Plan a flight · Sun 10:56 pm EDT (02:56 UTC)

Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Chicago Midway International DCA → MDW

521 nautical miles (599 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 293°, about 304° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 2:28 am CDT (07:28 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 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: 4,086 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 354 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 177 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 49 to 187 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 DCA.

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

UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 25 nm southwest, 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 128 nm along the route, 25 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B38M at 29,000 ft, 2 nm southwest, 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC): moderate turbulence above 29,000 ft, remarks: zob. 157 nm along the route, 2 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MPG UA /OV AIR120030/TM 0055/FL290/TP B38M /TB OCNL MOD 290/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through MPG
Where
30 nm southeast (120°) of AIR
Time
00:55 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 29,000 ft
Remarks
zob
A320 at 34,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 354 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest 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
A320 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:46 pm EDT (01:46 UTC): a broken layer from 30,000 ft to 4,500 ft, remarks: CONLE5 sid. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL180005/TM 0146/FL020/TP A320/SK BKN003-TOP045/RM CONLE5 SID
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
5 nm south (180°) of BAL
Time
01:46 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 300 ft, tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
CONLE5 sid
B738 at 2,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 9:43 pm EDT (01:43 UTC): a broken layer from 40,000 ft to 7,200 ft, remarks: TERPZ8 sid. At the departure end, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BAL260003/TM 0143/FL20/TP B738/SK BKN004-TOP072/RM TERPZ8 SID
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
3 nm west (260°) of BAL
Time
01:43 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
a broken layer from 400 ft, tops 7,200 ft
Remarks
TERPZ8 sid
B38M at 400 ft, 0 nm north, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV DCA/TM 0115/FL004/TP B38M/SK OVC004
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
over DCA
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
overcast from 400 ft
A320 descending, 0 nm north, 8:27 pm EDT (00:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 0027/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BASES 400 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 final
Time
00:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
bases 40,000 ft ft
A21N at 600 ft, 26 nm northeast, 8:23 pm EDT (00:23 UTC): a broken layer above 600 ft. At the departure end, 26 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 0023/FL006/TP A21N/SK BKN006
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWI
Where
over BWI
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
a broken layer from 600 ft
A319 descending, 0 nm north, 8:02 pm EDT (00:02 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 DEPARTURE/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP A319/SK BASES 500 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DCA
Where
runway 1 departure
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A319
Sky
bases 50,000 ft ft
FA8X climbing, 5 nm southeast, 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft. 29 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV AML300005/TM 0034/FLDURC/TP FA8X/SK OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
5 nm northwest (300°) of AML
Time
00:34 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
FA8X
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
E75S at 22,000 ft, 49 nm north, 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: zob. 108 nm along the route, 49 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JST UA /OV JST/TM 0251/FL220/TP E75S/TB LGHT-MOD/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JST
Where
over JST
Time
02:51 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
lght-mod
Remarks
zob
C68A at 2,700 ft, 36 nm northeast, 8:45 pm EDT (00:45 UTC): overcast above 2,700 ft, remarks: landing runway 10R. 177 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PIT UA /OV KPIT/TM 0045/FL027/TP C68A/SK OVC027/RM LANDING RWY 10R
```
Report
a routine report filed through PIT
Where
over KPIT
Time
00:45 UTC
Height
at 2,700 ft
Aircraft
C68A
Sky
overcast from 2,700 ft
Remarks
landing runway 10R
BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 197 nm along the route, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PKB
Where
over JPU
Time
00:58 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ7 descending, 40 nm north, 9:17 pm EDT (01:17 UTC): remarks: bases 2,000 ft. 236 nm along the route, 40 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CAK UA /OV CAK/TM 0117/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/RM BASES 020
```
Report
a routine report filed through CAK
Where
over CAK
Time
01:17 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Remarks
bases 2,000 ft

9 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 6 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, AGC, CMH, FWA, 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	290° at 8 kt	+8 kt	13 °C	112 kt	4 h 39 min	2:35 am CDT (07:35 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	+10 kt	13 °C	110 kt	4 h 44 min	2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 9 kt	+8 kt	10 °C	112 kt	4 h 39 min	2:35 am CDT (07:35 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 8 kt	+6 kt	6 °C	114 kt	4 h 34 min	2:30 am CDT (07:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	330° at 7 kt	+5 kt	2 °C	115 kt	4 h 32 min	2:28 am CDT (07:28 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 9 kt	+7 kt	-2 °C	113 kt	4 h 37 min	2:33 am CDT (07:33 UTC)
16,500 ft	320° at 11 kt	+10 kt	-6 °C	110 kt	4 h 44 min	2:40 am CDT (07:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 13 kt	+11 kt	-9 °C	109 kt	4 h 47 min	2:43 am CDT (07:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 19 kt	+18 kt	-21 °C	102 kt	5 h 06 min	3:02 am CDT (08:02 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 27 kt	+25 kt	-34 °C	95 kt	5 h 29 min	3:25 am CDT (08:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 33 kt	+27 kt	-41 °C	93 kt	5 h 36 min	3:32 am CDT (08:32 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 37 kt	+33 kt	-48 °C	87 kt	5 h 59 min	3:55 am CDT (08:55 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
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 91 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°
EKN	used from 49 nm out; 69 nm from the line		270/18 13°	310/5 7°	140/7 3°	210/16 -9°	220/41 -20°	210/57 -32°	220/57 -38°	230/49 -47°
AGC	used from 147 nm out; 36 nm from the line	140/12	350/10 12°	L/V 9°	L/V 3°	200/11 -11°	220/21 -22°	220/47 -33°	230/51 -39°	230/45 -48°
CMH	used from 197 nm out; 66 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
FWA	used from 344 nm out; 31 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
JOT	used from 442 nm out; 71 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
DCA Washington, DC	departure	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots	5 mi	500 ft	14 ft	10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC)
IAD Washington, DC	20 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: light rain	from the north-northwest (340°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	312 ft	02:52 UTC
OKV Winchester, VA	59 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: rain	from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots	5 mi	1,800 ft	726 ft	02:55 UTC
MGW Morgantown, WV	138 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 feet, a broken layer at 4,100 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	4,100 ft	1,243 ft	02:34 UTC
HLG Wheeling, WV	187 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	1,000 ft	1,194 ft	02:09 UTC
PHD New Philadelphia, OH	226 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	894 ft	02:24 UTC
MFD Mansfield, OH	275 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	6 mi	300 ft	1,297 ft	02:52 UTC
OWX Ottawa, OH	344 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 2 knots	3 mi	1,700 ft	763 ft	02:35 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	393 nm out, 13 nm southwest 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
SBN South Bend, IN	462 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	798 ft	01:54 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	501 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	02:50 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR	from the south (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,297 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, 2:28 am CDT (07:28 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MDW

From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 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

The forecast for DCA, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

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

4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is before sunrise there (6:59 am CDT (11:59 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Chicago Midway International.