Chicago O'Hare International to Boeing Fld/King County International ORD → BFI
1,491 nautical miles (1,716 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 295°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 50 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:41 am PDT (13:41 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; BFI is VFR, wind from the northwest (310°) at 6 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: 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
- SIGMET 3W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, 825 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120055 MKCW WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3W VALID UNTIL 0255Z MT WY FROM 10WSW MLS-70E DDY-20N LAR-50E BPI-30NE BIL-10WSW MLS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 288 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, 398 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 586 to 1222 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 646 to 1222 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 924 to 1262 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 16,000 ft. Over the route from 1024 to 1382 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 ORD.
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 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 15 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, LSE, 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 | 120° at 5 kt | −6 kt | 4 °C | 126 kt | 11 h 50 min | 6:41 am PDT (13:41 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 140° at 3 kt | −4 kt | 9 °C | 124 kt | 12 h 01 min | 6:52 am PDT (13:52 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 4 kt | −1 kt | 5 °C | 121 kt | 12 h 19 min | 7:10 am PDT (14:10 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 9 kt | +2 kt | 1 °C | 118 kt | 12 h 38 min | 7:29 am PDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 13 kt | +6 kt | -1 °C | 114 kt | 13 h 05 min | 7:56 am PDT (14:56 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +8 kt | -5 °C | 112 kt | 13 h 19 min | 8:10 am PDT (15:10 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | +11 kt | -9 °C | 109 kt | 13 h 41 min | 8:32 am PDT (15:32 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 21 kt | +13 kt | -13 °C | 107 kt | 13 h 56 min | 8:47 am PDT (15:47 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 28 kt | +20 kt | -23 °C | 100 kt | 14 h 55 min | 9:46 am PDT (16:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 35 kt | +25 kt | -36 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 42 min | 10:33 am PDT (17:33 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 42 kt | +35 kt | -43 °C | 85 kt | 17 h 32 min | 12:23 pm PDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | +48 kt | -48 °C | 72 kt | 20 h 42 min | 3:33 pm PDT (22:33 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; 39 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 50 nm out; 57 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° |
| LSE | used from 149 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 220/33 | 250/29 17° | 250/15 9° | 260/12 6° | 280/21 -9° | 280/33 -20° | 300/43 -36° | 310/56 -45° | 300/79 -53° |
| MCW | used from 199 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| FSD | used from 348 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| ABR | used from 447 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 030/24 | 220/5 16° | 230/18 12° | 230/32 5° | 240/38 -10° | 250/37 -20° | 240/40 -35° | 240/56 -44° | 250/72 -52° |
| PIR | used from 547 nm out; 56 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| DIK | used from 646 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 110/15 6° | 200/17 5° | 230/31 1° | 240/47 -10° | 240/52 -20° | 230/52 -36° | 240/57 -45° | 250/67 -51° | |
| MLS | used from 745 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 120/22 5° | 170/18 4° | 200/33 1° | 230/49 -10° | 230/58 -21° | 220/54 -37° | 230/64 -44° | 250/74 -49° | |
| BIL | used from 895 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 080/24 | 130/14 -1° | 180/33 0° | 210/43 -10° | 220/58 -21° | 200/55 -36° | 220/75 -44° | 240/83 -48° | |
| GTF | used from 994 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 070/21 | 080/18 -6° | 120/5 -5° | 180/30 -14° | 200/53 -24° | 210/80 -38° | 220/83 -44° | 230/68 -46° | |
| GPI | used from 1143 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 060/19 -3° | 110/11 -8° | 130/6 -8° | 200/40 -19° | 190/58 -28° | 200/101 -39° | 220/73 -43° | 230/41 -43° | |
| GEG | used from 1242 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 050/18 -2° | 060/19 -8° | L/V -11° | 160/11 -24° | 190/17 -31° | 200/19 -35° | 220/14 -37° | 250/11 -41° | |
| YKM | used from 1391 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 030/16 | 020/18 0° | 030/30 -8° | 030/23 -13° | 020/40 -23° | 010/73 -29° | 010/54 -36° | 360/29 -37° | 330/16 -40° |
| SEA | used from 1441 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 360/9 | 350/10 1° | 010/10 -5° | 030/20 -11° | 020/60 -17° | 010/86 -26° | 360/90 -40° | 010/68 -42° | 360/31 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD Chicago, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC) |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 50 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| AEL Albert Lea, MN | 258 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 27,000 feet, a broken layer at 31,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 31,000 ft | 1,261 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| JYG St James, MN | 318 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,067 ft | 01:35 UTC |
| MBG Mobridge, SD | 586 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,300 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 1,300 ft | 1,716 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| LEM Lemmon, SD | 656 nm out, 14 nm north of the line | no report just now | 2,572 ft | ||||
| MLS Miles City, MT | 815 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet Weather: rain, mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 12 knots | 3 mi | 1,000 ft | 2,634 ft | 01:41 UTC |
| RPX Roundup, MT | 924 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | no report just now | 3,490 ft | ||||
| MSO Missoula, MT | 1153 nm out, 18 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain | from the north (010°) at 4 knots | 7 mi | 2,400 ft | 3,205 ft | 01:10 UTC |
| GEG Spokane, WA | 1302 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the northeast (040°) at 15 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 2,385 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MWH Moses Lake, WA | 1372 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 13 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 1,188 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| BFI Seattle, WA | destination | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 21 ft | 5:53 pm PDT (00:53 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 BFI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:41 am PDT (13:41 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, patches of fog, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BFI
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, 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 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for ORD, 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 ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at BFI 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BFI is before sunrise there (7:23 am PDT (14:23 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 O'Hare International, Boeing Fld/King County International.
