Chicago O'Hare International to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport ORD → OAK
1,591 nautical miles (1,831 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 knots; OAK is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 8 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: 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 W15W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 28,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 1223 to 1333 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120555 MKCW WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 15W VALID UNTIL 0755Z UT NV FROM 60WNW BVL-10NE BVL-80E OAL-40SE OAL-20W OAL-60WNW BVL AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL280.
- 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 109 to 686 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). Near the route, 517 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 656 to 1074 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 706 to 1253 nm out.
- 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 786 to 965 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 845 to 1353 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 895 to 945 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 905 to 1353 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 99 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
- B38M at 21,500 ft, 34 nm south, 11:33 pm CDT (04:33 UTC): light turbulence up to 25,000 ft, remarks: during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13. 806 nm along the route, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN305065/TM 0433/FL215/TP B38M/TB LGT BLO 250/RM DURD FLATI STAR. ZDVWC-13
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 65 nm northwest (305°) of DEN
- Time
- 04:33 UTC
- Height
- at 21,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Turbulence
- light below 25,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent flati star ZDVWC-13
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 15 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, ONL, BFF, DEN, RKS, SLC, ELY, BIH, RNO, SAC, SFO). 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 | 220° at 19 kt | +13 kt | 20 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 52 min | 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 17 kt | +13 kt | 15 °C | 107 kt | 14 h 52 min | 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 15 h 18 min | 3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 15 h 18 min | 3:03 pm PDT (22:03 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | +18 kt | 1 °C | 102 kt | 15 h 36 min | 3:21 pm PDT (22:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +20 kt | -3 °C | 100 kt | 15 h 55 min | 3:40 pm PDT (22:40 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +22 kt | -8 °C | 98 kt | 16 h 14 min | 3:59 pm PDT (22:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -11 °C | 97 kt | 16 h 24 min | 4:09 pm PDT (23:09 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 32 kt | +28 kt | -22 °C | 92 kt | 17 h 18 min | 5:03 pm PDT (00:03 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 41 kt | +36 kt | -31 °C | 84 kt | 18 h 56 min | 6:41 pm PDT (01:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 48 kt | +46 kt | -37 °C | 74 kt | 21 h 30 min | 9:15 pm PDT (04:15 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 51 kt | +51 kt | -46 °C | 69 kt | 23 h 03 min | 10:48 pm PDT (05:48 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; 31 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; 55 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° |
| DSM | used from 199 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 298 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| GRI | used from 398 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 448 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| BFF | used from 597 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| DEN | used from 796 nm out; 99 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| RKS | used from 845 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 995 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 1144 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| BIH | used from 1343 nm out; 97 nm from the line | L/V | 240/7 1° | 190/13 -3° | 200/26 -16° | 210/43 -26° | 220/54 -28° | 220/51 -35° | 220/47 -43° | |
| RNO | used from 1392 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| SAC | used from 1492 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 110/6 | L/V 4° | 010/11 -2° | 350/11 -7° | 340/24 -16° | 360/44 -23° | 330/24 -30° | 270/21 -35° | 230/23 -43° |
| SFO | used from 1542 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -44° |
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 30,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC) |
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 20 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 758 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 169 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| DNS Denison, IA | 338 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,274 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 507 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 756 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| DWX Dixon, WY | 885 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 6,548 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| PVU Provo, UT | 1084 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 4,496 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| ELY Ely, NV | 1233 nm out, 16 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,500 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet Weather: light rain | from the south-southeast (160°) at 19 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | 3,500 ft | 6,259 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 1382 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| SCK Stockton, CA | 1542 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 32 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| OAK Oakland, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 9 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,548 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At OAK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:37 pm PDT (21:37 UTC)
Wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for OAK
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 22 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at OAK 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 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, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.
