Plan a flight · Sun 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC)

Chicago Midway International to Van Nuys Airport MDW → VNY

1,514 nautical miles (1,743 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 42 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 7:13 am PDT (14:13 UTC). Right now MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots; VNY is VFR, wind from the south (180°) 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: 7 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

SIGMET W63W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC). Over the route from 827 to 1046 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 112255
MKCW WST 112255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 63W
VALID UNTIL 0055Z
CO NM AZ UT
FROM 30SSW MTU-30NW PUB-20NW TCC-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SSW MTU
AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
WIND GUSTS TO 50KT POSS.

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 737 to 1415 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 767 to 1345 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 877 to 1345 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 897 to 1016 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 1026 to 1076 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1086 to 1425 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 1176 to 1305 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1355 to 1505 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1465 to 1505 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 E545 at 6,000 ft, 47 nm north, 4:49 pm CDT (21:49 UTC): remarks: low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L. 787 nm along the route, 47 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
APA UUA /OV APA350002/TM 2149/FL060/TP E545/RM LLWS +/- 5 KT FAP RWY 17L
```
Report
an urgent report filed through APA
Where
2 nm north (350°) of APA
Time
21:49 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
E545
Remarks
low-level wind shear + 5 knots fap runway 17L
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 23 nm north, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 787 nm along the route, 23 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 12 nm north, 5:02 pm CDT (22:02 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb from KDEN from 12,000 ft to 19,000 ft ZDVWC-41. 807 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK262015/TM 2202/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB MOD CHOP/RM DURC FROM KDEN 120-190 ZDVWC-41
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm west (262°) of BRK
Time
22:02 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
during the climb from KDEN from 12,000 ft to 19,000 ft ZDVWC-41
B739 at 31,000 ft, 24 nm northwest, 3:49 pm CDT (20:49 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw 15+20 zdvwc. 837 nm along the route, 24 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK262055/TM 2049/FL310/TP B739/TB OCNL LGT-IMTMT MOD /RM MTW -15+20 ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
55 nm west (262°) of BRK
Time
20:49 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
occasional lgt-imtmt moderate
Remarks
mtw 15+20 zdvwc
C25B at 23,000 ft, 20 nm north, 4:06 pm CDT (21:06 UTC): moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: zlawc. 1176 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV PGA255040/TM 2106/FL230/TP C25B/TA M05/IC MOD RIME/RM ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
40 nm west (255°) of PGA
Time
21:06 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
moderate rime
Remarks
zlawc
UAL493 at 24,000 ft, 37 nm northwest, 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 1226 nm along the route, 37 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL493 3648N 11330W 2254 F240 TB MODERATE SK IN CLOUDS IC LIGHT
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
CL30 at 24,000 ft, 13 nm south, 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence from 19,000 ft to 24,000 ft, light rime icing, -3 °C, remarks: during the climb zlawc. 1405 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAG UA /OV HEC/TM 2100/FL240/TP CL30/TA M03/TB MOD CAT OCNL 190-240/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAG
Where
over HEC
Time
21:00 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
CL30
Temperature
−3 °C
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence occasional from 19,000 ft to 24,000 ft
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb zlawc
B737 at 14,000 ft, 12 nm south, 4:54 pm CDT (21:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV 20N ONT/TM 2154/FL140/TP B737/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
20N ont
Time
21:54 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
B738 descending, 11 nm south, 4:37 pm CDT (21:37 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT358021/TM 2137/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MODERATE CHOP STARTING AT 130
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
21 nm north (358°) of ONT
Time
21:37 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate chop starting at at 13,000 ft
A319 at 15,000 ft, 47 nm east, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. At the departure end, 47 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through PPO
Where
over PPO
Time
22:08 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
B39M at 34,000 ft, 42 nm north, 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORD UA /OV OBK360015/TM 2100/FL340/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORD
Where
15 nm north (360°) of OBK
Time
21:00 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
C17 at 500 ft, 4 nm northwest, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the departure end, 4 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L arrival
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
E50P at 36,000 ft, 46 nm south, 4:25 pm CDT (21:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PNT UA /OV PNT/TM 2125/FL360/TP E50P/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through PNT
Where
over PNT
Time
21:25 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
E50P
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
CRJ7 at 37,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 4:06 pm CDT (21:06 UTC): no turbulence. 169 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IOW UA /OV IOW/TM 2106/FL370/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IOW
Where
over IOW
Time
21:06 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none

16 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 13 forecast points nearest it (JOT, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, LAS, ONT, WJF). 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 24 kt	+17 kt	14 °C	103 kt	14 h 42 min	7:13 am PDT (14:13 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	+19 kt	14 °C	101 kt	14 h 59 min	7:30 am PDT (14:30 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 22 kt	+20 kt	11 °C	100 kt	15 h 08 min	7:39 am PDT (14:39 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+23 kt	7 °C	97 kt	15 h 36 min	8:07 am PDT (15:07 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+24 kt	3 °C	96 kt	15 h 46 min	8:17 am PDT (15:17 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+26 kt	-1 °C	94 kt	16 h 06 min	8:37 am PDT (15:37 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+29 kt	-6 °C	91 kt	16 h 38 min	9:09 am PDT (16:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 32 kt	+31 kt	-9 °C	89 kt	17 h 01 min	9:32 am PDT (16:32 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	240° at 34 kt	+33 kt	-20 °C	87 kt	17 h 24 min	9:55 am PDT (16:55 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 46 kt	+46 kt	-30 °C	74 kt	20 h 28 min	12:59 pm PDT (19:59 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 50 kt	+52 kt	-38 °C	68 kt	22 h 16 min	2:47 pm PDT (21:47 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 51 kt	+54 kt	-48 °C	66 kt	22 h 56 min	3:27 pm PDT (22:27 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; 14 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°
BRL	used from 100 nm out; 51 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 49 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; 54 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 399 nm out; 67 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°
GLD	used from 548 nm out; 79 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
PUB	used from 747 nm out; 40 nm from the line			210/24 16°	210/28 8°	230/43 -8°	240/42 -21°	240/77 -30°	240/72 -36°	250/51 -47°
ALS	used from 847 nm out; 61 nm from the line				210/32 5°	230/48 -8°	230/49 -20°	230/78 -30°	240/74 -36°	240/61 -47°
FMN	used from 947 nm out; 66 nm from the line			220/25 13°	220/28 4°	210/51 -9°	220/59 -21°	230/78 -30°	230/77 -36°	230/66 -46°
BCE	used from 1046 nm out; 97 nm from the line				210/47 0°	200/50 -12°	220/31 -23°	220/56 -26°	220/58 -35°	230/58 -45°
LAS	used from 1245 nm out; 57 nm from the line		200/25 11°	230/22 5°	240/25 -1°	220/37 -12°	220/44 -21°	210/52 -27°	210/60 -34°	220/58 -44°
ONT	used from 1395 nm out; 65 nm from the line	230/11	200/17 6°	230/27 4°	230/32 -2°	210/39 -12°	220/51 -20°	220/48 -29°	210/51 -34°	210/52 -44°
WJF	used from 1445 nm out; 29 nm from the line		220/30 8°	240/28 5°	230/34 -2°	220/34 -13°	220/48 -20°	220/47 -29°	210/48 -34°	220/52 -44°

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 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	5:53 pm CDT (22:53 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	22:52 UTC
OOA Oskaloosa, IA	219 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	7 mi	none	840 ft	23:15 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	409 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 26	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	22:54 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS	588 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	2,706 ft	23:15 UTC
ADT Atwood, KS	618 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	2,990 ft	23:15 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	797 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 19 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	22:54 UTC
TEX Telluride, CO	957 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-southeast (120°) at 8 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	4,900 ft	9,069 ft	23:15 UTC
PGA Page, AZ	1136 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 feet, a few clouds at 7,500 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 18 knots, gusting to 28	10+ mi	10,000 ft	4,316 ft	22:53 UTC
HND Las Vegas, NV	1315 nm out, 25 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 12,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots	10+ mi	none	2,491 ft	22:56 UTC
VCV Victorville, CA	1455 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 34 knots	10+ mi	none	2,885 ft	23:10 UTC
VNY Van Nuys, CA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	802 ft	3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At VNY when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:13 am PDT (14:13 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for VNY

From Sun 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
From Sun 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC) and 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers

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

6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 12 nm from the route, 807 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 827 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at MDW 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC), at VNY 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:48 pm PDT (01:48 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, Van Nuys Airport.