Chicago Midway International to Ontario International MDW → ONT
1,479 nautical miles (1,702 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 262°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 7:48 pm PDT (02:48 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; ONT is marginal VFR, wind calm. 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: 718 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 140 to 600 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 740 to 1199 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 750 to 840 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 790 to 1019 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 989 to 1279 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 440 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1169 to 1269 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 40 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
- A359 at 38,000 ft, 22 nm north, 5:13 am CDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 920 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
- Report
- a routine report filed through GUC
- Where
- 15 nm south (185°) of HBU
- Time
- 10:13 UTC
- Height
- at 38,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A359
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-37
- A333 descending, 0 nm southwest, 6:05 am CDT (11:05 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 7,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 26R. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT080/TM 1105/FLUNKN/TP A333/SK OVC015 - TOP070/RM DURD RY26R
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- ONT080
- Time
- 11:05 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 7,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 26R
- B744 at 1,700 ft, 41 nm west, 4:24 am CDT (09:24 UTC): a few clouds above 1,700 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L lax. At the destination end, 41 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 0924/FL017/TP B744/SK FEW017/RM DURD RY25L LAX
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAX
- Where
- over KLAX
- Time
- 09:24 UTC
- Height
- at 1,700 ft
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- a few clouds from 1,700 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 25L lax
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 13 forecast points nearest it (JOT, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS, ONT). 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 | 240° at 29 kt | +29 kt | 15 °C | 91 kt | 16 h 15 min | 8:39 pm PDT (03:39 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 15 °C | 94 kt | 15 h 44 min | 8:08 pm PDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 10 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 24 min | 7:48 pm PDT (02:48 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 6 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 34 min | 7:58 pm PDT (02:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 2 °C | 93 kt | 15 h 54 min | 8:18 pm PDT (03:18 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -2 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 26 min | 8:50 pm PDT (03:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -7 °C | 87 kt | 17 h | 9:24 pm PDT (04:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | +36 kt | -10 °C | 84 kt | 17 h 36 min | 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -21 °C | 71 kt | 20 h 50 min | 1:14 am PDT (08:14 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 63 kt | +63 kt | -31 °C | 57 kt | 25 h 57 min | 6:21 am PDT (13:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 68 kt | +70 kt | -37 °C | 50 kt | 29 h 35 min | 9:59 am PDT (16:59 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 63 kt | +65 kt | -47 °C | 55 kt | 26 h 53 min | 7:17 am PDT (14:17 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; 14 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° |
| BRL | used from 100 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| OMA | used from 300 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| GRI | used from 400 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| GLD | used from 550 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 750 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 260/45 11° | 240/38 6° | 230/47 -8° | 230/51 -19° | 240/74 -29° | 240/82 -35° | 250/72 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 850 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| FMN | used from 950 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| BCE | used from 1099 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1199 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| LAS | used from 1249 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 210/20 8° | 210/29 4° | 200/32 -3° | 200/51 -15° | 210/64 -21° | 220/70 -30° | 220/66 -38° | 220/55 -44° | |
| ONT | used from 1399 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 250/11 | 200/20 4° | 210/27 3° | 220/26 -4° | 240/32 -13° | 220/52 -21° | 220/67 -30° | 220/72 -37° | 220/65 -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 Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 619 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
| MLI Moline, IL | 130 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| AWG Washington, IA | 180 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| AFK Nebraska City, NE | 370 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,165 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| NRN Norton, KS | 560 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,384 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| ITR Burlington, CO | 680 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 14 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,218 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 800 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 999 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 5,917 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1319 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 707 ft | 11:10 UTC |
| SBD San Bernardino, CA | 1459 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,700 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,700 ft | 1,159 ft | 11:20 UTC |
| ONT Ontario, CA | destination | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | calm | 8 mi | 3,000 ft | 944 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 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 ONT when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:48 pm PDT (02:48 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ONT
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 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
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 1309 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at ONT 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ONT is after sunset there (6:20 pm PDT (01:20 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, Ontario International.