Plan a flight · Sun 7:32 pm CDT (00:32 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Buffalo Niagara International ORD → BUF

410 nautical miles (472 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 079°, about 082° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 39-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:07 pm EDT (03:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 knots; BUF is VFR, wind from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 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: 4,981 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 176 to 244 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 0 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

DH8D at 19,000 ft, 48 nm east, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
E170 at 25,000 ft, 10 nm east, 5:37 pm CDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. At the destination end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B39M at 35,000 ft, 30 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 30 nm south 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, 3 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 39 nm along the route, 3 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
A319 at 15,000 ft, 34 nm south, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 34 nm south 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
B38M at 31,000 ft, 4 nm south, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 107 nm along the route, 4 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 3 nm east, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 117 nm along the route, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over BTL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 3,100 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
tops 3,100 ft
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 137 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E55P descending, 17 nm south, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 195 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015
CRJ2 descending, 27 nm north, 5:30 pm CDT (22:30 UTC): overcast from 1,900 ft to 2,900 ft. 195 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FNT UA /OV FNT/TM 2230/FLDURD/TP CRJ2/SK OVC019 - TOP029
```
Report
a routine report filed through FNT
Where
over FNT
Time
22:30 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
overcast from 1,900 ft, tops 2,900 ft
BE36 at 3,000 ft, 7 nm south, 5:20 pm CDT (22:20 UTC): no turbulence, imc. 195 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV SVM/TM 2220/FL030/TP BE36/SK IMC/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over SVM
Time
22:20 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Sky
instrument conditions
Turbulence
smooth
A21N descending, 20 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): overcast above 1,500 ft. 205 nm along the route, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0022/FLDURD/TP A21N/SK OVC015
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A21N
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft
CRJ9 descending, 20 nm south, 7:08 pm CDT (00:08 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: final runway 4L. 205 nm along the route, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV DTW/TM 0008/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK OVC 011/RM FINAL RY 4L
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
over DTW
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
final runway 4L
GLF5 at 9,000 ft, 8 nm northwest, 6:13 pm CDT (23:13 UTC): overcast from 1,500 ft to 4,000 ft. 205 nm along the route, 8 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTK UA /OV PTK 7E/TM 2313/FL090/TP GLF5/SK OVC015-TOP040
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTK
Where
ptk 7E
Time
23:13 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Sky
overcast from 1,500 ft, tops 4,000 ft

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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE, BUF). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
3,500 ft	220° at 3 kt	−3 kt		123 kt	3 h 20 min	11:52 pm EDT (03:52 UTC)
5,500 ft	320° at 7 kt	−4 kt		124 kt	3 h 18 min	11:50 pm EDT (03:50 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 11 kt	−4 kt	11 °C	124 kt	3 h 18 min	11:50 pm EDT (03:50 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 12 kt	−5 kt	7 °C	125 kt	3 h 17 min	11:49 pm EDT (03:49 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 12 kt	−6 kt	4 °C	126 kt	3 h 15 min	11:47 pm EDT (03:47 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	−7 kt	0 °C	127 kt	3 h 14 min	11:46 pm EDT (03:46 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	−9 kt	-5 °C	129 kt	3 h 11 min	11:43 pm EDT (03:43 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−11 kt	-9 °C	131 kt	3 h 08 min	11:40 pm EDT (03:40 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 15 kt	−11 kt	-10 °C	131 kt	3 h 08 min	11:40 pm EDT (03:40 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 19 kt	−13 kt	-22 °C	133 kt	3 h 05 min	11:37 pm EDT (03:37 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 29 kt	−22 kt	-36 °C	142 kt	2 h 53 min	11:25 pm EDT (03:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 33 kt	−30 kt	-43 °C	150 kt	2 h 44 min	11:16 pm EDT (03:16 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	280° at 42 kt	−39 kt	-49 °C	159 kt	2 h 35 min	11:07 pm EDT (03:07 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; 48 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°
MKG	used from 49 nm out; 58 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
FWA	used from 147 nm out; 102 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CLE	used from 195 nm out; 88 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
BUF	used from 293 nm out; 93 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -50°

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 (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC)
BEH Benton Harbor, MI	68 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	649 ft	00:28 UTC
BTL Battle Creek, MI	117 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	951 ft	23:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	156 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,000 ft	23:56 UTC
PTK Pontiac, MI	205 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet	calm	1.5 mi	1,600 ft	980 ft	00:25 UTC
DET Detroit, MI	215 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	900 ft	624 ft	23:53 UTC
CYZR Sarnia,	254 nm out, 20 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 2,300 feet, overcast at 8,600 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 2 knots	9 mi	1,400 ft	594 ft	00:00 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	303 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	no report just now				776 ft
CYSN St Catharines,	391 nm out, 17 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 7 knots	15 mi	5,000 ft	321 ft	00:00 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	destination	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	726 ft	7:54 pm EDT (23:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,000 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At BUF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:07 pm EDT (03:07 UTC)

Wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet VFR

The whole forecast for BUF

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 3,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

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 BUF 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm EDT (23:06 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BUF is after sunset there (6:39 pm EDT (22:39 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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 O'Hare International, Buffalo Niagara International.