Chicago Midway International to Jackson Hole Airport MDW → JAC
1,017 nautical miles (1,170 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 284°, about 288° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 58 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 4:06 pm MDT (22:06 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; JAC is VFR, wind from the north (010°) 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 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 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 160 to 419 nm out.
- 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 route from 449 to 917 nm out.
- 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 748 to 788 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Near the route, 817 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 189 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 140 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
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 2 nm west, 6:35 am CDT (11:35 UTC): light chop turbulence above 32,000 ft. 259 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD075035/TM 1135/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 320/INTMT LGT CHOP 340
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 35 nm east (075°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:35 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop 320/INTMT light chop at 34,000 ft
- B38M at 32,000 ft, 5 nm northwest, 6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC): light chop turbulence. 349 nm along the route, 5 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FOD UA /OV FOD285060/TM 1145/FL320/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FOD
- Where
- 60 nm west (285°) of FOD
- Time
- 11:45 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop occasional moderate chop
- BE9L at 17,000 ft, 36 nm south, 4:42 am CDT (09:42 UTC): light rime icing from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 0 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 847 nm along the route, 36 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
CPR UA /OV DDY250025/TM 0942/FL170/TP BE9L/TA 00/IC LGT RIME 150-170/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through CPR
- Where
- 25 nm west (250°) of DDY
- Time
- 09:42 UTC
- Height
- at 17,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 15,000 ft to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- zdvwc
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 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 8 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, LND). 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 | 250° at 26 kt | +22 kt | 18 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 23 min | 4:31 pm MDT (22:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +21 kt | 17 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 16 min | 4:24 pm MDT (22:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 58 min | 4:06 pm MDT (22:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | +20 kt | 7 °C | 100 kt | 10 h 10 min | 4:18 pm MDT (22:18 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +22 kt | 3 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 23 min | 4:31 pm MDT (22:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +22 kt | -2 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 23 min | 4:31 pm MDT (22:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 240° at 27 kt | +21 kt | -7 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 16 min | 4:24 pm MDT (22:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 28 kt | +21 kt | -10 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 16 min | 4:24 pm MDT (22:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 35 kt | +27 kt | -22 °C | 93 kt | 10 h 56 min | 5:04 pm MDT (23:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | +35 kt | -34 °C | 85 kt | 11 h 58 min | 6:06 pm MDT (00:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 45 kt | +42 kt | -37 °C | 78 kt | 13 h 02 min | 7:10 pm MDT (01:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 51 kt | +50 kt | -46 °C | 70 kt | 14 h 32 min | 8:40 pm MDT (02:40 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; 23 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° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 62 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° |
| MCW | used from 199 nm out; 45 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° |
| FSD | used from 349 nm out; 47 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° |
| ONL | used from 449 nm out; 48 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° | |
| PIR | used from 548 nm out; 61 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° | |
| RAP | used from 598 nm out; 69 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° | |
| LND | used from 798 nm out; 118 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° |
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 | 6:53 am CDT (11:53 UTC) |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 20 nm out, 4 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 | 758 ft | 11:52 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 140 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 209 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| SXK Maurice, IA | 379 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| AGZ Wagner, SD | 469 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: drizzle, fog | from the north (350°) at 9 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 1,477 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 538 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (360°) at 9 knots | 1.75 mi | 200 ft | 2,032 ft | 12:05 UTC |
| HSR Hot Springs, SD | 698 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,150 ft | ||||
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 738 nm out, 19 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | 200 ft | 4,177 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| WRL Worland, WY | 897 nm out, 20 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,100 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | from the north (010°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 3,900 ft | 4,251 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| HSG Thermopolis, WY | 917 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,900 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 2,900 ft | 4,891 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 11,000 feet | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 6,451 ft | 5:56 am MDT (11:56 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 JAC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:06 pm MDT (22:06 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet VFR
30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for JAC
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at JAC 6:43 pm MDT (00:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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, Jackson Hole Airport.