Plan a flight · Sun 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International MDW → ROC

453 nautical miles (522 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 076°, about 080° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 37-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:01 pm EDT (03:01 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 4 knots; ROC is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 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: 974 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). Over the last 286 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 49 nm of the route.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Over the last 30 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 30 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

E170 at 25,000 ft, 9 nm south, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. 414 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
DH8D at 19,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
C17 at 500 ft, 32 nm west, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 32 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L arrival
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 14 nm northwest, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 39 nm along the route, 14 nm northwest 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, 23 nm south, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 39 nm along the route, 23 nm south 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
B38M at 31,000 ft, 5 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 99 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 6 nm northwest, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 118 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over BTL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 3,100 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
tops 3,100 ft
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 37 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 128 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A320 descending, 49 nm south, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. 168 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Wind
wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft
TBM8 at 1,600 ft, 12 nm southeast, 4:24 pm CDT (21:24 UTC): overcast above 1,600 ft. 177 nm along the route, 12 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARB UA /OV ARB060001/TM 2124/FL016/TP TBM8/SK OVC016
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARB
Where
1 nm northeast (060°) of ARB
Time
21:24 UTC
Height
at 1,600 ft
Aircraft
TBM8
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft
E55P descending, 13 nm south, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 187 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015
CRJ2 descending, 32 nm north, 5:30 pm CDT (22:30 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 2,900 ft. 187 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 2230/FLDURD/TP CRJ2/SK OVC019 - TOP029
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
over FNT
Time
22:30 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 2,900 ft
BE36 at 3,000 ft, 3 nm southeast, 5:20 pm CDT (22:20 UTC): no turbulence, imc. 187 nm along the route, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV SVM/TM 2220/FL030/TP BE36/SK IMC/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over SVM
Time
22:20 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
smooth
C172 descending, 32 nm north, 4:32 pm CDT (21:32 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 187 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV KFNT/TM 2132/FLDURD/TP C172/SK OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
over KFNT
Time
21:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C172
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft

16 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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE, BUF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	210° at 3 kt	−2 kt		122 kt	3 h 43 min	11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 8 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	3 h 41 min	11:49 pm EDT (03:49 UTC)
7,500 ft	340° at 11 kt	−2 kt	10 °C	122 kt	3 h 43 min	11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC)
9,500 ft	340° at 12 kt	−2 kt	7 °C	122 kt	3 h 43 min	11:51 pm EDT (03:51 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 11 kt	−4 kt	4 °C	124 kt	3 h 39 min	11:47 pm EDT (03:47 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 11 kt	−5 kt	0 °C	125 kt	3 h 37 min	11:45 pm EDT (03:45 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	−7 kt	-5 °C	127 kt	3 h 34 min	11:42 pm EDT (03:42 UTC)
17,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	−9 kt	-9 °C	129 kt	3 h 31 min	11:39 pm EDT (03:39 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 13 kt	−9 kt	-10 °C	129 kt	3 h 31 min	11:39 pm EDT (03:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 17 kt	−12 kt	-22 °C	132 kt	3 h 26 min	11:34 pm EDT (03:34 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 26 kt	−22 kt	-36 °C	142 kt	3 h 11 min	11:19 pm EDT (03:19 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 33 kt	−31 kt	-42 °C	151 kt	3 h	11:08 pm EDT (03:08 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 39 kt	−37 kt	-49 °C	157 kt	2 h 53 min	11:01 pm EDT (03:01 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; 48 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°
MKG	used from 49 nm out; 67 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
FWA	used from 99 nm out; 76 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CLE	used from 197 nm out; 82 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
BUF	used from 296 nm out; 86 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -50°

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)
MGC Michigan City, IN	39 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	654 ft	23:35 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	59 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	23:54 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	99 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	873 ft	23:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	148 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,000 ft	23:56 UTC
DET Detroit, MI	217 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	900 ft	624 ft	23:53 UTC
PHN Port Huron, MI	237 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the east-southeast (120°) at 2 knots	2 mi	300 ft	650 ft	23:55 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	306 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	no report just now				776 ft
BUF Buffalo, NY	404 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	726 ft	23:54 UTC
GVQ Batavia, NY	434 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 22 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	913 ft	14:56 UTC
ROC Rochester, NY	destination	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	4 mi	4,500 ft	558 ft	8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ROC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:01 pm EDT (03:01 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR

30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,000 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for ROC

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,000 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 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC), at ROC 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ROC is after sunset there (6:34 pm EDT (22:34 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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, Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International.