Plan a flight · Sun 9:57 pm CDT (02:57 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Southwest Florida International MDW → RSW

962 nautical miles (1,107 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 160°, about 164° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 knots; RSW 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: 2,271 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 route from 347 to 387 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 387 to 506 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

CRJ9 at 32,000 ft, 41 nm west, 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 526 nm along the route, 41 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL240035/TM 0200/FL320/TP CRJ9/TB OCNL MOD CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
35 nm southwest (240°) of ATL
Time
02:00 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
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
B39M at 35,000 ft, 3 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 3 nm northeast 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
A21N at 17,000 ft, 9 nm east, 8:28 pm CDT (01:28 UTC): no icing, clear from 17,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: clear since departing KIND southbound. 179 nm along the route, 9 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV IND183045/TM 0128/FL170/TP A21N/SK SKC/IC NEG/RM CLR SINCE DEPARTING KIND SOUTHBOUND
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
45 nm south (183°) of IND
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
clear
Icing
none
Remarks
clear since departing KIND southbound
B38M at 21,000 ft, 23 nm east, 8:09 pm CDT (01:09 UTC): no turbulence, no icing. 238 nm along the route, 23 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV IIU/TM 0109/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over IIU
Time
01:09 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
B739 at 34,000 ft, 47 nm southwest, 8:51 pm CDT (01:51 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 288 nm along the route, 47 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BWG UA /OV BWG270010/TM 0151/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BWG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of BWG
Time
01:51 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
E170 at 33,000 ft, 49 nm west, 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-22. 496 nm along the route, 49 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL280045/TM 0153/FL330/TP E170/TB CONS LGT CHOP /RM ZTLFD-22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
45 nm west (280°) of ATL
Time
01:53 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-22
E170 at 32,000 ft, 26 nm west, 7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC): light turbulence. 744 nm along the route, 26 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CTY UA /OV CTY320030/TM 0007/FL320/TP E170/TB CONS LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through CTY
Where
30 nm northwest (320°) of CTY
Time
00:07 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light
B738 at 36,000 ft, 21 nm east, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 803 nm along the route, 21 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF/TM 0023/FL360/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
over OCF
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop
PC12 at 19,000 ft, 47 nm east, 7:09 pm CDT (00:09 UTC): light rime icing, -7 °C. 883 nm along the route, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MCO UA /OV ORL180030/TM 0009/FL190/TP PC12/TA M07/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through MCO
Where
30 nm south (180°) of ORL
Time
00:09 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−7 °C
Icing
light rime

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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, LOU, BNA, TYS, ATL, CSG, TLH, JAX, PIE). 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	310° at 17 kt	−15 kt		135 kt	7 h 08 min	6:05 am EDT (10:05 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 19 kt	−19 kt		139 kt	6 h 55 min	5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−21 kt	14 °C	141 kt	6 h 49 min	5:46 am EDT (09:46 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−22 kt	10 °C	142 kt	6 h 46 min	5:43 am EDT (09:43 UTC)
11,500 ft	330° at 19 kt	−19 kt	7 °C	139 kt	6 h 55 min	5:52 am EDT (09:52 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 20 kt	−18 kt	3 °C	138 kt	6 h 58 min	5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 21 kt	−18 kt	-1 °C	138 kt	6 h 58 min	5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 23 kt	−18 kt	-6 °C	138 kt	6 h 58 min	5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 23 kt	−18 kt	-7 °C	138 kt	6 h 58 min	5:55 am EDT (09:55 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 27 kt	−21 kt	-18 °C	141 kt	6 h 49 min	5:46 am EDT (09:46 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 37 kt	−34 kt	-33 °C	154 kt	6 h 15 min	5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 39 kt	−34 kt	-41 °C	154 kt	6 h 15 min	5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 32 kt	−27 kt	-50 °C	147 kt	6 h 33 min	5:30 am EDT (09:30 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; 28 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°
IND	used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line	290/16	310/20 16°	320/21 10°	330/13 3°	300/25 -7°	320/32 -19°	330/46 -34°	320/61 -43°	320/63 -50°
LOU	used from 198 nm out; 23 nm from the line	310/18	340/28 16°	340/29 10°	350/27 3°	330/27 -7°	340/39 -19°	330/58 -33°	330/67 -41°	330/40 -49°
BNA	used from 298 nm out; 67 nm from the line	310/20	340/20 17°	330/24 10°	340/22 5°	330/26 -6°	340/29 -18°	330/52 -33°	320/62 -41°	340/45 -50°
TYS	used from 347 nm out; 57 nm from the line	320/20	340/18 11°	340/32 9°	340/36 4°	330/37 -7°	330/38 -19°	330/50 -34°	330/53 -38°	330/44 -48°
ATL	used from 446 nm out; 43 nm from the line	320/30	330/37 16°	340/44 11°	330/35 7°	310/33 -6°	300/38 -18°	330/58 -33°	330/48 -40°	320/34 -49°
CSG	used from 546 nm out; 53 nm from the line	310/24	340/35 17°	340/37 12°	330/22 8°	310/30 -7°	290/30 -18°	340/57 -32°	340/55 -41°	320/33 -49°
TLH	used from 645 nm out; 70 nm from the line	320/18	350/31 18°	340/24 13°	310/17 8°	280/22 -7°	300/25 -17°	320/28 -33°	320/24 -41°	320/25 -50°
JAX	used from 744 nm out; 78 nm from the line	290/14	300/16 17°	280/22 14°	280/24 8°	250/32 -6°	250/37 -17°	230/50 -31°	220/52 -41°	220/51 -52°
PIE	used from 794 nm out; 56 nm from the line	350/6	L/V 18°	290/6 14°	280/9 9°	250/18 -6°	250/23 -17°	240/30 -31°	220/31 -41°	220/30 -52°

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)
LAF Lafayette, IN	89 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	01:54 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN	169 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.5 mi	200 ft	845 ft	02:53 UTC
SDF Louisville, KY	238 nm out, 17 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	500 ft	01:56 UTC
CSV Crossville, TN	367 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 600 feet, a broken layer at 2,500 feet	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,500 ft	1,881 ft	02:53 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	427 nm out, 19 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	682 ft	02:53 UTC
PDK Atlanta, GA	506 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	998 ft	02:53 UTC
TMA Tifton, GA	655 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	354 ft	02:55 UTC
VLD Valdosta, GA	694 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	203 ft	02:53 UTC
BKV Brooksville, FL	843 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	76 ft	02:53 UTC
PGD Punta Gorda, FL	932 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	25 ft	02:53 UTC
RSW Fort Myers, FL	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	29 ft	10:53 pm EDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,881 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:12 am EDT (09:12 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RSW

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 595 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RSW is before sunrise there (7:24 am EDT (11:24 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 lower Mississippi valley · 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, Southwest Florida International.