Plan a flight · Sun 10:27 pm CDT (03:27 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to City Of Colorado Springs Municipal MDW → COS

795 nautical miles (915 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 5:15 am MDT (11:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; COS is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 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: 374 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 W11W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Near the route, at the destination end.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120255
MKCW WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11W
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
CO NM
FROM 20WNW PUB-10ENE CIM-50WNW ABQ-30NNE DVC-20WNW PUB
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
```
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 248 to 716 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 99 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 70 nm of the route.

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

urgent B407 at 10,000 ft, 10 nm west, 9:13 pm CDT (02:13 UTC): moderate to severe turbulence. At the destination end, 10 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UUA /OV 10 W COS/TM 0213/FL100/TP B407/TB MDT-SEV
```
Report
an urgent report filed through COS
Where
10 west cos
Time
02:13 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
B407
Turbulence
mdt-sev
BE9L at 24,500 ft, 47 nm southwest, 9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (250°) of PUB
Time
02:21 UTC
Height
at 24,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Turbulence
occasional moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-41
B738 at 18,000 ft, 29 nm northwest, 9:02 pm CDT (02:02 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 18,000 ft to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-41. At the destination end, 29 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK270030/TM 0202/FL180/TP B738/TB MOD CHOP 180-250/RM DURC ZDVWC-41
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
30 nm west (270°) of BRK
Time
02:02 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate chop from 18,000 ft to 25,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-41
B39M at 35,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
A321 at 32,000 ft, 22 nm north, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 80 nm along the route, 22 nm north 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
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 17 nm north, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 169 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
CL60 at 33,000 ft, 3 nm north, 9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. At the destination end, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK080015/TM 0235/FL330/TP CL60/RM MTW +/-100FT ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm east (080°) of BRK
Time
02:35 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
CL60
Remarks
mtw +/-100FT zdvwc
E55P at 38,000 ft, 25 nm northwest, 8:23 pm CDT (01:23 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-05. At the destination end, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV FQF200040/TM 0123/FL380/TP E55P/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-05
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm south (200°) of FQF
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
E55P
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-05
GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 20 nm north, 7:48 pm CDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the destination end, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS340020/TM 0048/FL400/TP GLF6/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
20 nm north (340°) of COS
Time
00:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
B737 at 25,000 ft, 11 nm west, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): light rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-29. At the destination end, 11 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK242015/TM 0029/FL250/TP B737/SK TOP280/TA 00/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC ZDVWC-29
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm southwest (242°) of BRK
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
TOP280
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-29

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 (JOT, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB). 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	230° at 36 kt	+34 kt	21 °C	86 kt	9 h 15 min	6:42 am MDT (12:42 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 33 kt	+32 kt	17 °C	88 kt	9 h 02 min	6:29 am MDT (12:29 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+25 kt	12 °C	95 kt	8 h 22 min	5:49 am MDT (11:49 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+20 kt	9 °C	100 kt	7 h 57 min	5:24 am MDT (11:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 19 kt	+18 kt	5 °C	102 kt	7 h 48 min	5:15 am MDT (11:15 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 20 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	7 h 57 min	5:24 am MDT (11:24 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 22 kt	+22 kt	-4 °C	98 kt	8 h 07 min	5:34 am MDT (11:34 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 24 kt	+24 kt	-8 °C	96 kt	8 h 17 min	5:44 am MDT (11:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 31 kt	+31 kt	-20 °C	89 kt	8 h 56 min	6:23 am MDT (12:23 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 47 kt	+47 kt	-32 °C	73 kt	10 h 53 min	8:20 am MDT (14:20 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 55 kt	+56 kt	-39 °C	64 kt	12 h 25 min	9:52 am MDT (15:52 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 57 kt	+57 kt	-49 °C	63 kt	12 h 37 min	10:04 am MDT (16:04 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 14 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°
BRL	used from 99 nm out; 51 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°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 49 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
OMA	used from 298 nm out; 55 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
GRI	used from 447 nm out; 42 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
GLD	used from 547 nm out; 81 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
PUB	used from 745 nm out; 41 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°

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	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	712 ft	02:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	129 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	02:52 UTC
OOA Oskaloosa, IA	219 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	7 mi	none	840 ft	03:15 UTC
CNC Chariton, IA	258 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,050 ft	03:15 UTC
SDA Shenandoah, IA	348 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots	9 mi	none	971 ft	03:15 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	407 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	02:54 UTC
PHG Phillipsburg, KS	537 nm out, 19 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,910 ft	03:15 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS	596 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	2,706 ft	03:15 UTC
ITR Burlington, CO	676 nm out, 10 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	4,218 ft	02:53 UTC
LIC Limon, CO	745 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	5,374 ft	02:55 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, a broken layer at 16,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	16,000 ft	6,187 ft	8:54 pm MDT (02:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At COS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:15 am MDT (11:15 UTC)

Wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for COS

From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
At times between Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 25 knots, gusting to 35, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for MDW, the departure

From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 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

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

6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 15 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at COS 6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm MDT (00:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COS is before sunrise there (7:04 am MDT (13:04 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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, City Of Colorado Springs Municipal.