Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International to Chicago Midway International FLL → MDW
1,016 nautical miles (1,169 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 340°, about 346° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC). 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: 2,209 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: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 538 to 657 nm out.
- 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 route from 597 to 886 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 FLL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 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 9 forecast points nearest it (MIA, MLB, JAX, SAV, ATL, TYS, LOU, IND, 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 | 310° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 106 kt | 9 h 35 min | 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 15 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 52 min | 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 04 min | 8:33 am CDT (13:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 8 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 58 min | 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +17 kt | 5 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 52 min | 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 20 kt | +17 kt | 1 °C | 103 kt | 9 h 52 min | 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 22 kt | +16 kt | -3 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 46 min | 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 23 kt | +16 kt | -6 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 46 min | 8:15 am CDT (13:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 27 kt | +19 kt | -18 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 04 min | 8:33 am CDT (13:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 30 kt | +25 kt | -33 °C | 95 kt | 10 h 42 min | 9:11 am CDT (14:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 30 kt | +22 kt | -41 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 22 min | 8:51 am CDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 290° at 27 kt | +16 kt | -50 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 46 min | 8:15 am CDT (13:15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIA | used from 0 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 150/7 | 140/5 17° | 160/5 14° | L/V 9° | 230/8 -5° | 230/8 -17° | 150/11 -32° | 150/25 -41° | 180/29 -51° |
| MLB | used from 50 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 230/6 | 230/12 17° | 240/13 12° | 240/14 7° | 240/20 -5° | 240/24 -16° | 210/21 -32° | 190/33 -41° | 200/36 -52° |
| JAX | used from 199 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -52° |
| SAV | used from 348 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| ATL | used from 398 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| TYS | used from 548 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| LOU | used from 697 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| IND | used from 846 nm out; 12 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| JOT | used from 946 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLL Fort Lauderdale, FL | departure | no report just now | 65 ft | ||||
| BCT Boca Raton, FL | 20 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 12 ft | ||||
| SFB Orlando, FL | 169 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 54 ft | ||||
| VQQ Jacksonville, FL | 269 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 79 ft | ||||
| EZM Eastman, GA | 398 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 303 ft | ||||
| AHN Athens, GA | 498 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 812 ft | ||||
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 518 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,061 ft | ||||
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 617 nm out, 22 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 986 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | 777 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 500 ft | ||||
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 876 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 796 ft | ||||
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 926 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 605 ft | ||||
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | no report just now | 619 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 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, 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC)
MDW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 5/2809 Palm Beach, FL, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 20 October · ZMA
- 6/8900 Cape Canaveral, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZMA
- 6/8901 Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8896 Cape Canaveral, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts tomorrow · ZJX
- 6/8897 Cape Canaveral, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 6/8898 Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Thursday 15 October · ZMA
- 6/8899 Cape Canaveral, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 139 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts tomorrow · ZMA
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 20 nm from the route, 159 nm along the route · security · ZJX
- 6/8298 Daytona Beach, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, 189 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 259 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 269 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
Daylight
Sunset at FLL 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 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
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: Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International, Chicago Midway International.