Plan a flight · Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Yampa Valley Airport ORD → HDN

875 nautical miles (1,007 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 271°, about 274° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 22-knot headwind), arriving about 5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots; HDN is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) 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: 352 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 TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 368 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 487 to 636 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the last 189 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the last 109 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 50 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

BE20 at 12,500 ft, 21 nm north, 9:28 am CDT (14:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 9,000 ft to 12,000 ft, remarks: during the climb zdvwc. 755 nm along the route, 21 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CYS UA /OV CYS/TM 1428/FL125/TP BE20/TB MOD 090-120/RM DURC -ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through CYS
Where
over CYS
Time
14:28 UTC
Height
at 12,500 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
moderate from 9,000 ft to 12,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb zdvwc
B737 at 21,000 ft, 41 nm south, 9:05 am CDT (14:05 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent. 785 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN310025/TM 1405/FL210/TP B737/TB MOD TURB/RM MTN WAVE +30KTS 250-150 DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
25 nm northwest (310°) of DEN
Time
14:05 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate turbulence
Remarks
mountain wave a 30-knot gain of airspeed from 25,000 ft to 15,000 ft during the descent
B738 descending, 27 nm south, 8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC): moderate turbulence from 11,000 ft to 20,000 ft. 785 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV 40NW DEN/TM 1301/FLDURD/TP B738/TB MOD 200-110
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40NW den
Time
13:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate from 20,000 ft to 11,000 ft
B737 at 16,000 ft, 26 nm south, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent. 785 nm along the route, 26 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320040/TM 1223/FL160/TP B737/TB MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
40 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
during the descent
E75L at 30,000 ft, 30 nm north, 9:34 am CDT (14:34 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-34. 805 nm along the route, 30 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAR UA /OV LAR200010/TM 1434/FL300/TP E75L/TB MOD CHOP/RM -ZDVWC-34
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAR
Where
10 nm south (200°) of LAR
Time
14:34 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-34
B39M at 36,000 ft, 15 nm north, 8:18 am CDT (13:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 15 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PWK UA /OV OBK/TM 1318/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through PWK
Where
over OBK
Time
13:18 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
B752 at 34,000 ft, 38 nm north, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 139 nm along the route, 38 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DBQ UA /OV DBQ300020/TM 1223/FL340/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DBQ
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of DBQ
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
occasional light chop
A321 at 32,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC): light chop turbulence. 169 nm along the route, 7 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CID UA /OV CID360010/TM 1225/FL320/TP A321/TB INTMT LGT CHOP CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CID
Where
10 nm north (360°) of CID
Time
12:25 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
intermittent light chop continuous light chop
P46T at 31,000 ft, 39 nm north, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 209 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO270005/TM 1337/FL310/TP P46T/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
5 nm west (270°) of ALO
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
P46T
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
B38M at 17,000 ft, 47 nm south, 7:41 am CDT (12:41 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 398 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNK UA /OV LNK/TM 1241/FL170/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNK
Where
over LNK
Time
12:41 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
B738 at 38,000 ft, 18 nm south, 8:09 am CDT (13:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-35. 576 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1309/FL380/TP B738/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM -ZDVWC-35
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBF
Where
over LBF
Time
13:09 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-35
CRJ7 at 36,000 ft, 18 nm south, 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 576 nm along the route, 18 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 1209/FL360/TP CRJ7/TB LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBF
Where
over LBF
Time
12:09 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
C56X at 6,000 ft, 37 nm south, 9:37 am CDT (14:37 UTC): clear from 6,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: ZDVWC-19. 656 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HEQ UA /OV HEQ/TM 1437/FL060/TP C56X/SK SKC/RM -ZDVWC-19
```
Report
a routine report filed through HEQ
Where
over HEQ
Time
14:37 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
clear
Remarks
ZDVWC-19
B737 at 18,000 ft, 43 nm south, 8:50 am CDT (13:50 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: from the surface to 18,000 ft. 765 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN350020/TM 1350/FL180/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM SFC-180
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
20 nm north (350°) of DEN
Time
13:50 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light to moderate
Remarks
from the surface to 18,000 ft

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 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 7 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, BFF, DEN). 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	250° at 23 kt	+22 kt	19 °C	98 kt	8 h 56 min	5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC)
6,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+24 kt	18 °C	96 kt	9 h 07 min	6:07 pm MDT (00:07 UTC)
8,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+24 kt	13 °C	96 kt	9 h 07 min	6:07 pm MDT (00:07 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+27 kt	8 °C	93 kt	9 h 25 min	6:25 pm MDT (00:25 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 32 kt	+29 kt	4 °C	91 kt	9 h 37 min	6:37 pm MDT (00:37 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 33 kt	+31 kt	-1 °C	89 kt	9 h 50 min	6:50 pm MDT (00:50 UTC)
16,500 ft	240° at 34 kt	+32 kt	-6 °C	88 kt	9 h 57 min	6:57 pm MDT (00:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	240° at 36 kt	+33 kt	-9 °C	87 kt	10 h 03 min	7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 46 kt	+45 kt	-21 °C	75 kt	11 h 40 min	8:40 pm MDT (02:40 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 61 kt	+61 kt	-31 °C	59 kt	14 h 50 min	11:50 pm MDT (05:50 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 71 kt	+71 kt	-37 °C	49 kt	17 h 51 min	2:51 am MDT (08:51 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 67 kt	+68 kt	-46 °C	52 kt	16 h 50 min	1:50 am MDT (07:50 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 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; 31 nm from the line	230/30	250/26 16°	270/27 11°	280/34 5°	290/32 -8°	280/37 -21°	280/40 -36°	290/46 -37°	290/56 -47°
DBQ	used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line	250/26	240/32 19°	250/35 11°	260/37 5°	270/35 -9°	270/40 -21°	270/43 -35°	280/49 -37°	280/58 -46°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 40 nm from the line	230/34	230/32 20°	220/33 12°	240/35 5°	250/39 -7°	250/43 -21°	280/61 -31°	280/73 -37°	280/67 -47°
OMA	used from 298 nm out; 45 nm from the line	210/23	240/34 20°	230/40 14°	220/43 7°	240/38 -8°	250/47 -21°	270/70 -29°	270/79 -36°	270/68 -48°
GRI	used from 398 nm out; 60 nm from the line		270/26 19°	230/33 13°	230/39 8°	230/43 -9°	240/55 -21°	250/76 -28°	260/84 -36°	260/68 -47°
BFF	used from 596 nm out; 92 nm from the line		310/15	280/27 8°	250/27 2°	230/30 -12°	240/52 -22°	250/66 -32°	240/78 -37°	240/76 -43°
DEN	used from 745 nm out; 60 nm from the line			230/7 11°	230/13 4°	230/40 -9°	230/48 -20°	240/66 -32°	240/88 -38°	230/100 -47°

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 southwest (220°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	9:51 am CDT (14:51 UTC)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	20 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	14:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	169 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	13:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	258 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	25,000 ft	957 ft	14:54 UTC
PRO Perry, IA	278 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,013 ft	14:55 UTC
TQE Tekamah, NE	368 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 14 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	14:54 UTC
ODX Ord, NE	497 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: a broken layer at 300 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 10 knots	8 mi	300 ft	2,070 ft	14:53 UTC
BBW Broken Bow, NE	527 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 11 knots	4 mi	200 ft	2,546 ft	14:53 UTC
SNY Sidney, NE	676 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	4,314 ft	19:53 UTC
CYS Cheyenne, WY	755 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-northwest (290°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	6,159 ft	14:53 UTC
SBS Steamboat Springs, CO	855 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	6,500 ft	6,882 ft	14:55 UTC
HDN Hayden, CO	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	6,606 ft	8:56 am MDT (14:56 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,882 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At HDN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:56 pm MDT (23:56 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for HDN

From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Tue 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
30% chance between Tue 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,000 feet

The forecast for ORD, the departure

From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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
From Mon 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 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 HDN 6:32 pm MDT (00:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 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 Rockies · 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, Yampa Valley Airport.