Plan a flight · Sun 7:26 pm CDT (00:26 UTC)

Hector International to Chicago/Rockford International FAR → RFD

435 nautical miles (501 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 128°, about 124° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 17 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 70-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:43 pm CDT (02:43 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now FAR is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 15 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 3 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: 28 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 40 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 4C: moderate icing up to 20,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.

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 FAR.

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

C56X at 1,300 ft, 0 nm southwest, 6:17 pm CDT (23:17 UTC): overcast above 1,300 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2317/FL013/TP C56X/SK OVC013
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
23:17 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft
E170 descending, 0 nm southwest, 4:37 pm CDT (21:37 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV KFAR/TM 2137/FLUNKN/TP E170/SK TOP030-OVC016/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over KFAR
Time
21:37 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
E170
Sky
TOP030-OVC016
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
E170 at 6,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 5:18 pm CDT (22:18 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 36. At the departure end, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR/TM 2218/FL060/TP E170/SK TOP060-OVC014/RM DURD RWY 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
over FAR
Time
22:18 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
TOP060-OVC014
Remarks
during the descent runway 36
CRJ7 at 18,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light rime icing from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -13 °C, remarks: during the descent. 49 nm along the route, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAR UA /OV FAR090050/TM 2341/FL180/TP CRJ7/SK BASE180-TOP200/TA M13/IC LGT RIME 180-200/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAR
Where
50 nm east (090°) of FAR
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASE180-TOP200
Temperature
−13 °C
Icing
light rime from 18,000 ft to 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
B39M at 34,000 ft, 37 nm southwest, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 178 nm along the route, 37 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP240040/TM 2325/FL340/TP B39M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (240°) of MSP
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
light chop
B737 at 32,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 5:42 pm CDT (22:42 UTC): light clear-air turbulence. 405 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
UES UA /OV BAE270030/TM 2242/FL320/TP B737/TB OCNL LGT CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through UES
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BAE
Time
22:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
occasional light clear-air turbulence

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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (AXN, MSP, LSE, DBQ). 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	220° at 19 kt	+1 kt		119 kt	3 h 39 min	11:05 pm CDT (04:05 UTC)
5,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	3 h 29 min	10:55 pm CDT (03:55 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−7 kt	14 °C	127 kt	3 h 26 min	10:52 pm CDT (03:52 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	−7 kt	10 °C	127 kt	3 h 26 min	10:52 pm CDT (03:52 UTC)
11,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	−8 kt	6 °C	128 kt	3 h 24 min	10:50 pm CDT (03:50 UTC)
13,500 ft	250° at 20 kt	−11 kt	1 °C	131 kt	3 h 19 min	10:45 pm CDT (03:45 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 22 kt	−14 kt	-4 °C	134 kt	3 h 15 min	10:41 pm CDT (03:41 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 24 kt	−17 kt	-9 °C	137 kt	3 h 11 min	10:37 pm CDT (03:37 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 24 kt	−18 kt	-10 °C	138 kt	3 h 09 min	10:35 pm CDT (03:35 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 34 kt	−26 kt	-20 °C	146 kt	2 h 59 min	10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 45 kt	−41 kt	-35 °C	161 kt	2 h 42 min	10:08 pm CDT (03:08 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 53 kt	−51 kt	-45 °C	171 kt	2 h 33 min	9:59 pm CDT (02:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 77 kt	−70 kt	-54 °C	190 kt	2 h 17 min	9:43 pm CDT (02:43 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
AXN	used from 0 nm out; 62 nm from the line	L/V	220/23 17°	230/24 12°	240/25 5°	260/32 -11°	260/40 -21°	270/50 -35°	270/57 -45°	270/81 -55°
MSP	used from 148 nm out; 21 nm from the line	200/28	240/30 19°	240/24 12°	240/17 5°	270/24 -10°	270/33 -20°	280/48 -35°	290/55 -45°	280/84 -54°
LSE	used from 247 nm out; 27 nm from the line	220/33	250/29 17°	250/15 9°	260/12 6°	280/21 -9°	280/33 -20°	300/43 -36°	310/56 -45°	300/79 -53°
DBQ	used from 346 nm out; 40 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°

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
FAR Fargo, ND	departure	IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet	from the north (010°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	600 ft	901 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
DTL Detroit Lakes, MN	30 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,395 ft	00:15 UTC
FFM Fergus Falls, MN	49 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the north (360°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,182 ft	00:15 UTC
AXN Alexandria, MN	89 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the north (010°) at 9 knots	8 mi	none	1,425 ft	23:53 UTC
STC St Cloud, MN	138 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	1,030 ft	23:53 UTC
MSP Minneapolis, MN	198 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	841 ft	23:53 UTC
RST Rochester, MN	257 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	8 mi	none	1,317 ft	23:54 UTC
LSE La Crosse, WI	297 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	655 ft	23:53 UTC
OVS Boscobel, WI	346 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	672 ft	23:53 UTC
MRJ Mineral Point, WI	366 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	no report just now				1,170 ft
JVL Janesville, WI	415 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	807 ft	23:45 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,425 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:43 pm CDT (02:43 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, 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 FAR, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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

6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 178 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP

Daylight

Sunset at FAR 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is after sunset there (6:21 pm CDT (23:21 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 northern Rockies · 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: Hector International, Chicago/Rockford International.