Idaho Falls Regional to Chicago O'Hare International IDA → ORD
1,066 nautical miles (1,226 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 087°, about 075° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:20 am CDT (15:20 UTC). Right now IDA is marginal VFR, wind calm; ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 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: 337 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: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 617 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the first 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Near the route, 199 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: 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 219 to 368 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Near the route, 269 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 607 to 976 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 IDA.
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 08:00–15:00 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 9 forecast points nearest it (PIH, LND, RAP, PIR, ONL, FSD, MCW, 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 | 250° at 22 kt | −19 kt | 17 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 40 min | 11:44 am CDT (16:44 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −17 kt | 12 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 47 min | 11:51 am CDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −17 kt | 8 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 47 min | 11:51 am CDT (16:51 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −21 kt | 4 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | −21 kt | 0 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −21 kt | -9 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | −21 kt | -10 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 34 min | 11:38 am CDT (16:38 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 36 kt | −27 kt | -22 °C | 147 kt | 7 h 15 min | 11:19 am CDT (16:19 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 41 kt | −35 kt | -34 °C | 155 kt | 6 h 53 min | 10:57 am CDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 46 kt | −43 kt | -37 °C | 163 kt | 6 h 32 min | 10:36 am CDT (15:36 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 51 kt | −50 kt | -46 °C | 170 kt | 6 h 16 min | 10:20 am CDT (15:20 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIH | used from 0 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 070/8 | 150/19 1° | 180/32 -4° | 210/44 -17° | 210/37 -28° | 210/74 -31° | 220/68 -35° | 220/60 -43° | |
| LND | used from 50 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| RAP | used from 249 nm out; 121 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 448 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 230/15 15° | 220/22 14° | 220/24 6° | 200/32 -10° | 210/48 -22° | 240/45 -33° | 240/43 -37° | 250/55 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 548 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| FSD | used from 598 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 210/20 | 230/23 21° | 220/25 14° | 230/30 5° | 230/26 -9° | 240/30 -21° | 270/33 -36° | 260/47 -37° | 270/58 -47° |
| MCW | used from 747 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| DBQ | used from 896 nm out; 17 nm from the line | 250/27 | 260/23 17° | 240/26 10° | 260/30 4° | 280/26 -9° | 280/36 -21° | 270/41 -36° | 280/52 -41° | 290/67 -48° |
| JOT | used from 996 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/25 | 260/22 14° | 250/17 9° | 270/21 5° | 280/28 -8° | 280/36 -20° | 270/41 -35° | 280/57 -42° | 290/65 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDA Idaho Falls, ID | departure | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,400 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,400 ft | 4,743 ft | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
| JAC Jackson, WY | 60 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 6,451 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| HSG Thermopolis, WY | 159 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,200 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 4,891 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| CUT Custer, SD | 368 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 2.5 mi | none | 5,619 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 528 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 4 mi | 400 ft | 2,032 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 598 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (360°) at 7 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 1,477 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| SXK Maurice, IA | 697 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| HPT Hampton, IA | 827 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,176 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 936 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 1016 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 08:54 UTC |
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 680 ft | 3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,451 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, 10:20 am CDT (15:20 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ORD
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 IDA, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 900 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet and more above
- From Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 6 miles, mist, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
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 IDA 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 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
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: Idaho Falls Regional, Chicago O'Hare International.