Plan a flight · Sun 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Northwest Alabama Regional ORD → MSL

434 nautical miles (500 statute miles) south on a straight line, true course 178°, about 181° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 2 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 44-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:33 pm CDT (03:33 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 knots; MSL is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the last 49 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

BE40 at 29,000 ft, 29 nm west, 6:22 pm CDT (23:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 26,000 ft to 29,000 ft, remarks: zme. At the destination end, 29 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TUP UA /OV TUP045041/TM 2322/FL290/TP BE40/TB OCNL MOD CHOP 290-260/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through TUP
Where
41 nm northeast (045°) of TUP
Time
23:22 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
BE40
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop from 29,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
zme
B763 at 29,000 ft, 20 nm west, 5:15 pm CDT (22:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZME31. At the destination end, 20 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MSL UA /OV MSL270020/TM 2215/FL290/TP B763/TB MOD/RM ZME31
```
Report
a routine report filed through MSL
Where
20 nm west (270°) of MSL
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 29,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZME31
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
B39M at 35,000 ft, 14 nm east, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 30 nm along the route, 14 nm east 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
B38M at 23,700 ft, 19 nm east, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 178 nm along the route, 19 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
B738 at 34,000 ft, 13 nm east, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 326 nm along the route, 13 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CKV UA /OV CKV/TM 2341/FL340/TP B738/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through CKV
Where
over CKV
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
B77W at 31,000 ft, 26 nm east, 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zme. 336 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315030/TM 2327/FL310/TP B77W/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
30 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
23:27 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B77W
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
zme
A319 at 32,000 ft, 33 nm east, 5:56 pm CDT (22:56 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 336 nm along the route, 33 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA315020/TM 2256/FL320/TP A319/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD CHOP/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
20 nm northwest (315°) of BNA
Time
22:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate chop
Remarks
ZME62
B38M at 25,000 ft, 36 nm west, 7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZME26. 355 nm along the route, 36 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MKL UA /OV MKL045035/TM 0012/FL250/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZME26
```
Report
a routine report filed through MKL
Where
35 nm northeast (045°) of MKL
Time
00:12 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZME26

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 5 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, EVV, BNA, HSV). 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	320° at 16 kt	−13 kt		133 kt	3 h 16 min	11:10 pm CDT (04:10 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	−23 kt	15 °C	143 kt	3 h 02 min	10:56 pm CDT (03:56 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 28 kt	−25 kt	11 °C	145 kt	3 h	10:54 pm CDT (03:54 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 31 kt	−27 kt	7 °C	147 kt	2 h 57 min	10:51 pm CDT (03:51 UTC)
12,500 ft	330° at 32 kt	−28 kt	3 °C	148 kt	2 h 56 min	10:50 pm CDT (03:50 UTC)
14,500 ft	330° at 31 kt	−27 kt	-1 °C	147 kt	2 h 57 min	10:51 pm CDT (03:51 UTC)
16,500 ft	330° at 30 kt	−26 kt	-6 °C	146 kt	2 h 58 min	10:52 pm CDT (03:52 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	330° at 29 kt	−25 kt	-9 °C	145 kt	3 h	10:54 pm CDT (03:54 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 36 kt	−33 kt	-20 °C	153 kt	2 h 50 min	10:44 pm CDT (03:44 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	330° at 52 kt	−44 kt	-35 °C	164 kt	2 h 39 min	10:33 pm CDT (03:33 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 53 kt	−44 kt	-42 °C	164 kt	2 h 39 min	10:33 pm CDT (03:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	330° at 45 kt	−38 kt	-48 °C	158 kt	2 h 45 min	10:39 pm CDT (03:39 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; 13 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 99 nm out; 71 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°
EVV	used from 148 nm out; 65 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
BNA	used from 296 nm out; 57 nm from the line	280/13	340/34 16°	330/38 10°	330/44 5°	330/39 -8°	330/38 -19°	320/49 -34°	330/53 -40°	330/35 -47°
HSV	used from 395 nm out; 49 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°

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)
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	20 nm out, 9 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	00:45 UTC
IKK Kankakee, IL	59 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	629 ft	00:35 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	118 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	754 ft	23:53 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	148 nm out, 23 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	23:53 UTC
AJG Mount Carmel, IL	207 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: haze	calm	0.5 mi	500 ft	429 ft	00:35 UTC
EVV Evansville, IN	237 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	421 ft	23:54 UTC
TWT Sturgis, KY	267 nm out, 11 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	372 ft	23:35 UTC
HVC Hopkinsville, KY	306 nm out, 11 nm east of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	563 ft	00:35 UTC
GHM Centerville, TN	365 nm out, 11 nm east of the line	no report just now				765 ft
MSL Muscle Shoals, AL	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	550 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 765 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MSL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 10:33 pm CDT (03:33 UTC)

Wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for MSL

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility 4 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC) and 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at MSL 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MSL is after sunset there (6:21 pm CDT (23:21 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 lower Mississippi valley · 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, Northwest Alabama Regional.