Plan a flight · Mon 1:44 am EDT (05:44 UTC)

Laguardia Airport to Chicago Midway International LGA → MDW

628 nautical miles (723 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 280°, about 292° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 36 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LGA is IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 11 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 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: 4,535 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 E19E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 43,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am EDT (06:55 UTC). Over the first 20 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120455
MKCE WST 120455
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 19E
VALID UNTIL 0655Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS
FROM 20NNW HTO-70SSE HTO-90SE SIE-20WNW LYH-40ESE AIR-20NNW HTO
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL430.

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 599 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 209 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 259 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 LGA.

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

A321 at 700 ft, 10 nm south, 10:46 pm EDT (02:46 UTC): overcast above 700 ft. At the departure end, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JFK UA /OV KJFK225002/TM 0246/FL007/TP A321/SK OVC007
```
Report
a routine report filed through JFK
Where
2 nm southwest (225°) of KJFK
Time
02:46 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
overcast from 700 ft
A320 descending, 35 nm east, 10:45 pm EDT (02:45 UTC): remarks: final runway 24. At the departure end, 35 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ISP UA /OV ISP/TM 0245/FLDURD/TP A320/SK BCN007/RM FINAL RY24
```
Report
a routine report filed through ISP
Where
over ISP
Time
02:45 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
BCN007
Remarks
final runway 24
GA6C descending, 39 nm north, 12:32 am EDT (04:32 UTC): overcast above 1,000 ft, remarks: bases OVC010. At the departure end, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SWF UA /OV SWF 270005/TM 0432/FLDURD/TP GA6C/SK OVC010/RM BASES OVC010
```
Report
a routine report filed through SWF
Where
5 nm west (270°) of SWF
Time
04:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
GA6C
Sky
overcast from 1,000 ft
Remarks
bases OVC010
B739 descending, 34 nm north, 12:54 am EDT (04:54 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 429 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0454/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BASES 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
04:54 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
bases 1,100 ft
A320 descending, 34 nm north, 11:27 pm EDT (03:27 UTC): overcast above 1,400 ft. 429 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0327/FLDURD/TP A320/SK 014 OVC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
03:27 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
at 1,400 ft overcast
B738 at 1,800 ft, 6 nm southwest, 1:18 am EDT (05:18 UTC): overcast from 1,800 ft to 2,700 ft, remarks: during the climb. 449 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0518/FL018/TP B738/SK OVC018-TOP027/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
05:18 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft, tops 2,700 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 1,300 ft, 6 nm southwest, 12:45 am EDT (04:45 UTC): overcast from 1,300 ft to 3,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 449 nm along the route, 6 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV KTOL/TM 0445/FL013/TP B738/SK OVC013-TOP030/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over KTOL
Time
04:45 UTC
Height
at 1,300 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
overcast from 1,300 ft, tops 3,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
LJ45 at 10,000 ft, 30 nm south, 12:31 am EDT (04:31 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14. 529 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV OLK/TM 0431/FL100/TP LJ45/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM GROUND FOG AT FWA. FV10SM ON FINAL RY 14
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over OLK
Time
04:31 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
LJ45
Sky
clear
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
ground fog at fwa FV10SM on final runway 14

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 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 7 forecast points nearest it (JFK, AVP, PSB, AGC, CLE, 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	320° at 10 kt	+8 kt	13 °C	112 kt	5 h 36 min	6:20 am CDT (11:20 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 13 kt	+9 kt	12 °C	111 kt	5 h 39 min	6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC)
8,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	+11 kt	9 °C	109 kt	5 h 46 min	6:30 am CDT (11:30 UTC)
10,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	+11 kt	6 °C	109 kt	5 h 46 min	6:30 am CDT (11:30 UTC)
12,500 ft	300° at 12 kt	+11 kt	2 °C	109 kt	5 h 46 min	6:30 am CDT (11:30 UTC)
14,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	+13 kt	-2 °C	107 kt	5 h 52 min	6:36 am CDT (11:36 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 18 kt	+16 kt	-6 °C	104 kt	6 h 02 min	6:46 am CDT (11:46 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 20 kt	+18 kt	-10 °C	102 kt	6 h 09 min	6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 25 kt	+23 kt	-21 °C	97 kt	6 h 28 min	7:12 am CDT (12:12 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 33 kt	+30 kt	-36 °C	90 kt	6 h 59 min	7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 41 kt	+39 kt	-42 °C	81 kt	7 h 45 min	8:29 am CDT (13:29 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 42 kt	+39 kt	-49 °C	81 kt	7 h 45 min	8:29 am CDT (13:29 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
JFK	used from 0 nm out; 31 nm from the line	250/18	250/23 14°	240/33 9°	240/33 4°	240/38 -10°	240/45 -21°	230/86 -32°	230/102 -40°	230/84 -51°
AVP	used from 50 nm out; 24 nm from the line	150/5	350/13 12°	270/20 8°	260/17 4°	260/25 -11°	240/31 -22°	240/54 -35°	230/61 -41°	240/55 -49°
PSB	used from 150 nm out; 27 nm from the line		360/13 13°	330/14 7°	300/11 3°	290/12 -11°	240/23 -23°	270/25 -36°	250/34 -40°	250/45 -48°
AGC	used from 249 nm out; 64 nm from the line	350/14	330/20 11°	340/18 8°	330/17 3°	340/22 -11°	340/31 -22°	330/33 -36°	300/34 -41°	300/35 -47°
CLE	used from 299 nm out; 40 nm from the line	340/7	010/16 13°	350/18 8°	350/20 3°	340/31 -10°	340/46 -21°	340/54 -37°	330/62 -44°	340/65 -49°
FWA	used from 449 nm out; 59 nm from the line	300/17	320/20 16°	330/20 10°	340/15 3°	310/27 -8°	320/37 -20°	330/52 -36°	330/65 -43°	330/60 -50°
JOT	used from 549 nm out; 75 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
LGA New York, NY	departure	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet	from the north (010°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	20 ft	12:51 am EDT (04:51 UTC)
CDW Caldwell, NJ	20 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,900 ft	172 ft	05:07 UTC
ABE Allentown, PA	70 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	2,000 ft	393 ft	04:51 UTC
IPT Williamsport, PA	140 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,000 ft	528 ft	04:54 UTC
OYM St Marys, PA	209 nm out, 7 nm north of the line	no report just now				1,934 ft
YNG Youngstown/Warren, OH	309 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,500 ft	1,191 ft	04:51 UTC
CGF Cleveland, OH	349 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 3,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	3,000 ft	876 ft	02:46 UTC
PCW Port Clinton, OH	409 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 500 feet, scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	8 mi	1,500 ft	590 ft	05:35 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	449 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	7 mi	1,500 ft	683 ft	05:09 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	549 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	4 mi	none	777 ft	05:35 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	569 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	798 ft	04:54 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,934 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, 6:20 am CDT (11:20 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 LGA, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a few clouds at 15,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

5/2811 NEW YORK, NY, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 20 October · ZNY
6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 289 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 309 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, 309 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at LGA 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is before sunrise there (6:59 am CDT (11:59 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Laguardia Airport, Chicago Midway International.