Plan a flight · Sun 9:40 pm CDT (02:40 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Seattle-Tacoma International MDW → SEA

1,502 nautical miles (1,729 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 295°, about 299° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 12 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 4-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:47 am PDT (14:47 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 knots; SEA is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 7 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: 1,347 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 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 209 to 298 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 408 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 587 to 1224 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 657 to 1234 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 935 to 1283 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 16,000 ft. Over the route from 1035 to 1403 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 149 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

B39M at 35,000 ft, 18 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 18 nm southeast 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
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
A321 at 32,000 ft, 23 nm south, 8:56 pm CDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 80 nm along the route, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence
BE20 at 14,000 ft, 14 nm south, 7:20 pm CDT (00:20 UTC): light turbulence. 428 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FSD UA /OV FSD340035/TM 0020/FL140/TP BE20/TB CONS LGT/ NEG 120
```
Report
a routine report filed through FSD
Where
35 nm north (340°) of FSD
Time
00:20 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
continuous light no at 12,000 ft
A306 at 4,700 ft, 46 nm south, 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 935 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIL UA /OV BIL280001/TM 0051/FL047/TP A306/SK BASE 047
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIL
Where
1 nm west (280°) of BIL
Time
00:51 UTC
Height
at 4,700 ft
Aircraft
A306
Sky
base 4,700 ft
BCS1 at 3,700 ft, 13 nm south, 8:47 pm CDT (01:47 UTC): snow, rain, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 1164 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0147/FL037/TP BCS1/SK 037/WX SN RA/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
01:47 UTC
Height
at 3,700 ft
Aircraft
BCS1
Sky
at 3,700 ft
Weather
snow, rain
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
C25B at 4,100 ft, 13 nm south, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): no icing, overcast above 4,100 ft, remarks: during the descent ils runway 12. 1164 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSO UA /OV MSO/TM 0036/FL041/TP C25B/SK OVC041/IC NEG/RM DURD ILS RY 12
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSO
Where
over MSO
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,100 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Sky
overcast from 4,100 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ils runway 12
PC12 at 13,500 ft, 43 nm south, 8:08 pm CDT (01:08 UTC): no turbulence, a trace of icing, overcast from 9,000 ft to 13,500 ft, -10 °C. 1363 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSC UA /OV PSC360025/TM 0108/FL135/TP PC12/SK OVC090-TOP135/TA M10/TB NEG /IC TRACE RM 135-090
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSC
Where
25 nm north (360°) of PSC
Time
01:08 UTC
Height
at 13,500 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
overcast from 9,000 ft, tops 13,500 ft
Temperature
−10 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
trace remarks from 13,500 ft to 9,000 ft
SB20 at 16,000 ft, 25 nm north, 8:52 pm CDT (01:52 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PAE UA /OV PAE075045/TM 0152/FL160/TP SB20/SK TOP120/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through PAE
Where
45 nm east (075°) of PAE
Time
01:52 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
SB20
Sky
TOP120
Remarks
zse
A321 at 13,500 ft, 35 nm south, 8:54 pm CDT (01:54 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SEA UA /OV SEA120045/TM 0154/FL135/TP A321/SK TOP130/RM ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through SEA
Where
45 nm southeast (120°) of SEA
Time
01:54 UTC
Height
at 13,500 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 13,000 ft, 35 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL130/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse
PC12 at 15,000 ft, 35 nm south, 7:42 pm CDT (00:42 UTC): remarks: zse. At the destination end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YKM UA /OV YKM270050/TM 0042/FL150/TP PC12/SK TOP130/RM -ZSE
```
Report
a routine report filed through YKM
Where
50 nm west (270°) of YKM
Time
00:42 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
TOP130
Remarks
zse

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 14 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, ABR, PIR, DIK, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, GEG, YKM, SEA). 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	180° at 8 kt	−4 kt	3 °C	124 kt	12 h 07 min	7:47 am PDT (14:47 UTC)
6,500 ft	190° at 7 kt	−2 kt	8 °C	122 kt	12 h 19 min	7:59 am PDT (14:59 UTC)
8,500 ft	200° at 7 kt	0	6 °C	120 kt	12 h 31 min	8:11 am PDT (15:11 UTC)
10,500 ft	210° at 11 kt	+2 kt	1 °C	118 kt	12 h 44 min	8:24 am PDT (15:24 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 15 kt	+5 kt	-1 °C	115 kt	13 h 04 min	8:44 am PDT (15:44 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 16 kt	+8 kt	-5 °C	112 kt	13 h 25 min	9:05 am PDT (16:05 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 19 kt	+11 kt	-9 °C	109 kt	13 h 47 min	9:27 am PDT (16:27 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 20 kt	+13 kt	-12 °C	107 kt	14 h 02 min	9:42 am PDT (16:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 23 kt	+14 kt	-23 °C	106 kt	14 h 10 min	9:50 am PDT (16:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 28 kt	+18 kt	-36 °C	102 kt	14 h 44 min	10:24 am PDT (17:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 39 kt	+31 kt	-41 °C	89 kt	16 h 53 min	12:33 pm PDT (19:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 48 kt	+41 kt	-46 °C	79 kt	19 h 01 min	2:41 pm PDT (21:41 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; 27 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 50 nm out; 64 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°
MCW	used from 199 nm out; 41 nm from the line	220/44	250/30 17°	230/14 12°	240/17 6°	250/22 -8°	270/29 -20°	250/34 -34°	260/52 -43°	260/59 -51°
FSD	used from 348 nm out; 59 nm from the line	190/9	230/30 18°	240/23 13°	240/20 6°	260/22 -9°	250/31 -21°	250/43 -36°	260/49 -43°	270/53 -47°
ABR	used from 448 nm out; 53 nm from the line	070/14	250/10 17°	270/16 11°	260/28 5°	260/36 -10°	260/41 -22°	270/33 -37°	260/42 -42°	260/50 -48°
PIR	used from 547 nm out; 48 nm from the line		170/22 19°	190/25 13°	210/32 6°	240/23 -9°	250/32 -21°	250/38 -36°	260/44 -40°	260/52 -47°
DIK	used from 647 nm out; 74 nm from the line		150/24 7°	200/38 6°	220/53 0°	230/51 -9°	230/49 -21°	240/37 -37°	240/47 -44°	250/65 -48°
MLS	used from 746 nm out; 58 nm from the line		150/23 2°	190/29 4°	210/44 2°	220/32 -10°	210/36 -21°	200/48 -37°	230/63 -40°	240/71 -47°
BIL	used from 895 nm out; 46 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
GTF	used from 995 nm out; 53 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -44°
GPI	used from 1144 nm out; 71 nm from the line		070/19 -5°	100/16 -7°	080/10 -8°	130/8 -19°	170/37 -28°	200/50 -40°	210/43 -40°	220/41 -42°
GEG	used from 1244 nm out; 44 nm from the line		080/16 -2°	050/17 -7°	080/9 -10°	190/33 -21°	180/31 -32°	L/V -35°	L/V -37°	270/8 -40°
YKM	used from 1393 nm out; 53 nm from the line	070/10	040/15 -1°	020/27 -8°	030/25 -13°	020/48 -20°	010/83 -27°	010/77 -37°	010/49 -40°	350/14 -41°
SEA	used from 1443 nm out; 35 nm from the line	050/7	050/11 1°	050/12 -5°	030/31 -7°	010/61 -15°	010/69 -26°	360/73 -40°	360/62 -47°	330/21 -43°

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 (180°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	8:53 pm CDT (01:53 UTC)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	20 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	01:52 UTC
PDC Prairie du Chien, WI	169 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	660 ft	17:15 UTC
MWM Windom, MN	348 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	1,410 ft	02:29 UTC
MBG Mobridge, SD	597 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	1,716 ft	01:52 UTC
LEM Lemmon, SD	667 nm out, 20 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,572 ft
MLS Miles City, MT	826 nm out, 13 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots	4 mi	2,100 ft	2,634 ft	02:17 UTC
RPX Roundup, MT	935 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	no report just now				3,490 ft
MSO Missoula, MT	1164 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,300 feet Weather: light snow, mist	calm	6 mi	2,300 ft	3,205 ft	01:53 UTC
GEG Spokane, WA	1313 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the northeast (040°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	2,385 ft	01:53 UTC
MWH Moses Lake, WA	1383 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet	from the east (080°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	1,188 ft	01:52 UTC
SEA Seattle, WA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet	from the north (360°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	432 ft	6:53 pm PDT (01:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,490 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SEA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:47 am PDT (14:47 UTC)

Wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SEA

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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 SEA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 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 Pacific Northwest · 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, Seattle-Tacoma International.