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

Spokane International to Chicago O'Hare International GEG → ORD

1,298 nautical miles (1,494 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 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC). Right now GEG is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (190°) 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: 1,400 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 439 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 60 to 359 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 919 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 449 to 489 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Near the route, 509 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 1039 to 1198 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 GEG.

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

CL30 at 4,200 ft, 30 nm south, 8:16 pm PDT (03:16 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,200 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 140 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0316/FL042/TP CL30/SK OVC042/WX 2 1/2SM/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
03:16 UTC
Height
at 4,200 ft
Aircraft
CL30
Sky
overcast from 4,200 ft
Weather
2, 1/2SM
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
A321 at 16,500 ft, 36 nm northeast, 8:25 pm PDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 989 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSP
Where
40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
Time
03:25 UTC
Height
at 16,500 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
during the climb

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 14 forecast points nearest it (GEG, GPI, GTF, BIL, MLS, DIK, PIR, ABR, FSD, MSP, 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	10 h 54 min	11:57 am CDT (16:57 UTC)
7,500 ft	200° at 10 kt	0	8 °C	120 kt	10 h 49 min	11:52 am CDT (16:52 UTC)
9,500 ft	210° at 12 kt	−2 kt	4 °C	122 kt	10 h 38 min	11:41 am CDT (16:41 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 17 kt	−6 kt	1 °C	126 kt	10 h 18 min	11:21 am CDT (16:21 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 19 kt	−9 kt	-3 °C	129 kt	10 h 04 min	11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	−12 kt	-6 °C	132 kt	9 h 50 min	10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−15 kt	-10 °C	135 kt	9 h 37 min	10:40 am CDT (15:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 24 kt	−15 kt	-11 °C	135 kt	9 h 37 min	10:40 am CDT (15:40 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 29 kt	−17 kt	-22 °C	137 kt	9 h 28 min	10:31 am CDT (15:31 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 35 kt	−21 kt	-36 °C	141 kt	9 h 12 min	10:15 am CDT (15:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 45 kt	−34 kt	-41 °C	154 kt	8 h 26 min	9:29 am CDT (14:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 53 kt	−45 kt	-47 °C	165 kt	7 h 52 min	8:55 am CDT (13:55 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; 31 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 349 nm out; 60 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 399 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 549 nm out; 57 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 649 nm out; 90 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 749 nm out; 34 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 849 nm out; 65 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°
MSP	used from 949 nm out; 80 nm from the line	230/26	240/30 17°	240/24 12°	250/22 5°	250/35 -10°	260/36 -21°	250/41 -36°	250/49 -45°	260/58 -52°
MCW	used from 999 nm out; 40 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 1098 nm out; 45 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 1148 nm out; 28 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 1248 nm out; 40 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 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	2,385 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)
THM Thompson Falls, MT	90 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,467 ft
GTF Great Falls, MT	250 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the north (360°) at 10 knots	3 mi	800 ft	3,680 ft	05:53 UTC
LWT Lewistown, MT	330 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	no report just now				4,170 ft
MLS Miles City, MT	479 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	2,634 ft	05:53 UTC
HEI Hettinger, ND	619 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet	from the east (080°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25	7 mi	500 ft	2,705 ft	05:53 UTC
MBG Mobridge, SD	719 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 8 knots	3 mi	600 ft	1,716 ft	05:52 UTC
ATY Watertown, SD	859 nm out, 11 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots	0.5 mi	200 ft	1,749 ft	06:00 UTC
JYG St James, MN	979 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,067 ft	05:55 UTC
AEL Albert Lea, MN	1039 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 20,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	1,261 ft	05:55 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	1248 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	05:54 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	12:51 am CDT (05:51 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 ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:55 am CDT (13:55 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for ORD

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 6:08 pm PDT (01:08 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 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 Northwest · loop National Weather Service

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: Spokane International, Chicago O'Hare International.