Plan a flight · Sun 8:34 pm EDT (00:34 UTC)

Detroit Metro Wayne County to Chicago O'Hare International DTW → ORD

203 nautical miles (234 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 9:20 pm CDT (02:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DTW is IFR, wind from the north (350°) at 3 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 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: 12,016 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 29 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 DTW.

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

A21N descending, 0 nm south, 8:22 pm EDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 0 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, 0 nm south, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. At the departure end, 0 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
GLF5 at 9,000 ft, 27 nm north, 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 7E/TM 2313/FL090/TP GLF5/SK OVC015-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 7E
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,000 ft
PA32 at 1,500 ft, 27 nm north, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 1W/TM 2303/FL015/TP PA32/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 1W
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
PA32
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
E75S descending, 0 nm south, 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 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 RWY 3R/TM 2301/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK TOPS 020 BASES 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
runway 3R
Time
23:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
tops 2,000 ft bases 1,000 ft
B712 at 300 ft, 0 nm south, 6:21 pm EDT (22:21 UTC): overcast, remarks: tops 4,000 ft bases 300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 2221/FL003/TP B712/SK OVC/RM TOPS 040 BASES 003
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
22:21 UTC
Height
at 300 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast
Remarks
tops 4,000 ft bases 300 ft
H25B at 1,500 ft, 27 nm north, 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC): overcast above 1,700 ft. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK270001/TM 2220/FL015/TP H25B/SK OVC017-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
1 nm west (270°) of PTK
Time
22:20 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
H25B
Sky
overcast from 1,700 ft, tops unknown
A320 descending, 0 nm south, 5:38 pm EDT (21:38 UTC): overcast, remarks: tops 3,500 ft bases 500 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 2138/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC/RM TOPS 035 BASES 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
21:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast
Remarks
tops 3,500 ft bases 500 ft
E55P descending, 3 nm northeast, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 10 nm along the route, 3 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015
BE36 at 3,000 ft, 12 nm north, 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC): no turbulence, imc. 10 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV SVM/TM 2220/FL030/TP BE36/SK IMC/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over SVM
Time
22:20 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
smooth
A320 climbing, 36 nm south, 8:14 pm EDT (00:14 UTC): overcast. 19 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0014/FLDURC/TP A320/SK B025 OVC T040
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
00:14 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A320
Sky
B025 overcast T040
P28A descending, 49 nm south, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): a broken layer from 2,200 ft to 2,500 ft. 19 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV 1G0/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK BKN022 TOPS025
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over 1G0
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
a broken layer from 2,200 ft, tops 2,500 ft
A320 descending, 36 nm south, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. 19 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Wind
wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft
P28A descending, 49 nm south, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. 19 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV 1G0/TM 2245/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK OVC014 TOPSUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over 1G0
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
overcast from 1,400 ft, tops unknown

7 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 3 forecast points nearest it (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	330° at 10 kt	+5 kt		115 kt	1 h 46 min	9:20 pm CDT (02:20 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 16 kt	+6 kt	14 °C	114 kt	1 h 47 min	9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 19 kt	+7 kt	10 °C	113 kt	1 h 48 min	9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	340° at 21 kt	+6 kt	6 °C	114 kt	1 h 47 min	9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC)
12,500 ft	340° at 23 kt	+6 kt	3 °C	114 kt	1 h 47 min	9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC)
14,500 ft	340° at 23 kt	+7 kt	-2 °C	113 kt	1 h 48 min	9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC)
16,500 ft	330° at 23 kt	+9 kt	-6 °C	111 kt	1 h 50 min	9:24 pm CDT (02:24 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 23 kt	+10 kt	-10 °C	110 kt	1 h 51 min	9:25 pm CDT (02:25 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	340° at 36 kt	+13 kt	-21 °C	107 kt	1 h 54 min	9:28 pm CDT (02:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 45 kt	+22 kt	-37 °C	98 kt	2 h 04 min	9:38 pm CDT (02:38 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 44 kt	+26 kt	-45 °C	94 kt	2 h 10 min	9:44 pm CDT (02:44 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 56 kt	+37 kt	-49 °C	83 kt	2 h 27 min	10:01 pm CDT (03:01 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
FWA	used from 0 nm out; 93 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°
MKG	used from 97 nm out; 65 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 145 nm out; 55 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
DTW Detroit, MI	departure	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	3 mi	900 ft	645 ft	7:53 pm EDT (23:53 UTC)
ARB Ann Arbor, MI	19 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	839 ft	23:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	48 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,000 ft	23:56 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	97 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	873 ft	23:53 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	136 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	23:54 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	184 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	596 ft	23:50 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	6:51 pm CDT (23:51 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, 9:20 pm CDT (02:20 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 DTW, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 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

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 DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 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 after sunset there (6:16 pm CDT (23:16 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 O'Hare International.