Plan a flight · Sun 8:46 pm CDT (01:46 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to Raleigh-Durham International ORD → RDU

561 nautical miles (646 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 128°, about 131° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 24-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 11 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: 7,120 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 325 to 482 nm out.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120055
MKCE WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.

AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 207 to 463 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 335 to 492 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 423 to 512 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

B39M at 35,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 30 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest 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
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 30 nm along the route, 32 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
E145 at 2,600 ft, 30 nm northeast, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 138 nm along the route, 30 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B026
A321 at 21,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 197 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 0023/FL210/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
E545 at 28,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence. 197 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV ROD/TM 2315/FL280/TP E545/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over ROD
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E545
Turbulence
none
CRJ9 descending, 8 nm northeast, 8:15 pm CDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 207 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DAY UA /OV DAY/TM 0115/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK T031 B005
```
Report
a routine report filed through DAY
Where
over DAY
Time
01:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
T031 B005
E145 climbing, 8 nm northeast, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 207 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B005 T035
B744 climbing, 40 nm southwest, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 217 nm along the route, 40 nm southwest 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
B737 at 23,000 ft, 47 nm southwest, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 226 nm along the route, 47 nm southwest 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
P28A climbing, 8 nm southwest, 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions. 315 nm along the route, 8 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV DWU/TM 2315/FLDURC/TP P28A/TB SMOOTH/RM IMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over DWU
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
P28A
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
instrument conditions
CRJ9 climbing, 20 nm northeast, 7:15 pm CDT (00:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 364 nm along the route, 20 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV CRW/TM 0015/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 014 TOPS 070
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over CRW
Time
00:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,400 ft tops 7,000 ft
CRJ9 at 15,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 UTC): no turbulence. 404 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV BKW/TM 0023/FL150/TP CRJ9/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over BKW
Time
00:23 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
none
E135 descending, 8 nm northeast, 7:05 pm CDT (00:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 404 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CRW UA /OV BKW/TM 0005/FLDURD/TP E135/SK BASES 032
```
Report
a routine report filed through CRW
Where
over BKW
Time
00:05 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E135
Sky
bases 3,200 ft
E145 at 4,000 ft, 22 nm northeast, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the climb RY06 KROA. 453 nm along the route, 22 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROA UA /OV ROA/TM 0036/FL040/TP E145/SK OVC040/RM DURGC RY06 KROA
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROA
Where
over ROA
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb RY06 KROA

5 more routine reports are on the map.

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 7 forecast points nearest it (JOT, FWA, CVG, CMH, CRW, ROA, RDU). 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	300° at 10 kt	−10 kt		130 kt	4 h 19 min	2:05 am EDT (06:05 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	−14 kt		134 kt	4 h 11 min	1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	−14 kt	11 °C	134 kt	4 h 11 min	1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC)
9,500 ft	320° at 13 kt	−12 kt	8 °C	132 kt	4 h 15 min	2:01 am EDT (06:01 UTC)
11,500 ft	320° at 12 kt	−12 kt	5 °C	132 kt	4 h 15 min	2:01 am EDT (06:01 UTC)
13,500 ft	320° at 13 kt	−12 kt	0 °C	132 kt	4 h 15 min	2:01 am EDT (06:01 UTC)
15,500 ft	310° at 13 kt	−13 kt	-3 °C	133 kt	4 h 13 min	1:59 am EDT (05:59 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 14 kt	−14 kt	-8 °C	134 kt	4 h 11 min	1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 14 kt	−14 kt	-9 °C	134 kt	4 h 11 min	1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 20 kt	−17 kt	-20 °C	137 kt	4 h 06 min	1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 28 kt	−17 kt	-33 °C	137 kt	4 h 06 min	1:52 am EDT (05:52 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 34 kt	−18 kt	-40 °C	138 kt	4 h 04 min	1:50 am EDT (05:50 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	260° at 36 kt	−24 kt	-48 °C	144 kt	3 h 54 min	1:40 am EDT (05:40 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; 34 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°
FWA	used from 49 nm out; 66 nm from the line	350/9	350/24 15°	360/25 9°	360/29 4°	350/31 -10°	340/39 -22°	330/40 -37°	320/38 -43°	320/48 -48°
CVG	used from 197 nm out; 44 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°
CMH	used from 246 nm out; 56 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
CRW	used from 295 nm out; 45 nm from the line	320/16	310/16 12°	320/12 7°	320/12 2°	330/15 -11°	280/11 -22°	230/26 -30°	240/33 -37°	240/37 -47°
ROA	used from 394 nm out; 48 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
RDU	used from 492 nm out; 44 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°

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	30 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	8 mi	none	596 ft	00:50 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	108 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	810 ft	00:55 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN	158 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	937 ft	00:53 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH	207 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	8 mi	1,400 ft	1,009 ft	01:40 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH	246 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots	4 mi	500 ft	1,076 ft	00:54 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	325 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots	1 mi	700 ft	828 ft	00:51 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	364 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet Weather: mist	variable at 6 knots	1 mi	700 ft	947 ft	00:54 UTC
PSK Dublin, VA	443 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	from the west (270°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	2,104 ft	23:35 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	463 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 4,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 3 knots	6 mi	3,000 ft	1,175 ft	00:54 UTC
TDF Roxboro, NC	541 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 4,600 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	3,800 ft	608 ft	01:35 UTC
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	435 ft	8:51 pm EDT (00:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,104 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:40 am EDT (05:40 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RDU

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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 RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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 Northeast · 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, Raleigh-Durham International.