Plan a flight · Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Blue Grass Airport MDW → LEX

268 nautical miles (308 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 146°, about 150° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:34 pm EDT (16:34 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots; LEX is IFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 3 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 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the last 20 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

B39M at 36,000 ft, 28 nm north, 8:18 am CDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
EMBRAER at 400 ft, 13 nm southwest, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): haze, remarks: ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft. 168 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1337/FL004/TP EMBRAER/WX HZ/RM ILS RWY 23 CEILING 004
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAK
Where
over KBAK
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 400 ft
Aircraft
EMBRAER
Weather
haze
Remarks
ils runway 23 ceiling at 400 ft
G280 at 200 ft, 13 nm southwest, 8:10 am CDT (13:10 UTC): fog, remarks: ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground. 168 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BAK UA /OV KBAK/TM 1310/FL002/TP G280/WX FG/RM ILS RWY 23 RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT AQUIRED AT 200 FEET AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BAK
Where
over KBAK
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
G280
Weather
fog
Remarks
ils runway 23 runway environment aquired at at 20,000 ft feet above ground
C25C , 46 nm northeast, 7:05 am CDT (12:05 UTC): remarks: hao arrival, had ground contact but no forward visibility. 198 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV HAO/TM 1205/FLDURD/TP C25C/WX NO FORWARD VIS/RM HAO ARRIVAL, HAD GROUND CONTACT BUT NO FORWARD VIS
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over HAO
Time
12:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C25C
Weather
no, forward, visibility
Remarks
hao arrival, had ground contact but no forward visibility
BCS3 climbing, 27 nm northeast, 9:18 am CDT (14:18 UTC): overcast from 20,000 ft to 500 ft. 218 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1418/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK OVC002 TOPS 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
14:18 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
overcast from 200 ft, tops 500 ft
E75S descending, 27 nm northeast, 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC): a broken layer above 20,000 ft, remarks: cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet. 218 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1350/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK BKN002/RM CVG ARRIVAL, RUNWAY INSIGHT AT 250 FEET
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:50 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
a broken layer from 200 ft
Remarks
cvg arrival, runway insight at at 25,000 ft feet
E75L descending, 27 nm northeast, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft. 218 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1338/FLDURD/TP E75L/SK VV001/RM RWY 18L ARRIVAL, PICKED UP APPROACH LIGHTS AT MINIMUMS, 001
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 18L arrival, picked up approach lights at minimums, at 100 ft
CRJ9 descending, 27 nm northeast, 8:21 am CDT (13:21 UTC): sky obscured, remarks: runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet. 218 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1321/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK VV001/RM RWY 18R ALS INSIGHT AT 150 FEET
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
13:21 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
Remarks
runway 18R als insight at at 15,000 ft feet
E75S at 100 ft, 27 nm northeast, 7:57 am CDT (12:57 UTC): sky obscured. 218 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1257/FL001/TP E75S/SK VV001
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
12:57 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
sky obscured from 100 ft
AC90 at 28,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 7:17 am CDT (12:17 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing. 218 nm along the route, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV IIU010030/TM 1217/FL280/TP AC90/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
30 nm north (010°) of IIU
Time
12:17 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
AC90
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Icing
none
B38M climbing, 27 nm northeast, 7:10 am CDT (12:10 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 218 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG/TM 1210/FLDURC/TP B38M/SK TOPS 005/WX 1/16SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
over CVG
Time
12:10 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
tops 500 ft
Weather
1/16SM
E170 at 26,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 9:17 am CDT (14:17 UTC): no turbulence. 248 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FLM220015/TM 1417/FL260/TP E170/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
15 nm southwest (220°) of FLM
Time
14:17 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
none
B739 at 17,000 ft, 9 nm southwest, 9:13 am CDT (14:13 UTC): remarks: clear and smooth. 248 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV FFT/TM 1413/FL170/TP B739/RM CLEAR AND SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over FFT
Time
14:13 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Remarks
clear and smooth
SR22 climbing, 3 nm south, 9:30 am CDT (14:30 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX180003/TM 1430/FLDURC/TP SR22/SK TOPS 017
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
3 nm south (180°) of LEX
Time
14:30 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
tops 1,700 ft

3 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 4 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, CVG, LOU). 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	250° at 20 kt	−5 kt		125 kt	2 h 09 min	1:09 pm EDT (17:09 UTC)
5,500 ft	260° at 20 kt	−6 kt		126 kt	2 h 08 min	1:08 pm EDT (17:08 UTC)
7,500 ft	260° at 22 kt	−9 kt	12 °C	129 kt	2 h 05 min	1:05 pm EDT (17:05 UTC)
9,500 ft	270° at 25 kt	−13 kt	8 °C	133 kt	2 h 01 min	1:01 pm EDT (17:01 UTC)
11,500 ft	280° at 28 kt	−21 kt	6 °C	141 kt	1 h 54 min	12:54 pm EDT (16:54 UTC)
13,500 ft	290° at 30 kt	−23 kt	2 °C	143 kt	1 h 52 min	12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC)
15,500 ft	290° at 30 kt	−23 kt	-2 °C	143 kt	1 h 52 min	12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 30 kt	−23 kt	-6 °C	143 kt	1 h 52 min	12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 30 kt	−23 kt	-7 °C	143 kt	1 h 52 min	12:52 pm EDT (16:52 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 38 kt	−27 kt	-20 °C	147 kt	1 h 49 min	12:49 pm EDT (16:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	280° at 45 kt	−30 kt	-35 °C	150 kt	1 h 47 min	12:47 pm EDT (16:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 52 kt	−42 kt	-38 °C	162 kt	1 h 39 min	12:39 pm EDT (16:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 57 kt	−51 kt	-47 °C	171 kt	1 h 34 min	12:34 pm EDT (16:34 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 33 nm from the line	230/30	250/26 16°	270/27 11°	280/34 5°	290/32 -8°	280/37 -21°	280/40 -36°	290/46 -37°	290/56 -47°
IND	used from 50 nm out; 67 nm from the line	260/18	250/20 15°	260/26 9°	290/28 5°	290/30 -7°	280/40 -20°	280/46 -35°	290/53 -38°	300/58 -47°
CVG	used from 198 nm out; 31 nm from the line	260/20	280/18 15°	270/19 8°	290/30 5°	280/31 -7°	290/37 -19°	280/46 -35°	290/55 -40°	310/57 -48°
LOU	used from 248 nm out; 45 nm from the line	260/17	270/15 15°	260/19 10°	280/27 5°	280/30 -7°	280/29 -18°	280/44 -34°	290/56 -39°	310/56 -48°

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 few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	20 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	596 ft	13:50 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	89 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	605 ft	14:54 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	99 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	810 ft	14:55 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	168 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	656 ft	14:45 UTC
OVO North Vernon, IN	188 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				757 ft
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	7 mi	500 ft	979 ft	10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 979 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:34 pm EDT (16:34 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for LEX

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility ¼ mile, fog, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, 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 25 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 LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 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, 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, Blue Grass Airport.