ft
Remarks
clear above 2,600 ft
MD83 at 2,500 ft, 47 nm south, 6:43 am EDT (10:43 UTC): clear from 2,500 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above. 238 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1043/FL025/TP MD83/RM BASE 010 TOPS 025 CLEAR ABOVE
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
10:43 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
MD83
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 2,500 ft clear above
CRJ9 at 38,000 ft, 37 nm south, 7:06 am EDT (11:06 UTC): no turbulence. 366 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXI UA /OV OXI/TM 1106/FL380/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXI
Where
over OXI
Time
11:06 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none

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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA, MKG, 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
4,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	+11 kt		109 kt	3 h 43 min	10:10 am CDT (15:10 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	+8 kt	13 °C	112 kt	3 h 38 min	10:05 am CDT (15:05 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	+8 kt	10 °C	112 kt	3 h 38 min	10:05 am CDT (15:05 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	+11 kt	6 °C	109 kt	3 h 43 min	10:10 am CDT (15:10 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	+15 kt	2 °C	105 kt	3 h 52 min	10:19 am CDT (15:19 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 23 kt	+16 kt	-2 °C	104 kt	3 h 54 min	10:21 am CDT (15:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	+17 kt	-6 °C	103 kt	3 h 57 min	10:24 am CDT (15:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 28 kt	+18 kt	-8 °C	102 kt	3 h 59 min	10:26 am CDT (15:26 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 29 kt	+19 kt	-20 °C	101 kt	4 h 01 min	10:28 am CDT (15:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	310° at 39 kt	+24 kt	-36 °C	96 kt	4 h 14 min	10:41 am CDT (15:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 51 kt	+32 kt	-45 °C	88 kt	4 h 37 min	11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 62 kt	+39 kt	-51 °C	81 kt	5 h 01 min	11:28 am CDT (16:28 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
BUF	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	300/11	330/15 11°	340/26 8°	330/28 2°	340/31 -10°	340/32 -21°	340/52 -37°	340/59 -46°	330/66 -53°
CLE	used from 99 nm out; 77 nm from the line	310/7	350/20 14°	340/16 9°	320/21 2°	320/32 -8°	330/34 -20°	330/45 -36°	320/60 -45°	320/64 -51°
FWA	used from 248 nm out; 78 nm from the line	270/20	300/16 15°	290/14 10°	280/17 3°	290/25 -7°	280/30 -19°	280/34 -35°	290/48 -44°	300/64 -52°
MKG	used from 297 nm out; 67 nm from the line	260/28	260/18 15°	250/16 9°	260/22 4°	280/31 -9°	270/35 -21°	270/44 -35°	270/42 -45°	290/61 -51°
JOT	used from 347 nm out; 58 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
BUF Buffalo, NY	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	6 mi	1,300 ft	726 ft	7:10 am EDT (11:10 UTC)
CYSN St Catharines,	20 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: mist	from the west-southwest (240°) at 6 knots	2 mi	1,700 ft	321 ft	11:12 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	109 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				776 ft
DET Detroit, MI	188 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots	9 mi	none	624 ft	10:53 UTC
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	228 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	10:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	257 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	3 mi	none	1,000 ft	10:56 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	307 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	5 mi	none	873 ft	10:53 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	347 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots	9 mi	none	798 ft	10:54 UTC
MGC Michigan City, IN	366 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	654 ft	11:15 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	619 ft	5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MDW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:05 am CDT (15:05 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 MDW

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 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 south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

The forecast for BUF, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) and 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 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 BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Buffalo Niagara International, Chicago Midway International.