Chicago O'Hare International to Yellowstone Regional ORD → COD
933 nautical miles (1,074 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 287°, about 290° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 5 knots; COD is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16. 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: 21 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 8C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Near the route, 725 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120455 MKCC WST 120455 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8C VALID UNTIL 0655Z NE SD WY FROM 50WNW RAP-20SSW RAP-60NW BFF-40ENE DDY-50WNW RAP DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- 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 308 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). Over the last 477 nm of the route.
- 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 685 to 884 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 715 to 913 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 139 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 89 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 8 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, MCW, FSD, PIR, RAP, MLS, BIL). 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 19 kt | +6 kt | 13 °C | 114 kt | 8 h 11 min | 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +9 kt | 14 °C | 111 kt | 8 h 24 min | 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | +9 kt | 12 °C | 111 kt | 8 h 24 min | 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +12 kt | 8 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 38 min | 8:14 am MDT (14:14 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +15 kt | 4 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 53 min | 8:29 am MDT (14:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +16 kt | -1 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 58 min | 8:34 am MDT (14:34 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +18 kt | -5 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 09 min | 8:45 am MDT (14:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 240° at 25 kt | +20 kt | -9 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 20 min | 8:56 am MDT (14:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 30 kt | +25 kt | -21 °C | 95 kt | 9 h 49 min | 9:25 am MDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 37 kt | +29 kt | -35 °C | 91 kt | 10 h 15 min | 9:51 am MDT (15:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 50 kt | +46 kt | -41 °C | 74 kt | 12 h 36 min | 12:12 pm MDT (18:12 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 57 kt | +55 kt | -48 °C | 65 kt | 14 h 21 min | 1:57 pm MDT (19:57 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; 37 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° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| MCW | used from 199 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| FSD | used from 347 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| PIR | used from 496 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 596 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| MLS | used from 794 nm out; 122 nm from the line | 150/23 2° | 190/29 4° | 210/44 2° | 220/32 -10° | 210/36 -21° | 200/48 -37° | 230/63 -40° | 240/71 -47° | |
| BIL | used from 844 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 080/13 | 180/9 -2° | 210/38 0° | 220/51 -11° | 210/46 -22° | 210/58 -35° | 230/73 -39° | 230/72 -45° |
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 | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 11:51 pm CDT (04:51 UTC) |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 50 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 129 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 199 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| ISB Sibley, IA | 357 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,537 ft | ||||
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 397 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 04:56 UTC |
| PHP Philip, SD | 616 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 400 ft | 2,209 ft | 04:55 UTC |
| RAP Rapid City, SD | 675 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 700 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north-northeast (030°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 700 ft | 3,203 ft | 04:52 UTC |
| GCC Gillette, WY | 784 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet | from the east-northeast (060°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 400 ft | 4,365 ft | 05:08 UTC |
| GEY Greybull, WY | 894 nm out, 2 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 12 knots | 7 mi | 1,100 ft | 3,941 ft | 05:34 UTC |
| COD Cody, WY | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: unknown precipitation | from the north-northeast (030°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | 1,200 ft | 5,102 ft | 10:56 pm MDT (04:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,102 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:47 am MDT (13:47 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for COD
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, light showers rain snow, mist, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC) and 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light showers rain snow
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet and more above
The forecast for ORD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the 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 COD 6:37 pm MDT (00:37 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm MDT (01:06 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, Yellowstone Regional.
