Plan a flight · Mon 9:05 am CDT (14:05 UTC)

Dallas-Fort Worth International to Chicago Midway International DFW → MDW

693 nautical miles (797 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 037°, about 033° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC). Right now DFW is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 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: 571 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 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 337 to 416 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 DFW.

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

A321 at 34,000 ft, 50 nm west, 8:39 am CDT (13:39 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW94. At the departure end, 50 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MWL UA /OV MQP/TM 1339/FL340/TP A321/TB NEG/RM ZFW94
```
Report
a routine report filed through MWL
Where
over MQP
Time
13:39 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW94
C172 at 1,700 ft, 18 nm northwest, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): a broken layer above 2,200 ft. At the departure end, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AFW UA /OV AFW340004/TM 1338/FL017/TP C172/SK BKN022
```
Report
a routine report filed through AFW
Where
4 nm north (340°) of AFW
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
a broken layer from 2,200 ft
E145 at 13,000 ft, 31 nm northwest, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW32. At the departure end, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MWL UA /OV MQP030040/TM 1338/FL130/TP E145/TB NEG/RM ZFW32
```
Report
a routine report filed through MWL
Where
40 nm northeast (030°) of MQP
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW32
C560 at 2,600 ft, 17 nm west, 8:02 am CDT (13:02 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft. At the departure end, 17 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FTW UA /OV 5 NM W/TM 1302/FL026/TP C560/SK BKN026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FTW
Where
5 nautical miles west
Time
13:02 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
C560
Sky
a broken layer from 2,600 ft
C172 at 2,500 ft, 17 nm west, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,700 ft. At the departure end, 17 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FTW UA /OV 3 NM NW FTW/TM 1255/FL025/TP C172/SK SCT027
```
Report
a routine report filed through FTW
Where
3 nautical miles northwest ftw
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,700 ft
M20P at 3,500 ft, 35 nm southwest, 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC): a broken layer, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 35 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV 50F140007/TM 1239/FL035/TP M20P/SK B035 BKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
7 nm southeast (140°) of 50F
Time
12:39 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
M20P
Sky
B035 broken
Remarks
during the descent
A320 at 2,400 ft, 0 nm south, 7:38 am CDT (12:38 UTC): a few clouds above 2,400 ft, remarks: bases 2400 ft, airport in sight on 8 mile final. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1238/FL024/TP A320/SK FEW024/RM BASES 2400 FT, AIRPORT IN SIGHT ON 8 MILE FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
12:38 UTC
Height
at 2,400 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a few clouds from 2,400 ft
Remarks
bases 2400 ft, airport in sight on 8 mile final
B738 at 2,100 ft, 0 nm south, 6:55 am CDT (11:55 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV 3 N OF DFW/TM 1155/FL021/TP B738/SK BASE021
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
3 north of dfw
Time
11:55 UTC
Height
at 2,100 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
BASE021
E170 at 2,200 ft, 0 nm south, 6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC): scattered clouds above 2,200 ft, remarks: haze layer on final at 2200 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DFW UA /OV DFW/TM 1142/FL022/TP E170/SK SCT022/RM HAZE LAYER ON FINAL AT 2200 FT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DFW
Where
over DFW
Time
11:42 UTC
Height
at 2,200 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
scattered clouds from 2,200 ft
Remarks
haze layer on final at 2200 ft
E55P at 11,000 ft, 38 nm southeast, 7:42 am CDT (12:42 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZFW83. At the departure end, 38 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRL UA /OV TRL/TM 1242/FL110/TP E55P/TB NEG/RM ZFW83
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRL
Where
over TRL
Time
12:42 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZFW83
B39M at 36,000 ft, 28 nm north, 8:18 am CDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (DAL, FSM, SGF, COU, STL, SPI, 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 28 kt	−27 kt		147 kt	4 h 43 min	1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	4 h 57 min	2:02 pm CDT (19:02 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	−17 kt	13 °C	137 kt	5 h 04 min	2:09 pm CDT (19:09 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 17 kt	−16 kt	10 °C	136 kt	5 h 06 min	2:11 pm CDT (19:11 UTC)
11,500 ft	250° at 17 kt	−15 kt	8 °C	135 kt	5 h 08 min	2:13 pm CDT (19:13 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	−15 kt	3 °C	135 kt	5 h 08 min	2:13 pm CDT (19:13 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 21 kt	−17 kt	-1 °C	137 kt	5 h 04 min	2:09 pm CDT (19:09 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 23 kt	−18 kt	-6 °C	138 kt	5 h 01 min	2:06 pm CDT (19:06 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 24 kt	−19 kt	-7 °C	139 kt	4 h 59 min	2:04 pm CDT (19:04 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	260° at 30 kt	−22 kt	-18 °C	142 kt	4 h 53 min	1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 49 kt	−26 kt	-31 °C	146 kt	4 h 45 min	1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 54 kt	−26 kt	-40 °C	146 kt	4 h 45 min	1:50 pm CDT (18:50 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 54 kt	−12 kt	-50 °C	132 kt	5 h 15 min	2:20 pm CDT (19:20 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
DAL	used from 0 nm out; 23 nm from the line	190/30	200/28 18°	220/18 13°	250/13 8°	240/24 -6°	270/20 -14°	270/35 -29°	290/34 -39°	310/41 -51°
FSM	used from 99 nm out; 75 nm from the line	230/33	260/23 15°	240/23 11°	230/18 8°	230/20 -8°	250/31 -17°	280/51 -30°	280/52 -39°	300/47 -51°
SGF	used from 247 nm out; 48 nm from the line	230/37	260/20 15°	250/16 13°	250/15 8°	260/28 -7°	250/31 -17°	280/59 -31°	280/59 -39°	290/55 -50°
COU	used from 396 nm out; 37 nm from the line	250/36	260/14 16°	250/5 12°	260/12 6°	260/24 -7°	260/35 -19°	280/58 -31°	280/62 -40°	290/60 -49°
STL	used from 445 nm out; 33 nm from the line	250/26	240/21 15°	240/22 11°	250/23 6°	270/28 -7°	260/30 -19°	280/52 -31°	280/57 -40°	300/57 -49°
SPI	used from 495 nm out; 31 nm from the line	260/28	250/22 15°	250/14 9°	260/20 6°	280/27 -7°	280/34 -19°	280/48 -32°	280/59 -41°	300/60 -49°
JOT	used from 594 nm out; 50 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
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	606 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
TKI Dallas, TX	30 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,200 feet	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	588 ft	13:53 UTC
HHW Hugo, OK	99 nm out, 18 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	572 ft	13:50 UTC
FSM Fort Smith, AR	198 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	469 ft	13:53 UTC
FYV Fayetteville, AR	238 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	1,252 ft	13:53 UTC
BBG Branson, MO	287 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	1,302 ft	11:45 UTC
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO	376 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,159 ft	13:55 UTC
FYG Washington, MO	455 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line	VFR Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	none	487 ft	06:15 UTC
SPI Springfield, IL	544 nm out, 13 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	597 ft	13:52 UTC
BMI Bloomington/Normal, IL	604 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	871 ft	13:56 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	673 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	13:45 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,302 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, 1:48 pm CDT (18:48 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds 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 DFW, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC) and 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
From Tue 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Tue 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet

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

6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
9/2934 DALLAS, TX 9 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW

Daylight

Sunset at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 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 southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: Dallas-Fort Worth International, Chicago Midway International.