Plan a flight · Sun 11:03 pm PDT (06:03 UTC)

Fresno Yosemite International to Chicago/Rockford International FAT → RFD

1,447 nautical miles (1,666 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 055° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 28 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC). Right now FAT is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 13 knots; RFD is VFR, wind calm. 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: 2 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 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 160 to 799 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 220 to 539 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 230 to 619 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 399 to 839 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 539 to 709 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 819 to 1398 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 FAT.

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

urgent B737 at 7,600 ft, 23 nm north, 8:22 pm PDT (03:22 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear 45 knots crosswind on final. 629 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HDN UUA /OV HDN/TM 0322/FL076/TP B737/RM LLWS 45 KTS CROSSWIND ON FINAL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through HDN
Where
over HDN
Time
03:22 UTC
Height
at 7,600 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
low-level wind shear 45 knots crosswind on final
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 34 nm north, 9:52 pm PDT (04:52 UTC): moderate turbulence, moderate rime icing, -15 °C, remarks: entered by zoa fdcs. 110 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TPH UA /OV OAL/TM 0452/FL 170/TP PC12/TA M15/TB MOD/IC MOD RIME/RM ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through TPH
Where
over OAL
Time
04:52 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−15 °C
Turbulence
moderate
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
entered by zoa fdcs
UAL2479 at 36,000 ft, 46 nm south, 8:11 pm PDT (03:11 UTC): no turbulence, wind 231° at 49 knots. 579 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2479 3910N 10753W 0311 F360 231/049KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
BE20 at 16,000 ft, 26 nm south, 8:28 pm PDT (03:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11. 589 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIL UA /OV RIL/TM 0328/FL160/TP BE20/TA M03/TB LGT CHOP/IC LGT RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIL
Where
over RIL
Time
03:28 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Temperature
−3 °C
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
light rime
Remarks
ZDVWC-11
B38M at 21,500 ft, 11 nm northwest, 9:33 pm PDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 699 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
Time
04:33 UTC
Height
at 21,500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light below 25,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
A320 descending, 44 nm south, 8:19 pm PDT (03:19 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. 729 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0319/FLDURD/TP A320/TB NEG BLO 100
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
03:19 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
no below 10,000 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (FAT, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, DEN, BFF, GRI, OMA, DSM, 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
5,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−20 kt	21 °C	140 kt	10 h 20 min	11:23 am CDT (16:23 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	−21 kt	11 °C	141 kt	10 h 16 min	11:19 am CDT (16:19 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 23 kt	−20 kt	8 °C	140 kt	10 h 20 min	11:23 am CDT (16:23 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−22 kt	4 °C	142 kt	10 h 11 min	11:14 am CDT (16:14 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−24 kt	-1 °C	144 kt	10 h 03 min	11:06 am CDT (16:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	−26 kt	-5 °C	146 kt	9 h 55 min	10:58 am CDT (15:58 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	−28 kt	-10 °C	148 kt	9 h 47 min	10:50 am CDT (15:50 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 33 kt	−29 kt	-11 °C	149 kt	9 h 43 min	10:46 am CDT (15:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 42 kt	−37 kt	-22 °C	157 kt	9 h 13 min	10:16 am CDT (15:16 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 49 kt	−45 kt	-31 °C	165 kt	8 h 46 min	9:49 am CDT (14:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 52 kt	−51 kt	-37 °C	171 kt	8 h 28 min	9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 51 kt	−51 kt	-46 °C	171 kt	8 h 28 min	9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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
FAT	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	130/16	160/20 5°	190/28 -1°	210/25 -5°	220/27 -15°	230/21 -26°	220/42 -29°	220/44 -35°	220/44 -44°
BIH	used from 50 nm out; 9 nm from the line		L/V	240/7 1°	190/13 -3°	200/26 -16°	210/43 -26°	220/54 -28°	220/51 -35°	220/47 -43°
ELY	used from 200 nm out; 74 nm from the line			200/39 3°	210/27 -2°	210/45 -15°	220/56 -24°	210/60 -28°	210/63 -34°	220/61 -43°
BCE	used from 299 nm out; 80 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
GJT	used from 449 nm out; 83 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°
DEN	used from 649 nm out; 70 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°
BFF	used from 799 nm out; 69 nm from the line		180/28	220/33 15°	210/31 7°	230/32 -9°	220/41 -21°	220/40 -33°	240/47 -36°	250/54 -46°
GRI	used from 898 nm out; 110 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
OMA	used from 1098 nm out; 31 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
DSM	used from 1198 nm out; 30 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
DBQ	used from 1298 nm out; 56 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -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
FAT Fresno, CA	departure	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	335 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)
BIH Bishop, CA	70 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	4,124 ft	05:56 UTC
FOM Fillmore, UT	369 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 12,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots, gusting to 14	10+ mi	12,000 ft	4,984 ft	05:55 UTC
PUC Price, UT	459 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	3,200 ft	5,957 ft	05:53 UTC
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	719 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,020 ft	05:56 UTC
GXY Greeley, CO	739 nm out, 8 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	4,696 ft	05:56 UTC
OGA Ogallala, NE	878 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the east (090°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	3,279 ft	05:55 UTC
TQE Tekamah, NE	1128 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	05:54 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	1238 nm out, 25 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	05:54 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	1328 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	02:52 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,957 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, 9:31 am CDT (14:31 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for FAT, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 FAT 6:26 pm PDT (01:26 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 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 Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Fresno Yosemite International, Chicago/Rockford International.