Plan a flight · Mon 11:07 am EDT (15:07 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to Chicago Midway International DTW → MDW

198 nautical miles (228 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 2 h at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 21-knot headwind), arriving about 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC). Right now DTW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 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: 4,192 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 DTW.

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

E170 at 28,000 ft, 45 nm north, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 89 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GRR UA /OV VIO/TM 1310/FL280/TP E170/TB OCNL MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through GRR
Where
over VIO
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
B739 descending, 0 nm south, 10:11 am EDT (14:11 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV 22R/TM 1411/FLDURD/TP B739/SK 006 FIELD IN SIGHT
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over 22R
Time
14:11 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
at 600 ft field in sight
A320 at 2,000 ft, 3 nm southwest, 8:36 am EDT (12:36 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO228003/TM 1236/FL020/TP A320/SK B003 T015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
3 nm southwest (228°) of DXO
Time
12:36 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
B003 T015
BSC3 at 2,700 ft, 2 nm south, 8:32 am EDT (12:32 UTC): remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV 2 S DTW/TM 1232/FL027/TP BSC3/SK B005 T016/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
2 south dtw
Time
12:32 UTC
Height
at 2,700 ft
Aircraft
BSC3
Sky
B005 T016
Remarks
during the climb
E55P at 3,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 9:41 am EDT (13:41 UTC): no turbulence, overcast from 20,000 ft to 30,000 ft, nearby, remarks: during the climb. 10 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV YIP/TM 1341/FL030/TP E55P/SK 002 OVC 003/WX VCM AT 030/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over YIP
Time
13:41 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
at 200 ft overcast at 300 ft
Weather
nearby m, at, at 3,000 ft
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 34,000 ft, 32 nm north, 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC): light chop turbulence from 32,000 ft to 34,000 ft, remarks: zob. 10 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT179015/TM 1318/FL340/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP 340-320/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
15 nm south (179°) of FNT
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop from 34,000 ft to 32,000 ft
Remarks
zob
C172 at 3,000 ft, 1 nm west, 8:41 am EDT (12:41 UTC): overcast from 1,000 ft to 1,500 ft; clear from 1,500 ft to 60,000 ft, dust storm. 10 nm along the route, 1 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO 270010/TM 1241/FL030/TP C172/SK 010 OVC 015/WX VIS 1 MI BLO CLOUDS CLR ABV
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
10 nm west (270°) of DXO
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Sky
at 1,000 ft overcast at 1,500 ft
Weather
visibility, 1, shallow, below, cl ou dust storm, clear, above
B737 at 7,000 ft, 0 nm south, 8:22 am EDT (12:22 UTC): remarks: during the climb. 10 nm along the route, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV 10 W DTW/TM 1222/FL070/TP B737/SK T014/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
10 west dtw
Time
12:22 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
T014
Remarks
during the climb
B722 at 6,000 ft, 13 nm south, 8:08 am EDT (12:08 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 10 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DXO210015/TM 1208/FL060/TP B722/SK TOPS 016
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
15 nm southwest (210°) of DXO
Time
12:08 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
B722
Sky
tops 1,600 ft
F2TH descending, 35 nm south, 9:17 am EDT (13:17 UTC): remarks: base 900 ft top 1,500 ft. 20 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1317/FLDURD/TP F2TH/RM BASE 009 TOP 015
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
13:17 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
base 900 ft top 1,500 ft
P28A at 1,300 ft, 35 nm south, 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): remarks: base 1,000 ft tops 1,300 ft runway 25 final. 20 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1300/FL013/TP P28A/RM BASE 010 TOPS 013 RY25 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
13:00 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Remarks
base 1,000 ft tops 1,300 ft runway 25 final
B738 climbing, 35 nm south, 8:19 am EDT (12:19 UTC): remarks: base 200 ft tops 1,200 ft. 20 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 1219/FLDURC/TP B738/RM BASE 002 TOPS 012
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
12:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B738
Remarks
base 200 ft tops 1,200 ft
B738 at 26,000 ft, 30 nm south, 8:21 am EDT (12:21 UTC): no turbulence from 25,000 ft to 26,000 ft. 99 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSH UA /OV GSH090020/TM 1221/FL260/TP B738/TB NEG 260-250
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSH
Where
20 nm east (090°) of GSH
Time
12:21 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
no from 26,000 ft to 25,000 ft
B752 at 32,000 ft, 30 nm north, 9:03 am EDT (13:03 UTC): light chop turbulence. 119 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIV UA /OV PMM/TM 1303/FL320/TP B752/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIV
Where
over PMM
Time
13:03 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light chop

2 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 2 forecast points nearest it (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	250° at 22 kt	+21 kt		99 kt	2 h	12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 24 kt	+24 kt	14 °C	96 kt	2 h 04 min	12:11 pm CDT (17:11 UTC)
8,500 ft	260° at 26 kt	+26 kt	9 °C	94 kt	2 h 06 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
10,500 ft	270° at 27 kt	+26 kt	6 °C	94 kt	2 h 06 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
12,500 ft	290° at 28 kt	+26 kt	5 °C	94 kt	2 h 06 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
14,500 ft	290° at 28 kt	+26 kt	0 °C	94 kt	2 h 06 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
16,500 ft	290° at 29 kt	+26 kt	-4 °C	94 kt	2 h 06 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 29 kt	+26 kt	-8 °C	94 kt	2 h 06 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 38 kt	+35 kt	-20 °C	85 kt	2 h 20 min	12:27 pm CDT (17:27 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 37 kt	+35 kt	-37 °C	85 kt	2 h 20 min	12:27 pm CDT (17:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 52 kt	+46 kt	-38 °C	74 kt	2 h 41 min	12:48 pm CDT (17:48 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 58 kt	+43 kt	-48 °C	77 kt	2 h 34 min	12:41 pm CDT (17:41 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 92 nm from the line	250/18	260/22 15°	260/27 7°	290/26 6°	290/28 -8°	290/39 -20°	280/36 -37°	290/54 -39°	310/60 -48°
JOT	used from 148 nm out; 48 nm from the line	230/30	250/26 16°	270/27 11°	280/34 5°	290/32 -8°	280/37 -21°	280/40 -36°	290/46 -37°	290/56 -47°

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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	8 mi	20,000 ft	645 ft	10:53 am EDT (14:53 UTC)
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	20 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	14:53 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	79 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	14:53 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	99 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	14:53 UTC
MGC Michigan City, IN	158 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	654 ft	14:55 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 951 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, 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MDW

From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 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 southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered 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 DTW, the departure

From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Tue 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Tue 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

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

6/8992 Monroe, MI, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Local 12 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Thursday 15 October · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 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 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: Detroit Metro Wayne County, Chicago Midway International.