Chicago O'Hare International to EL Paso International ORD → ELP
1,073 nautical miles (1,235 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 241°, about 244° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 10 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 knots; ELP is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19. 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: 1,417 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 W69W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm CDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 1043 to 1063 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 69W VALID UNTIL 0155Z TX NM AZ FROM 50ENE PGS-60SE ABQ-20ENE ELP-70SSW SSO-50SE BZA-50ENE PGS AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Near the route, at the destination end.
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
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 32 nm southeast 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, 41 nm east, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 41 nm east 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
- CRJ7 descending, 20 nm northwest, 4:52 pm CDT (21:52 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 517 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ICT UA /OV 19R FINAL 100FT/TM 2152/FL100F/TP CRJ7/TB 7KTS LOSS
- Report
- a routine report filed through ICT
- Where
- 19R final 100FT
- Time
- 21:52 UTC
- Height
- at 100F
- Aircraft
- CRJ7
- Turbulence
- 7 knots loss
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 10 forecast points nearest it (JOT, BRL, COU, MKC, ICT, GAG, AMA, LBB, ROW, ELP). 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 | 200° at 23 kt | +19 kt | 20 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 37 min | 5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +21 kt | 16 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 50 min | 5:22 am MDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 13 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 50 min | 5:22 am MDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 9 °C | 100 kt | 10 h 44 min | 5:16 am MDT (11:16 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +20 kt | 5 °C | 100 kt | 10 h 44 min | 5:16 am MDT (11:16 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | +21 kt | 1 °C | 99 kt | 10 h 50 min | 5:22 am MDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | +22 kt | -3 °C | 98 kt | 10 h 57 min | 5:29 am MDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | +23 kt | -6 °C | 97 kt | 11 h 04 min | 5:36 am MDT (11:36 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 29 kt | +27 kt | -17 °C | 93 kt | 11 h 32 min | 6:04 am MDT (12:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 40 kt | +35 kt | -30 °C | 85 kt | 12 h 37 min | 7:09 am MDT (13:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 44 kt | +37 kt | -40 °C | 83 kt | 12 h 56 min | 7:28 am MDT (13:28 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 50 kt | +37 kt | -51 °C | 83 kt | 12 h 56 min | 7:28 am MDT (13:28 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; 18 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 99 nm out; 39 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° |
| COU | used from 248 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| MKC | used from 298 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| ICT | used from 447 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 190/34 | 210/34 18° | 240/28 13° | 260/23 7° | 250/23 -6° | 240/29 -17° | 260/40 -30° | 260/47 -40° | 270/42 -51° |
| GAG | used from 596 nm out; 29 nm from the line | 190/34 19° | 240/27 14° | 240/26 8° | 240/24 -6° | 240/29 -16° | 250/50 -28° | 250/50 -39° | 260/46 -50° | |
| AMA | used from 695 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 190/28 | 220/26 14° | 230/27 7° | 250/24 -6° | 250/32 -16° | 240/51 -28° | 250/52 -38° | 250/51 -50° | |
| LBB | used from 795 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 180/26 20° | 210/21 13° | 230/21 7° | 250/25 -5° | 250/34 -16° | 250/52 -28° | 260/47 -38° | 260/49 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 894 nm out; 27 nm from the line | 180/23 | 190/24 15° | 210/27 7° | 230/35 -6° | 240/53 -17° | 240/62 -27° | 250/64 -38° | 260/60 -50° | |
| ELP | used from 993 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/15 | 200/16 15° | 200/17 6° | 220/40 -6° | 240/53 -16° | 230/62 -27° | 240/63 -38° | 250/59 -49° |
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) |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 30 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 23:52 UTC |
| GBG Galesburg, IL | 129 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 764 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| IRK Kirksville, MO | 238 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 23:55 UTC |
| OJC Olathe, KS | 368 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,096 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| BEC Wichita, KS | 497 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,408 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| AVK Alva, OK | 586 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,476 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| HHF Canadian, TX | 685 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 14 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 2,396 ft | 00:15 UTC |
| AMA Amarillo, TX | 765 nm out, 14 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 19 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 3,606 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 944 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,671 ft | 23:51 UTC |
| ELP El Paso, TX | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 3,961 ft | 5:51 pm MDT (23:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,961 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ELP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for ELP
- From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
- At times between Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) and 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30
- From Sun 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 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
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 993 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at ELP 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm MDT (01:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ELP is before sunrise there (7:06 am MDT (13:06 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, EL Paso International.