Plan a flight · Sun 9:22 pm EDT (01:22 UTC)

Buffalo Niagara International to Chicago O'Hare International BUF → ORD

410 nautical miles (472 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now BUF is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 7 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 4,981 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 0 nm of the route.
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 166 to 235 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 BUF.

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

DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
E170 at 25,000 ft, 10 nm east, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
A320 at 33,000 ft, 4 nm south, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 283 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B738 at 4,700 ft, 10 nm southeast, 8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC): a broken layer from 4,700 ft to 5,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure 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
B38M at 500 ft, 48 nm east, 7:52 pm EDT (23:52 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the departure end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2352/FL005/TP B38M/SK BKN005-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:52 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 500 ft, tops unknown
A21N at 30,000 ft, 27 nm south, 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JHW UA /OV JHW050025/TM 2336/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JHW
Where
25 nm northeast (050°) of JHW
Time
23:36 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
zob
B38M at 30,000 ft, 39 nm south, 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JHW UA /OV JHW080020/TM 2254/FL300/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JHW
Where
20 nm east (080°) of JHW
Time
22:54 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
zob
A319 at 4,300 ft, 2 nm south, 7:14 pm EDT (23:14 UTC): overcast above 4,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. 20 nm along the route, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF270020/TM 2314/FL043/TP A319/SK OVC 043/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
20 nm west (270°) of BUF
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 4,300 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 4,300 ft
Remarks
during the descent
E145 at 3,000 ft, 43 nm south, 7:45 pm EDT (23:45 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 59 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ERI UA /OV DEFJO/TM 2345/FL030/TP E145/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through ERI
Where
defjo
Time
23:45 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
AC90 , 46 nm south, 8:16 pm EDT (00:16 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 68 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ERI UA /OV ERI060006/TM 0016/FLB3.0/TP AC90
```
Report
a routine report filed through ERI
Where
6 nm northeast (060°) of ERI
Time
00:16 UTC
Height
at B3.0
Aircraft
AC90
CRJ7 descending, 20 nm south, 9:01 pm EDT (01:01 UTC): overcast above 2,800 ft. 205 nm along the route, 20 nm south 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
C550 at 2,300 ft, 8 nm northwest, 8:46 pm EDT (00:46 UTC): remarks: fis 4 mile final. 205 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV 4W/TM 0046/FL023/TP C550/RM FIS 4 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
4W
Time
00:46 UTC
Height
at 2,300 ft
Aircraft
C550
Remarks
fis 4 mile final
A21N descending, 20 nm south, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. 205 nm along the route, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
CRJ9 descending, 20 nm south, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. 205 nm along the route, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
final runway 4L

11 more routine reports are on the map.

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 4 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, 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	280° at 4 kt	+4 kt		116 kt	3 h 32 min	11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 9 kt	+6 kt	13 °C	114 kt	3 h 36 min	11:58 pm CDT (04:58 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	+7 kt	9 °C	113 kt	3 h 38 min	12:00 am CDT (05:00 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	+8 kt	5 °C	112 kt	3 h 40 min	12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	+8 kt	2 °C	112 kt	3 h 40 min	12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 13 kt	+10 kt	-2 °C	110 kt	3 h 44 min	12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	+11 kt	-7 °C	109 kt	3 h 46 min	12:08 am CDT (05:08 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 14 kt	+12 kt	-10 °C	108 kt	3 h 48 min	12:10 am CDT (05:10 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 17 kt	+12 kt	-22 °C	108 kt	3 h 48 min	12:10 am CDT (05:10 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 29 kt	+22 kt	-36 °C	98 kt	4 h 11 min	12:33 am CDT (05:33 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 33 kt	+31 kt	-43 °C	89 kt	4 h 36 min	12:58 am CDT (05:58 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 42 kt	+40 kt	-49 °C	80 kt	5 h 08 min	1:30 am CDT (06:30 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
BUF	used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -50°
CLE	used from 98 nm out; 81 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
MKG	used from 244 nm out; 80 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
JOT	used from 342 nm out; 66 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°

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	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet	from the east (090°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	726 ft	8:54 pm EDT (00:54 UTC)
CYSN St Catharines,	20 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 6 knots	15 mi	5,000 ft	321 ft	01:00 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	107 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	no report just now				776 ft
CYZR Sarnia,	156 nm out, 20 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	variable at 2 knots	9 mi	1,400 ft	594 ft	01:00 UTC
PTK Pontiac, MI	205 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,400 ft	980 ft	01:14 UTC
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	225 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	00:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	254 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	1,000 ft	00:56 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	293 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	00:53 UTC
BEH Benton Harbor, MI	342 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	low IFR Weather: mist	calm	0.75 mi	none	649 ft	01:18 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	7:51 pm CDT (00:51 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 ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for ORD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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, scattered clouds at 20,000 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

The forecast for BUF, the departure

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

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 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

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 O'Hare International.