Washington Dulles International to Chicago/Rockford International IAD → RFD
565 nautical miles (650 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 294°, about 304° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 11:44 pm CDT (04:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAD is IFR, wind from the north (360°) at 7 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 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: 161 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
- SIGMET E12E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC). Over the first 20 nm of the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112255 MKCE WST 112255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12E VALID UNTIL 0055Z NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ CSTL WTRS FROM 30WNW SAX-40ESE CYN-20SW DCA-50SSE JST-30WNW SAX AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24030KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- SIGMET E13E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 15 knots, until 8:55 pm EDT (00:55 UTC). Over the route from 129 to 208 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 112255 MKCE WST 112255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 13E VALID UNTIL 0055Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 30NNW AIR-30NNE RIC-60S RIC-30NW HMV-10ESE APE-30NNW AIR AREA TS MOV FROM 24015KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- 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 first 317 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 149 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 168 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 IAD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- C17 at 500 ft, 29 nm east, 7:42 pm EDT (23:42 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV RWY 1L ARR/TM 2342/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- runway 1L arrival
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- B738 at 7,000 ft, 30 nm northeast, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): overcast above 40,000 ft, remarks: top 6,500 ft. At the departure end, 30 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL280010/TM 2340/FL070/TP B738/SK OVC004/RM TOP 065
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 10 nm west (280°) of BAL
- Time
- 23:40 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- overcast from 400 ft
- Remarks
- top 6,500 ft
- CL60 at 500 ft, 14 nm south, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
HEF UA /OV KHEF150001/TM 2330/FL005/TP CL60/SK OVC005/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through HEF
- Where
- 1 nm southeast (150°) of KHEF
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- CL60 descending, 15 nm south, 7:30 pm EDT (23:30 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV HEF160001/TM 2330/FLDURD/TP CL60/SK OVC 005
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 1 nm south (160°) of HEF
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- CRJ9 at 7,000 ft, 11 nm east, 7:17 pm EDT (23:17 UTC): overcast from 500 ft to 7,200 ft. At the departure end, 11 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA320012/TM 2317/FL070/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 005 OVC TOPS 072
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- 12 nm northwest (320°) of DCA
- Time
- 23:17 UTC
- Height
- at 7,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- bases 500 ft overcast tops 7,200 ft
- B39M at 2,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): overcast above 700 ft. At the departure end, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML320005/TM 2303/FL020/TP B39M/SK BASES OVC 007
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 5 nm northwest (320°) of AML
- Time
- 23:03 UTC
- Height
- at 2,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Sky
- bases overcast at 700 ft
- B737 at 1,000 ft, 29 nm east, 6:47 pm EDT (22:47 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV 1L DEP/TM 2247/FL010/TP B737/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- 1L departure
- Time
- 22:47 UTC
- Height
- at 1,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
- B738 at 300 ft, 39 nm east, 6:29 pm EDT (22:29 UTC): a broken layer above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 39 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2229/FL003/TP B738/SK BKN003
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- at 300 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Sky
- a broken layer from 300 ft
- A319 descending, 0 nm northeast, 6:25 pm EDT (22:25 UTC): overcast above 700 ft, light rain. At the departure end, 0 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV RWY 1R/TM 2225/FLDURD/TP A319/SK OVC 007/WX 4SM W/ -RA
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- runway 1R
- Time
- 22:25 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- overcast from 700 ft
- Weather
- 4SM, west, light rain
- BE58 at 3,000 ft, 3 nm west, 6:22 pm EDT (22:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
IAD UA /OV AML300003/TM 2222/FL030/TP BE58/SK BASES009 OVC
- Report
- a routine report filed through IAD
- Where
- 3 nm northwest (300°) of AML
- Time
- 22:22 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE58
- Sky
- BASES009 overcast
- B38M at 3,000 ft, 41 nm east, 6:07 pm EDT (22:07 UTC): overcast above 30,000 ft. At the departure end, 41 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BAL150003/TM 2207/FL30/TP B38M/SK OVC003
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- 3 nm southeast (150°) of BAL
- Time
- 22:07 UTC
- Height
- at 3,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- overcast from 300 ft
- B737 at 400 ft, 39 nm east, 5:40 pm EDT (21:40 UTC): a broken layer above 40,000 ft. At the departure end, 39 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
BWI UA /OV BWI/TM 2140/FL004/TP B737/SK BKN004
- Report
- a routine report filed through BWI
- Where
- over BWI
- Time
- 21:40 UTC
- Height
- at 400 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 400 ft
- A319 descending, 20 nm east, 5:28 pm EDT (21:28 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV RWY 1 FINAL/TM 2128/FLDURD/TP A319/SK BASES 400 FT
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- runway 1 final
- Time
- 21:28 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A319
- Sky
- bases 40,000 ft ft
- B737 at 5,000 ft, 14 nm east, 5:24 pm EDT (21:24 UTC): overcast from 600 ft to 4,700 ft. At the departure end, 14 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
DCA UA /OV DCA 330010/TM 2124/FL050/TP B737/SK OVC 006 TOPS 047
- Report
- a routine report filed through DCA
- Where
- 10 nm northwest (330°) of DCA
- Time
- 21:24 UTC
- Height
- at 5,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- overcast from 600 ft, tops 4,700 ft
16 more routine reports are on the map.
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 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 5 forecast points nearest it (EKN, AGC, CMH, FWA, 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 9 kt | +8 kt | 13 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 03 min | 11:50 pm CDT (04:50 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 13 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 11 min | 11:58 pm CDT (04:58 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 340° at 12 kt | +9 kt | 10 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 05 min | 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 340° at 12 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 5 h | 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 350° at 12 kt | +6 kt | 2 °C | 114 kt | 4 h 57 min | 11:44 pm CDT (04:44 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 340° at 12 kt | +7 kt | -2 °C | 113 kt | 5 h | 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 330° at 12 kt | +9 kt | -7 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 05 min | 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 320° at 13 kt | +10 kt | -10 °C | 110 kt | 5 h 08 min | 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 18 kt | +17 kt | -21 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 29 min | 12:16 am CDT (05:16 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 26 kt | +25 kt | -35 °C | 95 kt | 5 h 57 min | 12:44 am CDT (05:44 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 31 kt | +29 kt | -41 °C | 91 kt | 6 h 13 min | 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 36 kt | +35 kt | -48 °C | 85 kt | 6 h 39 min | 1:26 am CDT (06:26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKN | used from 0 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| AGC | used from 99 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| CMH | used from 198 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 340/14 | 320/13 12° | 350/12 8° | 360/10 2° | 350/27 -10° | 340/20 -22° | 320/31 -35° | 270/25 -39° | 260/32 -48° |
| FWA | used from 297 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| JOT | used from 446 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAD Washington, DC | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (360°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 700 ft | 312 ft | 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC) |
| MRB Martinsburg, WV | 30 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 564 ft | 23:40 UTC |
| CBE Cumberland, MD | 69 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,000 feet Weather: mist | calm | 1.75 mi | 500 ft | 757 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 119 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,200 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 1,243 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| PHD New Philadelphia, OH | 208 nm out, 15 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 894 ft | 23:32 UTC |
| MFD Mansfield, OH | 258 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 700 ft | 1,297 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| OWX Ottawa, OH | 327 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 5 mi | 1,500 ft | 763 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 377 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 814 ft | 22:54 UTC |
| SBN South Bend, IN | 436 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 798 ft | 22:54 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | 505 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 22:51 UTC |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 525 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 758 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,297 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, 11:44 pm CDT (04:44 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 IAD, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 7 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility 2 miles, rain showers, mist, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,400 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,100 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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: Washington Dulles International, Chicago/Rockford International.