Chicago O'Hare International to Phoenix Sky Harbor International ORD → PHX
1,249 nautical miles (1,437 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 254°, about 257° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 12:31 pm MST (19:31 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 4 knots; PHX is VFR, wind from the east (090°) 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: 10,968 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 C10C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 859 to 879 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120555 MKCC WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C VALID UNTIL 0755Z CO NM FROM 20NNE PUB-40WSW LAA-30WSW CIM-50WSW ALS-50ESE HBU-20NNE PUB AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 140 to 769 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 759 to 1189 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 450 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1169 to 1229 nm out.
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
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: during the descent through clouds. At the destination end, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHX UA /OV PXR339030/TM 0515/FL140/TP B737/TB OCNL MOD/RM DURD THROUGH CLOUDS
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHX
- Where
- 30 nm north (339°) of PXR
- Time
- 05:15 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate
- Remarks
- during the descent through clouds
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 11 forecast points nearest it (JOT, BRL, DSM, MKC, SLN, GCK, PUB, ALS, ABQ, FMN, PHX). 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 | 230° at 33 kt | +31 kt | 21 °C | 89 kt | 14 h 02 min | 1:32 pm MST (20:32 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +30 kt | 16 °C | 90 kt | 13 h 53 min | 1:23 pm MST (20:23 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 12 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 01 min | 12:31 pm MST (19:31 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +24 kt | 8 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 01 min | 12:31 pm MST (19:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 4 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 01 min | 12:31 pm MST (19:31 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 0 °C | 92 kt | 13 h 35 min | 1:05 pm MST (20:05 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +32 kt | -4 °C | 88 kt | 14 h 12 min | 1:42 pm MST (20:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | +35 kt | -8 °C | 85 kt | 14 h 42 min | 2:12 pm MST (21:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 44 kt | +44 kt | -20 °C | 76 kt | 16 h 26 min | 3:56 pm MST (22:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 60 kt | +61 kt | -29 °C | 59 kt | 21 h 10 min | 8:40 pm MST (03:40 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 65 kt | +66 kt | -37 °C | 54 kt | 23 h 08 min | 10:38 pm MST (05:38 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 57 kt | +58 kt | -48 °C | 62 kt | 20 h 09 min | 7:39 pm MST (02:39 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; 24 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° |
| BRL | used from 100 nm out; 43 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 62 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° |
| MKC | used from 300 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| SLN | used from 400 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GCK | used from 550 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 220/48 21° | 230/37 14° | 250/30 8° | 230/37 -6° | 240/37 -20° | 240/69 -28° | 250/67 -37° | 260/58 -48° | |
| PUB | used from 749 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 799 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| ABQ | used from 899 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 220/27 11° | 210/35 5° | 220/46 -9° | 230/62 -20° | 240/78 -25° | 240/80 -35° | 240/56 -47° | ||
| FMN | used from 1049 nm out; 116 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| PHX | used from 1099 nm out; 125 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -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 30,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 680 ft | 12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC) |
| MLI Moline, IL | 120 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| FFL Fairfield, IA | 190 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 800 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 340 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CYW Clay Center, KS | 450 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 1,208 ft | ||||
| HYS Hays, KS | 550 nm out, 3 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,999 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| GCK Garden City, KS | 639 nm out, 21 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 19 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,890 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| RTN Raton, NM | 829 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | VFR | from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,352 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SKX Taos, NM | 889 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 7,094 ft | ||||
| XNI Zuni, NM | 1069 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,371 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| TYL Taylor, AZ | 1139 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,823 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| PHX Phoenix, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the east (090°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 1,134 ft | 10:51 pm MST (05:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,094 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At PHX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:31 pm MST (19:31 UTC)
Wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for PHX
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 4,000 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MST (16:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm MST (20:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm MST (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 pm MST (05:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
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
No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.
Daylight
Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at PHX 5:58 pm MST (00:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:23 pm MST (01:23 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, Phoenix Sky Harbor International.
