Spokane International to Chicago Midway International GEG → MDW
1,309 nautical miles (1,507 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 094°, about 080° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:03 am CDT (15:03 UTC). Right now GEG is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 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: 171 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 ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 440 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 50 to 360 nm out.
- 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 route from 70 to 920 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 270 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 440 to 490 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 510 nm along the route.
- 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 1029 to 1199 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). Near the route, at the destination 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 GEG.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 13 forecast points nearest it (GEG, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, FSD, MCW, LSE, DBQ, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 190° at 9 kt | +1 kt | 4 °C | 119 kt | 11 h | 1:07 pm CDT (18:07 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 200° at 10 kt | 0 | 8 °C | 120 kt | 10 h 54 min | 1:01 pm CDT (18:01 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 12 kt | −2 kt | 4 °C | 122 kt | 10 h 44 min | 12:51 pm CDT (17:51 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | −6 kt | 1 °C | 126 kt | 10 h 23 min | 12:30 pm CDT (17:30 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | −9 kt | -2 °C | 129 kt | 10 h 09 min | 12:16 pm CDT (17:16 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −11 kt | -6 °C | 131 kt | 10 h | 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −14 kt | -10 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 46 min | 11:53 am CDT (16:53 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 24 kt | −15 kt | -11 °C | 135 kt | 9 h 42 min | 11:49 am CDT (16:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 29 kt | −17 kt | -22 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 33 min | 11:40 am CDT (16:40 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 34 kt | −20 kt | -36 °C | 140 kt | 9 h 21 min | 11:28 am CDT (16:28 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 45 kt | −35 kt | -41 °C | 155 kt | 8 h 27 min | 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 53 kt | −45 kt | -47 °C | 165 kt | 7 h 56 min | 10:03 am CDT (15:03 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEG | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 080/16 -2° | 050/17 -7° | 080/9 -10° | 190/33 -21° | 180/31 -32° | L/V -35° | L/V -37° | 270/8 -40° | |
| GPI | used from 100 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 070/19 -5° | 100/16 -7° | 080/10 -8° | 130/8 -19° | 170/37 -28° | 200/50 -40° | 210/43 -40° | 220/41 -42° | |
| GTF | used from 200 nm out; 32 nm from the line | 070/11 | 080/15 -7° | 110/19 -9° | 190/25 -14° | 200/34 -23° | 200/54 -39° | 220/66 -40° | 220/77 -44° | |
| BIL | used from 350 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 400 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| DIK | used from 550 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 150/24 7° | 200/38 6° | 220/53 0° | 230/51 -9° | 230/49 -21° | 240/37 -37° | 240/47 -44° | 250/65 -48° | |
| PIR | used from 650 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ABR | used from 750 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 070/14 | 250/10 17° | 270/16 11° | 260/28 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/41 -22° | 270/33 -37° | 260/42 -42° | 260/50 -48° |
| FSD | used from 850 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| MCW | used from 950 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| LSE | used from 1099 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| DBQ | used from 1149 nm out; 21 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° |
| JOT | used from 1249 nm out; 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEG Spokane, WA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 2,385 ft | 11:53 pm PDT (06:53 UTC) |
| THM Thompson Falls, MT | 90 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,467 ft | ||||
| GTF Great Falls, MT | 250 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light snow, mist | from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots | 5 mi | 1,200 ft | 3,680 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LWT Lewistown, MT | 330 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,170 ft | ||||
| MLS Miles City, MT | 480 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 2,634 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| LEM Lemmon, SD | 640 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,572 ft | ||||
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 720 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 600 ft | 1,716 ft | 06:59 UTC |
| BKX Brookings, SD | 880 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,647 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| JYG St James, MN | 980 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,067 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1169 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 1289 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 758 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,170 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, 10:03 am CDT (15:03 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- 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 24, 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 GEG, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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 GEG 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 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: Spokane International, Chicago Midway International.