Plan a flight · Sun 8:10 pm CDT (01:10 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Mineta San Jose International MDW → SJC

1,593 nautical miles (1,833 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 276° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 8:16 am PDT (15:16 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots; SJC is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 10 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: 1,030 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 647 to 1304 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 757 to 1185 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 826 to 1304 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 846 to 1115 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 916 to 956 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 986 to 1364 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1304 to 1483 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, 23 nm north, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): remarks: wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final. 1085 nm along the route, 23 nm north 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
UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 35 nm south, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 587 nm along the route, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 32,000 ft, 46 nm south, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 727 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 26 nm south, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 787 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 4 nm northeast, 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 826 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG010052/TM 0047/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB COSN MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
52 nm north (010°) of RLG
Time
00:47 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
cosn moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
B39M at 32,000 ft, 24 nm south, 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: moderate mtw a 30-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-14. 846 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR069073/TM 2358/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL MOD CHOP/IC NEG/RM MOD MTW +/-30KT ZDVWC-14
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
73 nm east (069°) of EKR
Time
23:58 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Icing
none
Remarks
moderate mtw a 30-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-14
A21N at 33,000 ft, 4 nm southeast, 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave +25-30KTS. 886 nm along the route, 4 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HDN UA /OV CHE/TM 2235/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD/RM MTN WAVE +25-30KTS
```
Report
a routine report filed through HDN
Where
over CHE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mountain wave +25-30KTS
E75L at 22,000 ft, 4 nm south, 8:04 pm CDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence. 1055 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUC UA /OV PUC320020/TM 0104/FL220/TP E75L/TB MOD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUC
Where
20 nm northwest (320°) of PUC
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate zlc
PA44 at 6,000 ft, 24 nm north, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: runway in sight at at 6,400 ft. 1085 nm along the route, 24 nm north 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 18,000 ft, 46 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): moderate turbulence from 18,000 ft to 22,000 ft, remarks: mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed entered by zoa fdcs. 1434 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOL UA /OV BIH300011/TM 2324/FL 180/TP E75L/TB MOD 180-220/RM MTN WAVE /-10 ENTERED BY ZOA FDCS AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOL
Where
11 nm northwest (300°) of BIH
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate from 18,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
mountain wave a 10-knot loss of airspeed entered by zoa fdcs
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
B789 at 40,000 ft, 29 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 607 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 26 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 617 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc

15 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 14 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, BFF, DEN, RKS, GJT, SLC, ELY, BIH, SAC, SFO). 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	210° at 14 kt	+7 kt	19 °C	113 kt	14 h 06 min	8:16 am PDT (15:16 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 14 kt	+10 kt	15 °C	110 kt	14 h 29 min	8:39 am PDT (15:39 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	+15 kt	10 °C	105 kt	15 h 10 min	9:20 am PDT (16:20 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	+18 kt	6 °C	102 kt	15 h 37 min	9:47 am PDT (16:47 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	+21 kt	2 °C	99 kt	16 h 05 min	10:15 am PDT (17:15 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+23 kt	-2 °C	97 kt	16 h 25 min	10:35 am PDT (17:35 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+25 kt	-7 °C	95 kt	16 h 46 min	10:56 am PDT (17:56 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 28 kt	+26 kt	-10 °C	94 kt	16 h 57 min	11:07 am PDT (18:07 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 34 kt	+30 kt	-21 °C	90 kt	17 h 42 min	11:52 am PDT (18:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 43 kt	+42 kt	-31 °C	78 kt	20 h 25 min	2:35 pm PDT (21:35 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	250° at 49 kt	+50 kt	-39 °C	70 kt	22 h 45 min	4:55 pm PDT (23:55 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 54 kt	+56 kt	-47 °C	64 kt	24 h 53 min	7:03 pm PDT (02:03 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; 18 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; 36 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 199 nm out; 44 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; 48 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°
GRI	used from 448 nm out; 35 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
BFF	used from 597 nm out; 97 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°
DEN	used from 747 nm out; 64 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°
RKS	used from 846 nm out; 110 nm from the line			190/43	210/65 3°	210/57 -9°	210/56 -21°	210/47 -33°	230/63 -37°	240/77 -46°
GJT	used from 946 nm out; 76 nm from the line			210/40 11°	210/46 3°	210/61 -10°	210/68 -22°	220/57 -29°	230/59 -36°	240/66 -46°
SLC	used from 996 nm out; 91 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 1145 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°
BIH	used from 1344 nm out; 84 nm from the line		L/V	210/14 6°	210/20 -2°	230/26 -14°	220/32 -24°	220/63 -27°	220/56 -35°	230/50 -44°
SAC	used from 1493 nm out; 66 nm from the line	270/5	L/V 5°	L/V -1°	240/11 -5°	250/22 -15°	270/25 -24°	260/31 -27°	240/39 -33°	240/39 -42°
SFO	used from 1543 nm out; 45 nm from the line	220/11	L/V 5°	280/7 1°	270/15 -3°	290/23 -14°	310/29 -24°	280/26 -28°	250/30 -34°	250/36 -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 southeast (130°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	00:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	179 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	00:52 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	368 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	00:52 UTC
BBW Broken Bow, NE	538 nm out, 4 nm east of the line	VFR	from the north (350°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	2,546 ft	00:53 UTC
CYS Cheyenne, WY	767 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (100°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	6,159 ft	00:53 UTC
CAG Craig, CO	896 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,900 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 22	7 mi	5,000 ft	6,197 ft	00:53 UTC
PVU Provo, UT	1085 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	9 mi	7,500 ft	4,496 ft	00:56 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	1245 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	6,259 ft	00:53 UTC
HTH Hawthorne, NV	1424 nm out, 15 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 17 knots	10+ mi	none	4,230 ft	00:55 UTC
MOD Modesto, CA	1543 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	99 ft	00:53 UTC
SJC San Jose, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 5,500 feet	from the north (360°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	62 ft	5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SJC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:16 am PDT (15:16 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SJC

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 1483 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at SJC 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm PDT (02:01 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, Mineta San Jose International.