Plan a flight · Mon 8:59 am CDT (13:59 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Santa Barbara Municipal MDW → SBA

1,569 nautical miles (1,805 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 268° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 11:10 pm PDT (06:10 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots; SBA is VFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 3 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: 1 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 2W: 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 300 to 450 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 689 to 1199 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 779 to 969 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 909 to 1269 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 979 to 1169 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1069 to 1269 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 1119 to 1249 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1359 to 1489 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1429 to 1499 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 90 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 C172 at 6,700 ft, 24 nm north, 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb. 789 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1254/FL067/TP C172/RM LLWS +/- 10 KTS DURC
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
over KAPA
Time
12:54 UTC
Height
at 6,700 ft
Aircraft
C172
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 10 knots during the climb
urgent FA7X at 6,800 ft, 24 nm north, 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R. 789 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV KAPA/TM 1240/FL068/TP FA7X/RM LLWS -40 KTS DURC RY 35R
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
over KAPA
Time
12:40 UTC
Height
at 6,800 ft
Aircraft
FA7X
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 40-knot loss of airspeed knots during the climb runway 35R
urgent TBM7 at 100 ft, 23 nm north, 7:30 am CDT (12:30 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed. 789 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV APA140001/TM 1230/FL001/TP TBM7/TB LGT CHOP/RM LLWS +-10KTS
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
1 nm southeast (140°) of APA
Time
12:30 UTC
Height
at 100 ft
Aircraft
TBM7
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed
C172 at 9,500 ft, 11 nm southeast, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 789 nm along the route, 11 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK348/005/TM 1243/FL095/TP C172/TB TB MOD CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
BRK348/005
Time
12:43 UTC
Height
at 9,500 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
turbulence moderate chop
C172 at 200 ft, 24 nm north, 7:35 am CDT (12:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed. 789 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UA /OV APA350001/TM 1235/FL002/TP C172/TB MOD TURB/RM LLWS +-15KTS
```
Report
a routine report filed through APA
Where
1 nm north (350°) of APA
Time
12:35 UTC
Height
at 200 ft
Aircraft
C172
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 15-knot loss of airspeed
B738 descending, 21 nm northwest, 7:55 am CDT (12:55 UTC): moderate turbulence from 16,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 809 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40SW DEN/TM 1255/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-160
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40SW den
Time
12:55 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 16,000 ft
A321 at 19,000 ft, 49 nm south, 7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zlawc. 1269 nm along the route, 49 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CDC UA /OV PGS275017/TM 1239/FL190/TP A321/TB MOD CHOP/RM ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through CDC
Where
17 nm west (275°) of PGS
Time
12:39 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
zlawc
B39M at 36,000 ft, 27 nm north, 8:18 am CDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
A321 at 32,000 ft, 38 nm north, 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 180 nm along the route, 38 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CID UA /OV CID360010/TM 1225/FL320/TP A321/TB INTMT LGT CHOP CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CID
Where
10 nm north (360°) of CID
Time
12:25 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
intermittent light chop continuous light chop
B38M at 18,000 ft, 39 nm south, 8:04 am CDT (13:04 UTC): light chop turbulence. 330 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVU UA /OV EVU/TM 1304/FL180/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVU
Where
over EVU
Time
13:04 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
B38M at 17,000 ft, 10 nm north, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 410 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNK UA /OV LNK/TM 1241/FL170/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNK
Where
over LNK
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B38M at 39,000 ft, 19 nm north, 7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC): light chop turbulence. 520 nm along the route, 19 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HSI UA /OV HSI270030/TM 1243/FL390/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through HSI
Where
30 nm west (270°) of HSI
Time
12:43 UTC
Height
at 39,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
CRJ2 at 7,000 ft, 35 nm north, 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC): no turbulence. 779 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 5N/TM 1330/FL070/TP CRJ2/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
5N
Time
13:30 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
none
B738 at 5,500 ft, 38 nm north, 7:28 am CDT (12:28 UTC): no turbulence. 779 nm along the route, 38 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV KDEN/TM 1228/FLSFC/TP B738/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over KDEN
Time
12:28 UTC
Height
at the surface
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none

11 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 14 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, ALS, GJT, BCE, LAS, WJF, SBA). 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	240° at 29 kt	+28 kt	12 °C	92 kt	17 h 03 min	12:02 am PDT (07:02 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	13 °C	95 kt	16 h 31 min	11:30 pm PDT (06:30 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	+23 kt	9 °C	97 kt	16 h 11 min	11:10 pm PDT (06:10 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+23 kt	5 °C	97 kt	16 h 11 min	11:10 pm PDT (06:10 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+24 kt	1 °C	96 kt	16 h 21 min	11:20 pm PDT (06:20 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	+28 kt	-3 °C	92 kt	17 h 03 min	12:02 am PDT (07:02 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 35 kt	+32 kt	-8 °C	88 kt	17 h 50 min	12:49 am PDT (07:49 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 38 kt	+35 kt	-11 °C	85 kt	18 h 28 min	1:27 am PDT (08:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 48 kt	+46 kt	-21 °C	74 kt	21 h 12 min	4:11 am PDT (11:11 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 58 kt	+57 kt	-31 °C	63 kt	24 h 54 min	7:53 am PDT (14:53 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 63 kt	+64 kt	-37 °C	56 kt	28 h 01 min	11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 60 kt	+61 kt	-46 °C	59 kt	26 h 36 min	9:35 am PDT (16:35 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 15 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
DBQ	used from 100 nm out; 52 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
BRL	used from 150 nm out; 45 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DSM	used from 200 nm out; 45 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
OMA	used from 300 nm out; 48 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
GRI	used from 400 nm out; 59 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
GLD	used from 550 nm out; 81 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
DEN	used from 699 nm out; 63 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
ALS	used from 849 nm out; 85 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
GJT	used from 899 nm out; 61 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°
BCE	used from 1049 nm out; 80 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
LAS	used from 1249 nm out; 45 nm from the line		210/20 8°	210/29 4°	200/32 -3°	200/51 -15°	210/64 -21°	220/70 -30°	220/66 -38°	220/55 -44°
WJF	used from 1399 nm out; 67 nm from the line		210/26 4°	210/28 2°	230/23 -4°	240/28 -13°	220/47 -23°	220/57 -30°	220/65 -37°	220/59 -45°
SBA	used from 1549 nm out; 10 nm from the line	L/V	220/9 2°	240/16 1°	240/19 -3°	260/25 -13°	260/27 -24°	230/37 -31°	220/54 -37°	220/52 -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: a few clouds at 20,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	8:53 am CDT (13:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	9 mi	none	712 ft	13:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	260 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	957 ft	13:54 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	410 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	13:54 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	590 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	13:53 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	650 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	13:35 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	799 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	13:54 UTC
AIB Nucla, CO	979 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: haze	from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24	1.25 mi	6,000 ft	5,945 ft	08:15 UTC
KNB Kanab, UT	1179 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the north (360°) at 0 knots	10+ mi	none	4,867 ft	13:55 UTC
VGT Las Vegas, NV	1319 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	12,000 ft	2,205 ft	13:53 UTC
MHV Mojave, CA	1479 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,900 feet, overcast at 3,800 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	2,801 ft	08:15 UTC
SBA Santa Barbara, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 8,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	13 ft	6:53 am PDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SBA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:10 pm PDT (06:10 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SBA

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for MDW, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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 south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 819 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 1289 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 1319 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at SBA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:52 pm PDT (01:52 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SBA is before sunrise there (7:03 am PDT (14:03 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 Plains · 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, Santa Barbara Municipal.