Plan a flight · Mon 2:27 am CDT (07:27 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Rifle Garfield County MDW → RIL

918 nautical miles (1,056 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 268°, about 272° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 16 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 21-knot headwind), arriving about 10:43 am MDT (16:43 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots; RIL 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: 11 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 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 130 to 688 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 249 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 209 nm of the route.
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 last 110 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 20 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 E75L at 9,000 ft, 28 nm southeast, 11:30 pm CDT (04:30 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach. At the destination end, 28 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UUA /OV ASE/TM 0430/FL090/TP E75L/RM LLWS +/- 20K 1000-1500 AGL ON APCH
```
Report
an urgent report filed through ASE
Where
over ASE
Time
04:30 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 20K 1000-1500 above ground on approach
B739 at 35,000 ft, 50 nm south, 2:05 am CDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 50 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
23 nm north (010°) of RBS
Time
07:05 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none
B737 descending, 18 nm south, 2:10 am CDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 778 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B738 descending, 18 nm south, 1:15 am CDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 778 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
B38M at 21,500 ft, 37 nm north, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 808 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
Time
04:33 UTC
Height
at 21,500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light below 25,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
A20N at 25,000 ft, 17 nm south, 1:19 am CDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 818 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 47 nm south, 1:35 am CDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 828 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
B738 at 23,000 ft, 37 nm south, 1:23 am CDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 828 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
E170 at 22,500 ft, 49 nm south, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 828 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
E170 at 4,800 ft, 44 nm southwest, 1:31 am CDT (06:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 4,800 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc. At the destination end, 44 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT/TM 0631/FL048/TP E170/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURD RNAV Y 11 LGJT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
over GJT
Time
06:31 UTC
Height
at 4,800 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent rnav Y 11 lgjt zdvwc

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 9 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT). 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 35 kt	+31 kt	21 °C	89 kt	10 h 19 min	11:46 am MDT (17:46 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 31 kt	+29 kt	17 °C	91 kt	10 h 05 min	11:32 am MDT (17:32 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+22 kt	12 °C	98 kt	9 h 22 min	10:49 am MDT (16:49 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	+21 kt	9 °C	99 kt	9 h 16 min	10:43 am MDT (16:43 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+22 kt	5 °C	98 kt	9 h 22 min	10:49 am MDT (16:49 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	+24 kt	0 °C	96 kt	9 h 34 min	11:01 am MDT (17:01 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	+26 kt	-4 °C	94 kt	9 h 46 min	11:13 am MDT (17:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 28 kt	+27 kt	-8 °C	93 kt	9 h 52 min	11:19 am MDT (17:19 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 35 kt	+34 kt	-20 °C	86 kt	10 h 40 min	12:07 pm MDT (18:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 45 kt	+45 kt	-32 °C	75 kt	12 h 14 min	1:41 pm MDT (19:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 53 kt	+54 kt	-38 °C	66 kt	13 h 55 min	3:22 pm MDT (21:22 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 54 kt	+55 kt	-48 °C	65 kt	14 h 07 min	3:34 pm MDT (21:34 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; 16 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; 44 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°
BRL	used from 150 nm out; 56 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; 41 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; 43 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; 54 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 599 nm out; 76 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°
DEN	used from 698 nm out; 55 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°
GJT	used from 848 nm out; 88 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°

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 (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 2 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	712 ft	06:52 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	120 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	06:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	269 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	06:54 UTC
AIO Atlantic, IA	329 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	1,164 ft	07:15 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	369 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	06:52 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	479 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	06:53 UTC
CZD Cozad, NE	559 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				2,503 ft
HEQ Holyoke, CO	658 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	3,729 ft	07:15 UTC
BJC Denver, CO	798 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	07:15 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	878 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,500 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	6,547 ft	06:56 UTC
RIL Rifle, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	7,000 ft	5,536 ft	12:53 am MDT (06:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,547 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:43 am MDT (16:43 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for RIL

From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am MDT (10:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,500 feet

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

6/8911 DENVER, CO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, 788 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at RIL 6:35 pm MDT (00:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm MDT (01:02 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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, Rifle Garfield County.