Chicago Midway International to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport MDW → OAK
1,599 nautical miles (1,840 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 273°, about 277° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 57 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 11:37 am PDT (18:37 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: 1,001 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 2C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 789 to 799 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120255 MKCC WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2C VALID UNTIL 0455Z NE CO WY FROM 40SE CZI-30WNW BFF-30SSE LAR-70NW LAR-40SE CZI AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- SIGMET W12W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 1249 to 1379 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120255 MKCW WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12W VALID UNTIL 0455Z NV FROM 40SSE TWF-10W ELY-30SE OAL-30W OAL-70WSW TWF-40SSE TWF AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 240 to 649 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 659 to 1109 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 709 to 1109 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 789 to 1019 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 909 to 1409 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 929 to 1349 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 959 to 979 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1429 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 110 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
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 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 15 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF, DEN, RKS, SLC, ELY, BIH, RNO, SAC, SFO). 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 | 220° at 19 kt | +13 kt | 20 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 57 min | 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +13 kt | 15 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 57 min | 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +15 kt | 9 °C | 105 kt | 15 h 14 min | 11:54 am PDT (18:54 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 15 h 22 min | 12:02 pm PDT (19:02 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 1 °C | 102 kt | 15 h 41 min | 12:21 pm PDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +20 kt | -3 °C | 100 kt | 15 h 59 min | 12:39 pm PDT (19:39 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +22 kt | -8 °C | 98 kt | 16 h 19 min | 12:59 pm PDT (19:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | +24 kt | -11 °C | 96 kt | 16 h 39 min | 1:19 pm PDT (20:19 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 33 kt | +29 kt | -22 °C | 91 kt | 17 h 34 min | 2:14 pm PDT (21:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 41 kt | +36 kt | -31 °C | 84 kt | 19 h 02 min | 3:42 pm PDT (22:42 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 49 kt | +47 kt | -37 °C | 73 kt | 21 h 54 min | 6:34 pm PDT (01:34 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 50 kt | +51 kt | -46 °C | 69 kt | 23 h 10 min | 7:50 pm PDT (02:50 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; 18 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° |
| DBQ | used from 100 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 44 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 300 nm out; 50 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 450 nm out; 43 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° | |
| ONL | used from 500 nm out; 62 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 600 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 749 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 849 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 999 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 1149 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BIH | used from 1349 nm out; 97 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 1399 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1499 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| SFO | used from 1549 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -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 | no report just now | 619 ft | ||||
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 30 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 712 ft | ||||
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 180 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 869 ft | ||||
| BVN Albion, NE | 460 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,806 ft | ||||
| ODX Ord, NE | 500 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,070 ft | ||||
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 769 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,159 ft | ||||
| DWX Dixon, WY | 889 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | no report just now | 6,548 ft | ||||
| PVU Provo, UT | 1089 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,496 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 1239 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,259 ft | ||||
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 1389 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| SCK Stockton, CA | 1549 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 32 ft | ||||
| OAK Oakland, CA | destination | no report just now | 9 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,548 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At OAK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:37 am PDT (18:37 UTC)
OAK has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at OAK 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 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, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.
