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

Chicago O'Hare International to Santa Barbara Municipal ORD → SBA

1,563 nautical miles (1,799 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 264°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 29 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 19-knot headwind), arriving about 9:34 am PDT (16:34 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; SBA is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 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: 232 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 677 to 1384 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 757 to 1344 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 856 to 1334 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 876 to 1065 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 1006 to 1045 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1055 to 1414 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1155 to 1215 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1354 to 1493 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 1483 nm along 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

UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 35 nm north, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 587 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 32 nm north, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 717 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 32,000 ft, 43 nm north, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 727 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 6 nm southeast, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 787 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
C650 at 40,000 ft, 39 nm north, 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 876 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2348/FL400/TP C650/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
23:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
C650
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
C680A at 16,000 ft, 26 nm north, 5:59 pm CDT (22:59 UTC): moderate turbulence, scattered clouds above 16,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 876 nm along the route, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV HAERI/TM 2259/FL160/TP C680A/SK SCT160/TB CONS MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
haeri
Time
22:59 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
C680A
Sky
scattered clouds from 16,000 ft
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Remarks
during the descent
UAL2238 at 38,000 ft, 37 nm south, 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 244° at 64 knots. 896 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2238 3807N 10649W 2344 F380 244/064KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C680 at 18,000 ft, 22 nm north, 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft. 896 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV ASE230020/TM 2235/FL180/TP C680/TB MOD/RM 180-100
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
20 nm southwest (230°) of ASE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C680
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft
E170 at 10,000 ft, 37 nm north, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 956 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT144009/TM 2341/FL100/TP E170/TB MOD SFC-100/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
9 nm southeast (144°) of GJT
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate from the surface to 10,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
UAL493 at 24,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 1225 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL493 3648N 11330W 2254 F240 TB MODERATE SK IN CLOUDS IC LIGHT
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
B39M at 35,000 ft, 32 nm southeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 32 nm southeast 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, 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
B789 at 40,000 ft, 44 nm north, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 597 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 48 nm north, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 607 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc

16 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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, ALS, GJT, BCE, LAS, WJF, SBA). 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	210° at 26 kt	+19 kt	13 °C	101 kt	15 h 29 min	9:34 am PDT (16:34 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+21 kt	14 °C	99 kt	15 h 47 min	9:52 am PDT (16:52 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+21 kt	11 °C	99 kt	15 h 47 min	9:52 am PDT (16:52 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 27 kt	+24 kt	7 °C	96 kt	16 h 17 min	10:22 am PDT (17:22 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+25 kt	2 °C	95 kt	16 h 27 min	10:32 am PDT (17:32 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+27 kt	-2 °C	93 kt	16 h 48 min	10:53 am PDT (17:53 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	+30 kt	-6 °C	90 kt	17 h 22 min	11:27 am PDT (18:27 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 33 kt	+31 kt	-9 °C	89 kt	17 h 34 min	11:39 am PDT (18:39 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-20 °C	85 kt	18 h 23 min	12:28 pm PDT (19:28 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 43 kt	+43 kt	-30 °C	77 kt	20 h 18 min	2:23 pm PDT (21:23 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 48 kt	+49 kt	-38 °C	71 kt	22 h 01 min	4:06 pm PDT (23:06 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 53 kt	+55 kt	-48 °C	65 kt	24 h 03 min	6:08 pm PDT (01:08 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; 28 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°
DBQ	used from 50 nm out; 61 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
BRL	used from 149 nm out; 57 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 36 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 299 nm out; 40 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
GRI	used from 398 nm out; 52 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
GLD	used from 548 nm out; 81 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
DEN	used from 697 nm out; 57 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°
ALS	used from 846 nm out; 90 nm from the line				210/32 5°	230/48 -8°	230/49 -20°	230/78 -30°	240/74 -36°	240/61 -47°
GJT	used from 896 nm out; 56 nm from the line			210/40 11°	210/46 3°	210/61 -10°	210/68 -22°	220/57 -29°	230/59 -36°	240/66 -46°
BCE	used from 1045 nm out; 77 nm from the line				210/47 0°	200/50 -12°	220/31 -23°	220/56 -26°	220/58 -35°	230/58 -45°
LAS	used from 1245 nm out; 44 nm from the line		200/25 11°	230/22 5°	240/25 -1°	220/37 -12°	220/44 -21°	210/52 -27°	210/60 -34°	220/58 -44°
WJF	used from 1394 nm out; 66 nm from the line		220/30 8°	240/28 5°	230/34 -2°	220/34 -13°	220/48 -20°	220/47 -29°	210/48 -34°	220/52 -44°
SBA	used from 1543 nm out; 10 nm from the line	L/V	170/13 7°	220/23 4°	220/30 -2°	230/26 -14°	230/34 -20°	220/38 -28°	220/37 -35°	220/43 -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 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	20 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	00:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	259 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	00:54 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	408 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	00:54 UTC
HSI Hastings, NE	478 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,961 ft	00:53 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	647 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	00:55 UTC
APA Denver, CO	787 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31	10+ mi	22,000 ft	5,884 ft	00:53 UTC
AIB Nucla, CO	976 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22	0.5 mi	8,500 ft	5,945 ft	22:15 UTC
AZC Colorado City, AZ	1195 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 3,700 feet Weather: heavy rain	from the southwest (220°) at 9 knots	7 mi	3,000 ft	4,873 ft	00:55 UTC
VGT Las Vegas, NV	1314 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	2,205 ft	00:53 UTC
MHV Mojave, CA	1474 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 14,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 32	10+ mi	14,000 ft	2,801 ft	22:15 UTC
SBA Santa Barbara, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 feet, scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: haze	from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots	6 mi	5,500 ft	13 ft	5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,945 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SBA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:34 am PDT (16:34 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet VFR

30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers

The whole forecast for SBA

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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

6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 797 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 816 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 1284 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 1314 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at SBA 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm PDT (01:54 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 northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Plains · 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, Santa Barbara Municipal.