Plan a flight · Sun 8:05 pm CDT (01:05 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Blue Grass Airport ORD → LEX

281 nautical miles (323 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 146°, about 149° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 1 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 50-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:44 pm EDT (02:44 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; LEX is IFR, wind from the west (270°) 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: 5,009 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). 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

CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 39 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
B39M at 35,000 ft, 4 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 29 nm along the route, 4 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
A319 at 15,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 48 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast 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
E170 at 23,000 ft, 17 nm southwest, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 126 nm along the route, 17 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
Time
23:14 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light
B744 climbing, 32 nm northeast, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 223 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 north cvg
Time
00:02 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B744
Sky
B022 overcast T036
Turbulence
lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
B739 climbing, 23 nm northeast, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 223 nm along the route, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
23:31 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
B026 overcast T036
A333 at 4,000 ft, 18 nm northeast, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. 223 nm along the route, 18 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A333
Sky
B025 overcast T035
B737 at 23,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 233 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B753 at 32,000 ft, 27 nm northeast, 5:11 pm CDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 233 nm along the route, 27 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2211/FL320/TP B753/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B753
Turbulence
none
E170 climbing, 41 nm southwest, 5:26 pm CDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 242 nm along the route, 41 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
M600 at 1,800 ft, 36 nm southwest, 5:12 pm CDT (22:12 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 242 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LOU UA /OV DURD/TM 2212/FL018/TP M600/SK OVC018-TOPO37
```
Report
a routine report filed through LOU
Where
over DURD
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 1,800 ft
Aircraft
M600
Sky
OVC018-TOPO37
CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the destination end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018

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 4 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, CVG, LOU). 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	310° at 9 kt	−9 kt		129 kt	2 h 11 min	11:16 pm EDT (03:16 UTC)
5,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	−17 kt		137 kt	2 h 03 min	11:08 pm EDT (03:08 UTC)
7,500 ft	330° at 22 kt	−22 kt	12 °C	142 kt	1 h 59 min	11:04 pm EDT (03:04 UTC)
9,500 ft	330° at 24 kt	−24 kt	9 °C	144 kt	1 h 57 min	11:02 pm EDT (03:02 UTC)
11,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−25 kt	5 °C	145 kt	1 h 56 min	11:01 pm EDT (03:01 UTC)
13,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−25 kt	0 °C	145 kt	1 h 56 min	11:01 pm EDT (03:01 UTC)
15,500 ft	340° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-4 °C	146 kt	1 h 55 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
17,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-8 °C	146 kt	1 h 55 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 26 kt	−26 kt	-9 °C	146 kt	1 h 55 min	11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	340° at 37 kt	−37 kt	-21 °C	157 kt	1 h 47 min	10:52 pm EDT (02:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 45 kt	−45 kt	-36 °C	165 kt	1 h 42 min	10:47 pm EDT (02:47 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 47 kt	−47 kt	-42 °C	167 kt	1 h 41 min	10:46 pm EDT (02:46 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 51 kt	−50 kt	-48 °C	170 kt	1 h 39 min	10:44 pm EDT (02:44 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; 26 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°
IND	used from 97 nm out; 35 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
CVG	used from 194 nm out; 31 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°
LOU	used from 242 nm out; 40 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -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 south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC)
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	29 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	596 ft	00:50 UTC
RZL Rensselaer, IN	68 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	698 ft	23:35 UTC
LAF Lafayette, IN	107 nm out, 16 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	605 ft	00:54 UTC
IND Indianapolis, IN	155 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	796 ft	00:54 UTC
BAK Columbus, IN	184 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	656 ft	00:45 UTC
OVO North Vernon, IN	203 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line	no report just now				757 ft
FFT Frankfort, KY	262 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	calm		none	812 ft	00:53 UTC
LEX Lexington, KY	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	9 mi	800 ft	979 ft	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 979 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At LEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:44 pm EDT (02:44 UTC)

Wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR

The whole forecast for LEX

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 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

6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 25 nm from the route, 233 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID

Daylight

Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LEX is after sunset there (7:06 pm EDT (23:06 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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, Blue Grass Airport.