Plan a flight · Sun 7:26 pm CDT (00:26 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Reno/Tahoe International MDW → RNO

1,457 nautical miles (1,676 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 275°, about 279° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot headwind), arriving about 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; RNO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14. 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: 204 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 W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 868 to 948 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
MT WY
FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.

SIGMET W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1038 to 1157 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 71W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
WY UT ID
FROM 40S DBS-40WNW BPI-30WSW MTU-30SSW DTA-30SE TWF-40S DBS
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 20040KT. TOPS TO FL270.

SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 1347 nm along the route.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 112355
MKCW WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
NV
FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM
AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 638 to 1307 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 768 to 1127 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 818 to 1267 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 1097 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 898 to 958 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 968 to 1387 nm out.

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 BCS3 at 5,400 ft, 42 nm south, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): remarks: wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final. 1087 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UUA /OV PVU310001/TM 2335/FL054/TP BCS3/RM WIND SHEAR 10 KT GAIN 1000 AGL ON FINAL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through PVU
Where
1 nm northwest (310°) of PVU
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 5,400 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final
urgent PC12 at 13,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:48 pm CDT (21:48 UTC): severe turbulence from 13,000 ft to 14,000 ft, remarks: lots of moderate, moments of severe. 1097 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UUA /OV OGD280010/TM 2148/FL130/TP PC12/TB SEV 140-130/RM LOTS OF MODERATE, MOMENTS OF SEV
```
Report
an urgent report filed through SLC
Where
10 nm west (280°) of OGD
Time
21:48 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
severe from 14,000 ft to 13,000 ft
Remarks
lots of moderate, moments of severe
BE9L at 21,000 ft, 44 nm north, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): light chop turbulence above 21,000 ft, moderate icing above 21,000 ft, -21 °C, remarks: zdvwc. 788 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DGW UA /OV IIP200020/TM 2322/FL210/TP BE9L/SK BASE 200/TA M21/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 210/IC MOD MIX 210/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DGW
Where
20 nm south (200°) of IIP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
base 20,000 ft
Temperature
−21 °C
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 21,000 ft
Icing
moderate mix at 21,000 ft
Remarks
zdvwc
A339 at 16,000 ft, 20 nm north, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zlc. 1077 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OGD UA /OV OGD063012/TM 2335/FL160/TP A339/TB MOD CHOP 160 BLO/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through OGD
Where
12 nm northeast (063°) of OGD
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
A339
Turbulence
moderate chop at 16,000 ft below
Remarks
during the climb zlc
PA44 at 6,000 ft, 41 nm south, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: runway in sight at at 6,400 ft. 1087 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV PVU310002/TM 2325/FL060/TP PA44/TB MOD /RM RWY IN SIGHT AT 064
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
2 nm northwest (310°) of PVU
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
PA44
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
runway in sight at at 6,400 ft
E75L at 14,500 ft, 17 nm north, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 15,800 ft, heavy rain, remarks: during the climb zlc. 1087 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OGD UA /OV OGD086008/TM 2305/FL145/TP E75L/WX +RA/TB MOD 158 BLO/RM DURC /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through OGD
Where
8 nm east (086°) of OGD
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 14,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate at 15,800 ft below
Remarks
during the climb zlc
E75L at 12,500 ft, 10 nm north, 5:25 pm CDT (22:25 UTC): moderate turbulence. 1087 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HIF UA /OV HIF103005/TM 2225/FL125/TP E75L/TB MOD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HIF
Where
5 nm east (103°) of HIF
Time
22:25 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate zlc
A320 at 6,600 ft, 3 nm south, 4:55 pm CDT (21:55 UTC): moderate turbulence, -2 °C, wind 200° at 55 knots, remarks: during the climb from 6,600 ft to 10,000 ft. 1097 nm along the route, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH250007/TM 2155/FL066/TP A320/SK BASE 066 TOPS UNK/TA -2/WV 20055KT/TB OCNL MOD TURB/RM DURC 066-100
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
7 nm west (250°) of TCH
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
at 6,600 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
base 6,600 ft tops unknown
Temperature
-2
Wind
from 200° at 55 knots
Turbulence
occasional moderate turbulence
Remarks
during the climb from 6,600 ft to 10,000 ft
B739 at 11,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC): moderate turbulence, no icing, -4 °C, wind 180° at 40 knots, remarks: during the descent. 1107 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH240014/TM 2240/FL110/TP B739/TA M04/WV 180040/TB CONT MOD /IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
14 nm southwest (240°) of TCH
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Temperature
−4 °C
Wind
from 180° at 40 knots
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 39 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
A319 at 15,000 ft, 47 nm east, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through PPO
Where
over PPO
Time
22:08 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
A21N at 34,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 210 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO180020/TM 2201/FL340/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
20 nm south (180°) of ALO
Time
22:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
A21N at 33,000 ft, 15 nm south, 4:29 pm CDT (21:29 UTC): light chop turbulence. 239 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TNU UA /OV TNU/TM 2129/FL330/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TNU
Where
over TNU
Time
21:29 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B739 at 30,000 ft, 20 nm north, 4:38 pm CDT (21:38 UTC): light turbulence. 309 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD220020/TM 2138/FL300/TP B739/TB CONS LGT/ OCNL MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
20 nm southwest (220°) of FOD
Time
21:38 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate

11 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, ONL, BFF, RKS, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO). 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 12 kt	+4 kt	17 °C	116 kt	12 h 34 min	6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC)
6,500 ft	210° at 13 kt	+7 kt	16 °C	113 kt	12 h 54 min	6:20 am PDT (13:20 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	+14 kt	10 °C	106 kt	13 h 45 min	7:11 am PDT (14:11 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+19 kt	6 °C	101 kt	14 h 26 min	7:52 am PDT (14:52 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	+22 kt	2 °C	98 kt	14 h 52 min	8:18 am PDT (15:18 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	+23 kt	-2 °C	97 kt	15 h 01 min	8:27 am PDT (15:27 UTC)
16,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+24 kt	-7 °C	96 kt	15 h 11 min	8:37 am PDT (15:37 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 31 kt	+25 kt	-10 °C	95 kt	15 h 20 min	8:46 am PDT (15:46 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 35 kt	+30 kt	-21 °C	90 kt	16 h 11 min	9:37 am PDT (16:37 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 44 kt	+41 kt	-32 °C	79 kt	18 h 27 min	11:53 am PDT (18:53 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 51 kt	+51 kt	-39 °C	69 kt	21 h 07 min	2:33 pm PDT (21:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 56 kt	+58 kt	-47 °C	62 kt	23 h 30 min	4:56 pm PDT (23:56 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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; 19 nm from the line	230/11	290/12 16°	300/19 10°	320/19 4°	300/17 -9°	330/31 -20°	320/49 -37°	320/53 -45°	320/67 -49°
DBQ	used from 100 nm out; 29 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
DSM	used from 200 nm out; 50 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 299 nm out; 61 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
ONL	used from 399 nm out; 69 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
BFF	used from 599 nm out; 84 nm from the line		120/24	180/31 13°	210/26 7°	230/25 -7°	240/41 -20°	230/52 -36°	250/56 -41°	260/57 -45°
RKS	used from 848 nm out; 82 nm from the line			190/43	210/65 3°	210/57 -9°	210/56 -21°	210/47 -33°	230/63 -37°	240/77 -46°
SLC	used from 998 nm out; 69 nm from the line		280/8	210/39 5°	210/52 -1°	200/50 -11°	200/56 -23°	220/61 -28°	230/73 -37°	230/73 -45°
ELY	used from 1197 nm out; 70 nm from the line			210/20 4°	240/21 -1°	230/37 -13°	200/58 -25°	220/73 -27°	220/73 -36°	220/69 -44°
BAM	used from 1247 nm out; 49 nm from the line			270/8 4°	230/27 -4°	220/49 -18°	210/52 -26°	220/77 -29°	220/71 -33°	220/63 -43°
RNO	used from 1397 nm out; 35 nm from the line		320/7	260/13 1°	230/21 -7°	210/38 -17°	220/43 -26°	230/54 -29°	230/59 -32°	230/54 -41°

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 few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	23:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	180 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	869 ft	21:52 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	389 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	23:52 UTC
TIF Thedford, NE	569 nm out, 4 nm west of the line	VFR	from the east-northeast (060°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,925 ft	00:15 UTC
BFF Scottsbluff, NE	708 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	3,967 ft	23:53 UTC
SAA Saratoga, WY	858 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	reported, no category	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	7,014 ft	00:10 UTC
FBR Fort Bridger, WY	1018 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	7,500 ft	7,038 ft	00:15 UTC
SLC Salt Lake City, UT	1087 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 1,900 feet, overcast at 5,000 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots	6 mi	1,900 ft	4,230 ft	23:54 UTC
ENV Wendover, UT	1187 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	4,236 ft	23:56 UTC
SPZ Silver Springs, NV	1437 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				4,265 ft
RNO Reno, NV	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,500 feet	from the north-northeast (020°) at 11 knots, gusting to 14	10+ mi	none	4,414 ft	4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,038 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RNO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC)

Wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RNO

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

The forecast for MDW, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at RNO 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:51 pm PDT (01:51 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RNO is before sunrise there (7:05 am PDT (14:05 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, Reno/Tahoe International.