Chicago Midway International to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International MDW → FLL
1,016 nautical miles (1,169 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 156°, about 160° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 03 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:18 am EDT (12:18 UTC). 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: 2,209 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 80 to 418 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 358 to 458 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 418 to 428 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the route from 458 to 538 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
Not fetched just now.
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 9 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, LOU, TYS, ATL, SAV, JAX, MLB, MIA). 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 15 kt | −12 kt | 132 kt | 7 h 42 min | 8:57 am EDT (12:57 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | −15 kt | 135 kt | 7 h 32 min | 8:47 am EDT (12:47 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 13 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 25 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 10 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 19 min | 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 7 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 25 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −17 kt | 3 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 25 min | 8:40 am EDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 21 kt | −16 kt | -1 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 28 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 290° at 22 kt | −16 kt | -5 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 28 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 290° at 23 kt | −16 kt | -6 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 28 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 26 kt | −19 kt | -18 °C | 139 kt | 7 h 19 min | 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 29 kt | −24 kt | -33 °C | 144 kt | 7 h 03 min | 8:18 am EDT (12:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 29 kt | −21 kt | -41 °C | 141 kt | 7 h 12 min | 8:27 am EDT (12:27 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 27 kt | −16 kt | -50 °C | 136 kt | 7 h 28 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 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; 30 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° |
| IND | used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 290/16 | 310/20 16° | 320/21 10° | 330/13 3° | 300/25 -7° | 320/32 -19° | 330/46 -34° | 320/61 -43° | 320/63 -50° |
| LOU | used from 199 nm out; 11 nm from the line | 310/18 | 340/28 16° | 340/29 10° | 350/27 3° | 330/27 -7° | 340/39 -19° | 330/58 -33° | 330/67 -41° | 330/40 -49° |
| TYS | used from 299 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| ATL | used from 448 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 320/30 | 330/37 16° | 340/44 11° | 330/35 7° | 310/33 -6° | 300/38 -18° | 330/58 -33° | 330/48 -40° | 320/34 -49° |
| SAV | used from 597 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 280/23 | 300/22 14° | 290/27 11° | 270/31 6° | 260/36 -5° | 260/38 -17° | 240/49 -32° | 230/68 -40° | 230/59 -51° |
| JAX | used from 647 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 290/14 | 300/16 17° | 280/22 14° | 280/24 8° | 250/32 -6° | 250/37 -17° | 230/50 -31° | 220/52 -41° | 220/51 -52° |
| MLB | used from 797 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 230/6 | 230/12 17° | 240/13 12° | 240/14 7° | 240/20 -5° | 240/24 -16° | 210/21 -32° | 190/33 -41° | 200/36 -52° |
| MIA | used from 946 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 150/7 | 140/5 17° | 160/5 14° | L/V 9° | 230/8 -5° | 230/8 -17° | 150/11 -32° | 150/25 -41° | 180/29 -51° |
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 | no report just now | 619 ft | ||||
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 90 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 605 ft | ||||
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 139 nm out, 11 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 796 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | 239 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 500 ft | ||||
| TYS Knoxville, TN | 398 nm out, 22 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 986 ft | ||||
| LZU Lawrenceville, GA | 498 nm out, 17 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,061 ft | ||||
| AHN Athens, GA | 518 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 812 ft | ||||
| EZM Eastman, GA | 617 nm out, 17 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 303 ft | ||||
| VQQ Jacksonville, FL | 747 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 79 ft | ||||
| SFB Orlando, FL | 846 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 54 ft | ||||
| BCT Boca Raton, FL | 996 nm out, 9 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 12 ft | ||||
| FLL Fort Lauderdale, FL | destination | no report just now | 65 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,061 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FLL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:18 am EDT (12:18 UTC)
FLL has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8902 MAYPORT, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 through Saturday, October 17, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 747 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZJX
- 6/8389 Jacksonville, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 757 nm along the route · air shows/sports · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8298 Daytona Beach, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, 826 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 4/3634 DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO, FL 20 nm from the route, 856 nm along the route · security · ZJX
- 6/8900 Cape Canaveral, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 876 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZMA
- 6/8901 Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 876 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Thursday 15 October · ZJX
- 6/8896 Cape Canaveral, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 876 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts tomorrow · ZJX
- 6/8897 Cape Canaveral, FL, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 876 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZJX
- 6/8898 Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 15, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 876 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts Thursday 15 October · ZMA
- 6/8899 Cape Canaveral, FL, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 876 nm along the route · a rocket launch or re-entry · starts tomorrow · ZMA
- 5/2809 Palm Beach, FL, Monday, October 20, 2025 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 20 October · ZMA
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at FLL 6:55 pm EDT (22:55 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
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, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International.