Plan a flight · Mon 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Columbia Metro Airport MDW → CAE

566 nautical miles (651 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 144°, about 148° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:49 am EDT (14:49 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; CAE is VFR, wind from the west (280°) 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: 1 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 109 to 437 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 318 to 457 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 417 to 487 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 417 to 487 nm out.
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 467 to 467 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 MDW.

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

B739 at 36,000 ft, 42 nm southwest, 6:18 am CDT (11:18 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. 477 nm along the route, 42 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ODF065025/TM 1118/FL360/TP B739/TB MOD/RM ZTLFD 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm northeast (065°) of ODF
Time
11:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ztlfd 36
CRJ9 at 38,000 ft, 24 nm northeast, 6:06 am CDT (11:06 UTC): no turbulence. 50 nm along the route, 24 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXI UA /OV OXI/TM 1106/FL380/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXI
Where
over OXI
Time
11:06 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
A21N at 31,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 79 nm along the route, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAF
Where
over BVT
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B39M at 34,000 ft, 37 nm northeast, 6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC): no turbulence. 99 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUS UA /OV IWH/TM 1123/FL340/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUS
Where
over IWH
Time
11:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
E75S at 24,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC): light chop turbulence from 24,000 ft to 25,000 ft. 119 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MZZ UA /OV MZZ/TM 1107/FL240/TP E75S/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 250-240
```
Report
a routine report filed through MZZ
Where
over MZZ
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Turbulence
occasional light chop from 25,000 ft to 24,000 ft
B38M at 32,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC): light turbulence. 119 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MZZ UA /OV MZZ240015/TM 1103/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through MZZ
Where
15 nm southwest (240°) of MZZ
Time
11:03 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light
B737 at 100 ft, 20 nm northeast, 5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins. 218 nm along the route, 20 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1024/FL001/TP B737/SK VV001/RM RWY 36R ARRIVAL, BASES AT CAT 3 MINS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
10:24 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 36R arrival, bases at clear-air turbulence 3 mins
B739 climbing, 19 nm northeast, 5:19 am CDT (10:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 218 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 1 W CVG/TM 1019/FLDURC/TP B739/SK TOPS 011
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 west cvg
Time
10:19 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
tops 1,100 ft
B763 at 100 ft, 19 nm northeast, 4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: during the climb. 218 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270001/TM 0905/FL001/TP B763/SK VV001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
1 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
09:05 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
PC12 at 17,000 ft, 13 nm northeast, 6:01 am CDT (11:01 UTC): no turbulence, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: lil dark. 248 nm along the route, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK360035/TM 1101/FL170/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB NEG/RM LIL DARK
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
35 nm north (360°) of HYK
Time
11:01 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Remarks
lil dark
E170 at 100 ft, 10 nm southwest, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): remarks: in the clouds on rotation. 268 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 1011/FL001/TP E170/SK VV001-TOP013/RM IN THE CLOUDS ON ROTATION
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
in the clouds on rotation
E170 at 1,100 ft, 10 nm southwest, 5:11 am CDT (10:11 UTC): overcast from 1,100 ft to 1,300 ft, remarks: cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor. 268 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX /TM 1011 /FL011 /TP E170 /SK OVC011-TOP013 /RM CIG VV001/IN CLOUDS ON ROTATION -COR
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
10:11 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft, tops 1,300 ft
Remarks
cig VV001/IN clouds on rotation cor
CRJ7 at 5,000 ft, 7 nm west, 4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC): scattered clouds above 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 268 nm along the route, 7 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV HYK330010/TM 0937/FL050/TP CRJ7/SK SCT001/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
10 nm northwest (330°) of HYK
Time
09:37 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
scattered clouds from 100 ft
Remarks
during the climb
CRJ9 at 6,000 ft, 21 nm northeast, 5:10 am CDT (10:10 UTC): a broken layer from 4,600 ft to 5,800 ft. 407 nm along the route, 21 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TRI UA /OV BOOIE/TM 1010/FL060/TP CRJ9/SK BKN046-TOP058
```
Report
a routine report filed through TRI
Where
booie
Time
10:10 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
a broken layer from 4,600 ft, tops 5,800 ft

1 more routine reports are on the map.

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 6 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, CVG, TRI, GSP, CAE). 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	300° at 19 kt	−17 kt		137 kt	4 h 08 min	11:37 am EDT (15:37 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 19 kt	−19 kt	11 °C	139 kt	4 h 04 min	11:33 am EDT (15:33 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	−20 kt	11 °C	140 kt	4 h 03 min	11:32 am EDT (15:32 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 21 kt	−21 kt	8 °C	141 kt	4 h 01 min	11:30 am EDT (15:30 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 22 kt	−22 kt	6 °C	142 kt	3 h 59 min	11:28 am EDT (15:28 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 24 kt	−24 kt	2 °C	144 kt	3 h 56 min	11:25 am EDT (15:25 UTC)
15,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	−27 kt	-2 °C	147 kt	3 h 51 min	11:20 am EDT (15:20 UTC)
17,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	−29 kt	-6 °C	149 kt	3 h 48 min	11:17 am EDT (15:17 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	320° at 30 kt	−30 kt	-7 °C	150 kt	3 h 46 min	11:15 am EDT (15:15 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-19 °C	153 kt	3 h 42 min	11:11 am EDT (15:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 39 kt	−39 kt	-33 °C	159 kt	3 h 34 min	11:03 am EDT (15:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 50 kt	−50 kt	-42 °C	170 kt	3 h 20 min	10:49 am EDT (14:49 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 48 kt	−45 kt	-50 °C	165 kt	3 h 26 min	10:55 am EDT (14:55 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 34 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°
IND	used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
CVG	used from 199 nm out; 23 nm from the line	300/19	310/23 15°	320/20 9°	310/18 3°	300/26 -6°	290/36 -19°	310/32 -34°	310/53 -43°	310/61 -51°
TRI	used from 298 nm out; 85 nm from the line		340/25 11°	350/37 9°	350/34 6°	340/39 -7°	340/43 -19°	340/55 -32°	330/58 -42°	320/37 -50°
GSP	used from 447 nm out; 23 nm from the line	340/30	360/24 13°	350/29 10°	340/33 6°	340/40 -7°	350/44 -19°	340/59 -31°	350/55 -41°	300/29 -50°
CAE	used from 546 nm out; 10 nm from the line	340/17	330/15 12°	320/22 9°	320/31 5°	330/35 -7°	320/33 -19°	340/40 -32°	350/43 -39°	320/35 -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
MDW Chicago, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	619 ft	5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC)
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	20 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	10:50 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	89 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	10:54 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	139 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	796 ft	10:54 UTC
CVG Covington, KY	218 nm out, 22 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 100 feet Weather: fog	from the south (190°) at 4 knots	0.06 mi	100 ft	896 ft	11:17 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	268 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	979 ft	11:23 UTC
RGA Richmond, KY	298 nm out, 12 nm west of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the southwest (220°) at 3 knots	4 mi	200 ft	1,002 ft	11:15 UTC
RVN Rogersville, TN	387 nm out, 9 nm east of the line	no report just now				1,254 ft
GCY Greeneville, TN	407 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	500 ft	1,607 ft	11:15 UTC
AVL Asheville, NC	457 nm out, 12 nm west of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	variable at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	2,163 ft	11:17 UTC
EOE Newberry, SC	536 nm out, 11 nm west of the line	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	570 ft	11:15 UTC
CAE Columbia, SC	destination	VFR	from the west (280°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	235 ft	6:56 am EDT (10:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,163 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CAE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:49 am EDT (14:49 UTC)

Wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CAE

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for MDW, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 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 south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

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

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 218 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at CAE 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:19 pm EDT (23:19 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower 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: Chicago Midway International, Columbia Metro Airport.