Chicago Midway International to John Wayne/Orange County MDW → SNA
1,502 nautical miles (1,728 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 265° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 20 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 4:27 pm PDT (23:27 UTC). 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: 3 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 99 to 666 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 716 to 1263 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 746 to 1183 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 796 to 905 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 965 to 1293 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 1163 to 1213 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 1193 to 1452 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1323 to 1462 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
Not fetched just now.
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, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS, BLH, ONT). 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 | 230° at 31 kt | +29 kt | 17 °C | 91 kt | 16 h 30 min | 5:37 pm PDT (00:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +28 kt | 14 °C | 92 kt | 16 h 20 min | 5:27 pm PDT (00:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 15 h 29 min | 4:36 pm PDT (23:36 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +22 kt | 6 °C | 98 kt | 15 h 20 min | 4:27 pm PDT (23:27 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +23 kt | 3 °C | 97 kt | 15 h 29 min | 4:36 pm PDT (23:36 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -2 °C | 93 kt | 16 h 09 min | 5:16 pm PDT (00:16 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +31 kt | -6 °C | 89 kt | 16 h 53 min | 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | +33 kt | -9 °C | 87 kt | 17 h 16 min | 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 42 kt | +41 kt | -20 °C | 79 kt | 19 h 01 min | 8:08 pm PDT (03:08 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 57 kt | +57 kt | -30 °C | 63 kt | 23 h 50 min | 12:57 am PDT (07:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 63 kt | +64 kt | -37 °C | 56 kt | 26 h 49 min | 3:56 am PDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 57 kt | +59 kt | -47 °C | 61 kt | 24 h 37 min | 1:44 am PDT (08:44 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; 13 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° |
| BRL | used from 99 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 199 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 298 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| GRI | used from 447 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| GLD | used from 547 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| PUB | used from 746 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 845 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 945 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 1094 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1144 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 210/25 5° | 200/30 1° | 220/55 -10° | 220/61 -21° | 220/84 -28° | 230/90 -34° | 230/73 -45° | ||
| LAS | used from 1293 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -44° | |
| BLH | used from 1342 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| ONT | used from 1392 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -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 | no report just now | 619 ft | ||||
| MLI Moline, IL | 129 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 589 ft | ||||
| AWG Washington, IA | 179 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | no report just now | 754 ft | ||||
| BIE Beatrice, NE | 418 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,323 ft | ||||
| HJH Hebron, NE | 457 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,468 ft | ||||
| CBK Colby, KS | 626 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,188 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 796 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| CEZ Cortez, CO | 1004 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,917 ft | ||||
| GCN Grand Canyon, AZ | 1183 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,608 ft | ||||
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1313 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 707 ft | ||||
| RIV Riverside, CA | 1472 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,536 ft | ||||
| SNA Santa Ana, CA | destination | no report just now | 55 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:27 pm PDT (23:27 UTC)
SNA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 1313 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 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
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, John Wayne/Orange County.