Plan a flight · Mon 1:30 am CDT (06:30 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Portland International MDW → PDX

1,518 nautical miles (1,747 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 291°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 12:09 pm PDT (19:09 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots; PDX is 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: 1,356 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 C11C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 639 to 709 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 120555
MKCC WST 120555
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11C
VALID UNTIL 0755Z
SD WY
FROM 60WNW DPR-20SSE DPR-40SSW RAP-60W RAP-60WNW DPR
DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
```
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
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 110 to 310 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 429 to 1238 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 719 to 849 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 769 to 839 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 779 to 899 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 809 to 959 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 899 to 1348 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 969 to 1418 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 1058 to 1248 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 180 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

E73L descending, 13 nm north, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 1038 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E73L
Remarks
breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
B737 , 13 nm north, 12:31 am CDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. 1038 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
05:31 UTC
Height
at BURD
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
GLF5 descending, 13 nm north, 10:46 pm CDT (03:46 UTC): remarks: broke out 100-150FT above ground. 1038 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0346/FLDURD/TP GLF5/RM BROKE OUT 100-150FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
03:46 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
GLF5
Remarks
broke out 100-150FT above ground
E75L at 1,500 ft, 32 nm north, 11:49 pm CDT (04:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final. 1368 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSC UA /OV PSC120003/TM 0449/FL015/TP E75L/RM LLWS LOSS OF 8 KTS ON FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSC
Where
3 nm southeast (120°) of PSC
Time
04:49 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear loss of 8 knots on final
E75L descending, 4 nm east, 11:35 pm CDT (04:35 UTC): light turbulence from 11,000 ft to 14,000 ft, light rime icing from 8,000 ft to 12,000 ft, -10 °C. 1368 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GEG UA /OV PDT/TM 0435/FLDURD/TP E75L/TA M10/TB LT TURB 140-110/IC LT RIME 120-080
```
Report
a routine report filed through GEG
Where
over PDT
Time
04:35 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75L
Temperature
−10 °C
Turbulence
lt turbulence from 14,000 ft to 11,000 ft
Icing
lt rime from 12,000 ft to 8,000 ft

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 12 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL, DLN, LWS, YKM, PDX). 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	200° at 11 kt	0	12 °C	120 kt	12 h 39 min	12:09 pm PDT (19:09 UTC)
6,500 ft	210° at 10 kt	+2 kt	10 °C	118 kt	12 h 52 min	12:22 pm PDT (19:22 UTC)
8,500 ft	210° at 8 kt	+2 kt	5 °C	118 kt	12 h 52 min	12:22 pm PDT (19:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 12 kt	+5 kt	2 °C	115 kt	13 h 12 min	12:42 pm PDT (19:42 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 16 kt	+9 kt	-1 °C	111 kt	13 h 41 min	1:11 pm PDT (20:11 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 17 kt	+10 kt	-5 °C	110 kt	13 h 48 min	1:18 pm PDT (20:18 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	+11 kt	-9 °C	109 kt	13 h 56 min	1:26 pm PDT (20:26 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 18 kt	+12 kt	-12 °C	108 kt	14 h 03 min	1:33 pm PDT (20:33 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 22 kt	+15 kt	-23 °C	105 kt	14 h 27 min	1:57 pm PDT (20:57 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 30 kt	+21 kt	-35 °C	99 kt	15 h 20 min	2:50 pm PDT (21:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 41 kt	+35 kt	-40 °C	85 kt	17 h 52 min	5:22 pm PDT (00:22 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 48 kt	+43 kt	-46 °C	77 kt	19 h 43 min	7:13 pm PDT (02:13 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; 25 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 50 nm out; 62 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°
MCW	used from 200 nm out; 36 nm from the line	220/44	250/30 17°	230/14 12°	240/17 6°	250/22 -8°	270/29 -20°	250/34 -34°	260/52 -43°	260/59 -51°
FSD	used from 349 nm out; 40 nm from the line	190/9	230/30 18°	240/23 13°	240/20 6°	260/22 -9°	250/31 -21°	250/43 -36°	260/49 -43°	270/53 -47°
PIR	used from 499 nm out; 47 nm from the line		170/22 19°	190/25 13°	210/32 6°	240/23 -9°	250/32 -21°	250/38 -36°	260/44 -40°	260/52 -47°
RAP	used from 649 nm out; 48 nm from the line		180/23 12°	200/38 13°	210/38 6°	220/28 -10°	230/34 -21°	230/37 -36°	250/52 -38°	250/59 -46°
MLS	used from 749 nm out; 91 nm from the line		150/23 2°	190/29 4°	210/44 2°	220/32 -10°	210/36 -21°	200/48 -37°	230/63 -40°	240/71 -47°
BIL	used from 849 nm out; 61 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
DLN	used from 999 nm out; 75 nm from the line			090/6 -6°	240/22 -4°	210/34 -16°	210/62 -25°	210/66 -34°	210/82 -36°	220/77 -42°
LWS	used from 1198 nm out; 72 nm from the line	070/10	080/12 -2°	030/12 -6°	080/7 -10°	170/34 -21°	160/46 -32°	200/33 -35°	220/22 -35°	230/18 -38°
YKM	used from 1348 nm out; 78 nm from the line	070/10	040/15 -1°	020/27 -8°	030/25 -13°	020/48 -20°	010/83 -27°	010/77 -37°	010/49 -40°	350/14 -41°
PDX	used from 1448 nm out; 45 nm from the line	L/V	030/7 1°	020/12 -6°	020/29 -9°	010/69 -16°	010/81 -25°	360/83 -40°	360/67 -46°	320/29 -42°

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: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	20 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	05:52 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	210 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	05:54 UTC
FSD Sioux Falls, SD	409 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,430 ft	05:56 UTC
PIR Pierre, SD	569 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	800 ft	1,744 ft	05:53 UTC
EFC Belle Fourche, SD	729 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,190 ft
BZN Bozeman, MT	1038 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light snow, mist	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	3 mi	300 ft	4,473 ft	06:24 UTC
RVF Twin Bridges, MT	1088 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 17 knots	2 mi	600 ft	4,788 ft	06:10 UTC
PDT Pendleton, OR	1358 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	1,494 ft	05:53 UTC
DLS The Dalles, OR	1458 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	10,000 ft	246 ft	05:53 UTC
PDX Portland, OR	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	30 ft	10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,788 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PDX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:09 pm PDT (19:09 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for PDX

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for MDW, the departure

From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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 southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 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 PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Pacific Northwest · 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, Portland International.