Plan a flight · Sun 9:36 pm CDT (02:36 UTC)

George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport to Chicago/Rockford International IAH → RFD

793 nautical miles (912 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 021°, about 018° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 20-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now IAH is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 8 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: 785 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 IAH.

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

B39M at 27,000 ft, 2 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zhu. At the departure end, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAH UA /OV IH340035/TM 0042/FL270/TP B39M/TB LT CHOP DURC/RM ZHU
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAH
Where
IH340035
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
lt chop during the climb
Remarks
zhu
CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 10 nm southeast, 7:10 pm CDT (00:10 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME20. 297 nm along the route, 10 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HOT UA /OV HOT/TM 0010/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB NEG/RM ZME20
```
Report
a routine report filed through HOT
Where
over HOT
Time
00:10 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME20
C750 at 43,000 ft, 38 nm southeast, 7:50 pm CDT (00:50 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence above 43,000 ft, remarks: zme. 347 nm along the route, 38 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LIT UA /OV LIT360025/TM 0050/FL430/TP C750/TB CONS LGT-MOD CHOP 430/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LIT
Where
25 nm north (360°) of LIT
Time
00:50 UTC
Height
at 43,000 ft
Aircraft
C750
Turbulence
continuous light to moderate chop at 43,000 ft
Remarks
zme
A321 at 32,000 ft, 12 nm west, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the destination end, 12 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence

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 10 forecast points nearest it (HOU, CLL, SHV, LIT, SGF, COU, STL, SPI, BRL, 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
3,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	−20 kt		140 kt	5 h 40 min	3:16 am CDT (08:16 UTC)
5,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	−19 kt		139 kt	5 h 42 min	3:18 am CDT (08:18 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	−17 kt	14 °C	137 kt	5 h 47 min	3:23 am CDT (08:23 UTC)
9,500 ft	250° at 19 kt	−13 kt	10 °C	133 kt	5 h 58 min	3:34 am CDT (08:34 UTC)
11,500 ft	250° at 15 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	6 h 09 min	3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC)
13,500 ft	260° at 15 kt	−8 kt	4 °C	128 kt	6 h 12 min	3:48 am CDT (08:48 UTC)
15,500 ft	260° at 16 kt	−9 kt	0 °C	129 kt	6 h 09 min	3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC)
17,500 ft	260° at 17 kt	−9 kt	-5 °C	129 kt	6 h 09 min	3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	260° at 17 kt	−9 kt	-6 °C	129 kt	6 h 09 min	3:45 am CDT (08:45 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	270° at 22 kt	−10 kt	-17 °C	130 kt	6 h 06 min	3:42 am CDT (08:42 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 32 kt	−3 kt	-31 °C	123 kt	6 h 27 min	4:03 am CDT (09:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 41 kt	−1 kt	-41 °C	121 kt	6 h 33 min	4:09 am CDT (09:09 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 44 kt	+4 kt	-52 °C	116 kt	6 h 50 min	4:26 am CDT (09:26 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
HOU	used from 0 nm out; 44 nm from the line	160/22	150/27 19°	180/16 14°	250/7 9°	270/10 -5°	270/16 -13°	310/23 -29°	310/26 -40°	330/20 -52°
CLL	used from 50 nm out; 86 nm from the line	170/22	170/26 18°	200/15 14°	240/13 8°	240/15 -5°	260/17 -13°	290/27 -29°	290/22 -40°	320/30 -51°
SHV	used from 99 nm out; 46 nm from the line	200/18	230/24 18°	230/24 12°	240/14 8°	260/12 -4°	240/11 -15°	300/31 -29°	300/32 -40°	300/36 -52°
LIT	used from 248 nm out; 66 nm from the line	220/21	230/17 16°	250/24 12°	260/15 7°	260/13 -5°	280/25 -16°	290/35 -30°	300/42 -40°	300/40 -52°
SGF	used from 396 nm out; 70 nm from the line	230/33	230/28 15°	250/20 13°	240/18 7°	250/20 -6°	250/24 -17°	280/42 -31°	280/49 -40°	290/46 -51°
COU	used from 495 nm out; 59 nm from the line	230/31	230/30 15°	260/16 11°	270/14 6°	260/24 -6°	270/27 -18°	270/37 -32°	280/49 -41°	290/56 -51°
STL	used from 545 nm out; 32 nm from the line	250/24	250/24 16°	260/23 9°	270/16 6°	260/25 -6°	270/29 -19°	290/34 -33°	290/48 -41°	290/54 -51°
SPI	used from 595 nm out; 48 nm from the line	220/21	250/23 16°	260/27 9°	270/14 6°	270/23 -7°	270/31 -19°	270/28 -33°	290/48 -42°	300/55 -52°
BRL	used from 694 nm out; 64 nm from the line	230/24	240/29 15°	290/16 10°	280/15 4°	260/23 -7°	260/32 -19°	260/36 -33°	280/48 -41°	280/59 -52°
JOT	used from 743 nm out; 55 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
IAH Houston, TX	departure	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	95 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
CXO Houston, TX	20 nm out, 11 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	244 ft	01:53 UTC
GGG Longview, TX	149 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	365 ft	01:53 UTC
TXK Texarkana, AR	218 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	389 ft	01:53 UTC
HOT Hot Springs, AR	297 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	540 ft	01:53 UTC
MPJ Morrilton, AR	337 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	no report just now				923 ft
BPK Mountain Home, AR	406 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	928 ft	01:53 UTC
TBN Fort Leonard Wood, MO	495 nm out, 23 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,159 ft	01:55 UTC
SUS St Louis, MO	575 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	463 ft	01:54 UTC
PIA Peoria, IL	694 nm out, 14 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	660 ft	01:54 UTC
RPJ Rochelle, IL	773 nm out, 9 nm east of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	780 ft	02:15 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,159 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, 3:16 am CDT (08:16 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 IAH, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 1:00 pm CDT (18:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers

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 IAH 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 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

Radar now, the southern Plains · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · 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: George Bush Intcntl/Houston Airport, Chicago/Rockford International.