Chicago Midway International to Palm Springs International MDW → PSP
1,437 nautical miles (1,654 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 260°, about 264° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 10:57 am PDT (17:57 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; PSP is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 12 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: 55 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 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 259 to 719 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 739 to 898 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 739 to 1277 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 838 to 968 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 838 to 988 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 898 to 1218 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1078 to 1307 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1158 to 1377 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 1178 to 1277 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the last 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 10 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
- urgent B407 at 10,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 9:13 pm CDT (02:13 UTC): moderate to severe turbulence. 798 nm along the route, 41 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UUA /OV 10 W COS/TM 0213/FL100/TP B407/TB MDT-SEV
- Report
- an urgent report filed through COS
- Where
- 10 west cos
- Time
- 02:13 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B407
- Turbulence
- mdt-sev
- BE9L at 24,500 ft, 9 nm northwest, 9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. 828 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 40 nm west (250°) of PUB
- Time
- 02:21 UTC
- Height
- at 24,500 ft
- Aircraft
- BE9L
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-41
- GLF4 at 43,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-38. 958 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UA /OV RSK360050/TM 0009/FL430/TP GLF4/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-38
- Report
- a routine report filed through FMN
- Where
- 50 nm north (360°) of RSK
- Time
- 00:09 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF4
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-38
- SW4 at 15,000 ft, 37 nm north, 8:39 pm CDT (01:39 UTC): moderate turbulence, light rime icing, freezing, rain, 0 °C, remarks: instrument conditions ZDVWC-36. 968 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CEZ UA /OV CEZ030030/TM 0139/FL150/TP SW4/SK BASE150/WX FZ RA/TA 00/TB CONS MOD/IC LGT RIME/RM IMC ZDVWC-36
- Report
- a routine report filed through CEZ
- Where
- 30 nm northeast (030°) of CEZ
- Time
- 01:39 UTC
- Height
- at 15,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SW4
- Sky
- BASE150
- Weather
- freezing, rain
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- instrument conditions ZDVWC-36
- GLF4 at 43,000 ft, 19 nm north, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 1018 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FMN UA /OV RSK290045/TM 0015/FL430/TP GLF4/TB CONS MOD/RM ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through FMN
- Where
- 45 nm west (290°) of RSK
- Time
- 00:15 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF4
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- Remarks
- zdvwc
- B38M at 14,000 ft, 36 nm northwest, 7:13 pm CDT (00:13 UTC): moderate turbulence, light rime icing, 8 °C. At the destination end, 36 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ONT UA /OV ONT053034/TM 0013/FL140/TP B38M/TA 08/TB MODERATE TURBULENCE/IC LIGHT RIME ICE 190 - 170
- Report
- a routine report filed through ONT
- Where
- 34 nm northeast (053°) of ONT
- Time
- 00:13 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Temperature
- 8 °C
- Turbulence
- moderate turbulence
- Icing
- light rime ice at 19,000 ft at 17,000 ft
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 18 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through IKK
- Where
- over CGT
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B39M
- Turbulence
- none
- Remarks
- smooth
- A321 at 32,000 ft, 25 nm north, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 80 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
- Report
- a routine report filed through RPJ
- Where
- over PLL
- Time
- 01:56 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- pocket continuous light turbulence
- UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 25 nm north, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 170 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- CL60 at 33,000 ft, 37 nm north, 9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. 778 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK080015/TM 0235/FL330/TP CL60/RM MTW +/-100FT ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm east (080°) of BRK
- Time
- 02:35 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL60
- Remarks
- mtw +/-100FT zdvwc
- A21N at 31,000 ft, 5 nm west, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): remarks: mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29. 788 nm along the route, 5 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB/TM 0024/FL310/TP A21N/RM MTN WAVE +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- over PUB
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- at 31,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Remarks
- mountain wave +/-10-20KT ZDVWC-29
- B737 at 25,000 ft, 43 nm northwest, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): light rime icing, 0 °C, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-29. 798 nm along the route, 43 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV BRK242015/TM 0029/FL250/TP B737/SK TOP280/TA 00/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC ZDVWC-29
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 15 nm southwest (242°) of BRK
- Time
- 00:29 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- TOP280
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-29
- CL35 at 43,000 ft, 9 nm northwest, 7:21 pm CDT (00:21 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-300FT zdvwc. 828 nm along the route, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0021/FL430/TP CL35/RM MTW +/-300FT ZDVWC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PUB
- Where
- 40 nm west (250°) of PUB
- Time
- 00:21 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- CL35
- Remarks
- mtw +/-300FT zdvwc
- B38M at 36,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30. 858 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ALS UA /OV ALS360035/TM 0222/FL360/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM MTW +/-200FT ZDVWC-30
- Report
- a routine report filed through ALS
- Where
- 35 nm north (360°) of ALS
- Time
- 02:22 UTC
- Height
- at 36,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light
- Remarks
- mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30
8 more routine reports are on the map.
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 13 forecast points nearest it (JOT, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, BLH, 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 | 230° at 32 kt | +30 kt | 21 °C | 90 kt | 15 h 58 min | 12:06 pm PDT (19:06 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 15 °C | 92 kt | 15 h 37 min | 11:45 am PDT (18:45 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 49 min | 10:57 am PDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 7 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 49 min | 10:57 am PDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +23 kt | 3 °C | 97 kt | 14 h 49 min | 10:57 am PDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -1 °C | 93 kt | 15 h 27 min | 11:35 am PDT (18:35 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 33 kt | +31 kt | -5 °C | 89 kt | 16 h 09 min | 12:17 pm PDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | +34 kt | -9 °C | 86 kt | 16 h 43 min | 12:51 pm PDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 43 kt | +42 kt | -20 °C | 78 kt | 18 h 25 min | 2:33 pm PDT (21:33 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 59 kt | +58 kt | -30 °C | 62 kt | 23 h 11 min | 7:19 pm PDT (02:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 65 kt | +66 kt | -37 °C | 54 kt | 26 h 37 min | 10:45 pm PDT (05:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 58 kt | +60 kt | -47 °C | 60 kt | 23 h 57 min | 8:05 pm PDT (03:05 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; 13 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° |
| BRL | used from 100 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 55 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 299 nm out; 65 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 399 nm out; 80 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° | |
| GLD | used from 549 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| PUB | used from 699 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 848 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 948 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 1098 nm out; 115 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1148 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1297 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| ONT | used from 1397 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
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 | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 30 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| AWG Washington, IA | 180 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Weather: haze | from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | none | 754 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| BIE Beatrice, NE | 419 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,323 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| FBY Fairbury, NE | 439 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,478 ft | ||||
| OEL Oakley, KS | 619 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,045 ft | 02:55 UTC |
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 798 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,729 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| FMN Farmington, NM | 998 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,506 ft | 02:53 UTC |
| GCN Grand Canyon, AZ | 1188 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 7 mi | 600 ft | 6,608 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| TNP Twentynine Palms, CA | 1407 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,888 ft | ||||
| PSP Palm Springs, CA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 476 ft | 7:53 pm PDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:57 am PDT (17:57 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PSP
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
The forecast for MDW, the departure
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 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
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 17 nm from the route, 1317 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 13 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at PSP 6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm PDT (01:41 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, Palm Springs International.