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 10:33 pm PDT (05:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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 290 to 470 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 700 to 1219 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 780 to 969 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 910 to 1289 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 989 to 1229 nm out.
- 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 1179 to 1269 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 1219 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the last 70 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 50 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 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 | 11:24 pm PDT (06:24 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 15 °C | 94 kt | 15 h 44 min | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 10 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 24 min | 10:33 pm PDT (05:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 6 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 34 min | 10:43 pm PDT (05:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 2 °C | 93 kt | 15 h 54 min | 11:03 pm PDT (06:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -2 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 26 min | 11:35 pm PDT (06:35 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -7 °C | 87 kt | 17 h | 12:09 am PDT (07:09 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | +36 kt | -10 °C | 84 kt | 17 h 36 min | 12:45 am PDT (07:45 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 51 kt | +49 kt | -21 °C | 71 kt | 20 h 50 min | 3:59 am PDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 63 kt | +63 kt | -31 °C | 57 kt | 25 h 57 min | 9:06 am PDT (16:06 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 68 kt | +70 kt | -37 °C | 50 kt | 29 h 35 min | 12:44 pm PDT (19:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 63 kt | +65 kt | -47 °C | 55 kt | 26 h 53 min | 10:02 am PDT (17:02 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 | no report just now | 619 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 130 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| AWG Washington, IA | 180 nm out, 1 nm east of the line | no report just now | 754 ft | ||||
| AFK Nebraska City, NE | 370 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,165 ft | ||||
| NRN Norton, KS | 560 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 2,384 ft | ||||
| ITR Burlington, CO | 680 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 4,218 ft | ||||
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 800 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,187 ft | ||||
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 999 nm out, 4 nm south of the line | no report just now | 5,917 ft | ||||
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1319 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 707 ft | ||||
| SBD San Bernardino, CA | 1459 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,159 ft | ||||
| ONT Ontario, CA | destination | no report just now | 944 ft |
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, 10:33 pm PDT (05:33 UTC)
ONT has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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.