Plan a flight · Sun 7:56 pm CDT (00:56 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to San Francisco International ORD → SFO

1,600 nautical miles (1,842 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 13 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 7:51 am PDT (14:51 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 knots; SFO is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 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: 11,119 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 626 to 1302 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 755 to 1153 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 815 to 1292 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 835 to 1103 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 905 to 944 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 974 to 1362 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1401 to 1481 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

urgent BCS3 at 5,400 ft, 6 nm northeast, 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC): remarks: wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final. 1083 nm along the route, 6 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UUA /OV PVU310001/TM 2335/FL054/TP BCS3/RM WIND SHEAR 10 KT GAIN 1000 AGL ON FINAL
```
Report
an urgent report filed through PVU
Where
1 nm northwest (310°) of PVU
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 5,400 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
wind shear 10 knots gain 1000 above ground on final
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 42 nm south, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 785 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 16 nm south, 7:47 pm CDT (00:47 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 815 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG010052/TM 0047/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB COSN MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
52 nm north (010°) of RLG
Time
00:47 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
cosn moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
B39M at 32,000 ft, 41 nm south, 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: moderate mtw a 30-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-14. 835 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR069073/TM 2358/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL MOD CHOP/IC NEG/RM MOD MTW +/-30KT ZDVWC-14
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
73 nm east (069°) of EKR
Time
23:58 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Icing
none
Remarks
moderate mtw a 30-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-14
A21N at 33,000 ft, 21 nm south, 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mountain wave +25-30KTS. 875 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HDN UA /OV CHE/TM 2235/FL330/TP A21N/TB MOD/RM MTN WAVE +25-30KTS
```
Report
a routine report filed through HDN
Where
over CHE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mountain wave +25-30KTS
PA44 at 6,000 ft, 6 nm north, 6:25 pm CDT (23:25 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: runway in sight at at 6,400 ft. 1083 nm along the route, 6 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV PVU310002/TM 2325/FL060/TP PA44/TB MOD /RM RWY IN SIGHT AT 064
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
2 nm northwest (310°) of PVU
Time
23:25 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
PA44
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
runway in sight at at 6,400 ft
B739 at 11,000 ft, 43 nm north, 5:40 pm CDT (22:40 UTC): moderate turbulence, no icing, -4 °C, wind 180° at 40 knots, remarks: during the descent. 1093 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH240014/TM 2240/FL110/TP B739/TA M04/WV 180040/TB CONT MOD /IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
14 nm southwest (240°) of TCH
Time
22:40 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Temperature
−4 °C
Wind
from 180° at 40 knots
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
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
A21N at 34,000 ft, 13 nm north, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 199 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO180020/TM 2201/FL340/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
20 nm south (180°) of ALO
Time
22:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
A321 at 32,000 ft, 34 nm south, 4:58 pm CDT (21:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 577 nm along the route, 34 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LBF UA /OV LBF/TM 2158/FL320/TP A321/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LBF
Where
over LBF
Time
21:58 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 42 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 606 nm along the route, 42 nm south 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
B789 at 40,000 ft, 45 nm south, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 606 nm along the route, 45 nm south 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
B763 at 36,000 ft, 17 nm north, 5:48 pm CDT (22:48 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-33. 706 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BFF UA /OV BFF200020/TM 2248/FL360/TP B763/SK TOP 320-340/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC-33
```
Report
a routine report filed through BFF
Where
20 nm south (200°) of BFF
Time
22:48 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
top from 32,000 ft to 34,000 ft
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZDVWC-33

15 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 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	200° at 12 kt	+5 kt	18 °C	115 kt	13 h 55 min	7:51 am PDT (14:51 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 12 kt	+8 kt	14 °C	112 kt	14 h 17 min	8:13 am PDT (15:13 UTC)
8,500 ft	210° at 21 kt	+14 kt	10 °C	106 kt	15 h 06 min	9:02 am PDT (16:02 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 24 kt	+18 kt	6 °C	102 kt	15 h 41 min	9:37 am PDT (16:37 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	+22 kt	1 °C	98 kt	16 h 20 min	10:16 am PDT (17:16 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+23 kt	-3 °C	97 kt	16 h 30 min	10:26 am PDT (17:26 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	+24 kt	-7 °C	96 kt	16 h 40 min	10:36 am PDT (17:36 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 29 kt	+26 kt	-10 °C	94 kt	17 h 01 min	10:57 am PDT (17:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 34 kt	+31 kt	-21 °C	89 kt	17 h 59 min	11:55 am PDT (18:55 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 43 kt	+41 kt	-32 °C	79 kt	20 h 15 min	2:11 pm PDT (21:11 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 50 kt	+50 kt	-39 °C	70 kt	22 h 51 min	4:47 pm PDT (23:47 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 55 kt	+57 kt	-47 °C	63 kt	25 h 24 min	7:20 pm PDT (02:20 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; 31 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; 56 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°
DSM	used from 199 nm out; 44 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 298 nm out; 51 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; 68 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°
ONL	used from 447 nm out; 42 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
BFF	used from 596 nm out; 84 nm from the line		120/24	180/31 13°	210/26 7°	230/25 -7°	240/41 -20°	230/52 -36°	250/56 -41°	260/57 -45°
DEN	used from 795 nm out; 97 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°
RKS	used from 845 nm out; 94 nm from the line			190/43	210/65 3°	210/57 -9°	210/56 -21°	210/47 -33°	230/63 -37°	240/77 -46°
SLC	used from 994 nm out; 75 nm from the line		280/8	210/39 5°	210/52 -1°	200/50 -11°	200/56 -23°	220/61 -28°	230/73 -37°	230/73 -45°
ELY	used from 1143 nm out; 66 nm from the line			210/20 4°	240/21 -1°	230/37 -13°	200/58 -25°	220/73 -27°	220/73 -36°	220/69 -44°
BIH	used from 1342 nm out; 96 nm from the line		L/V	210/14 6°	210/20 -2°	230/26 -14°	220/32 -24°	220/63 -27°	220/56 -35°	230/50 -44°
RNO	used from 1392 nm out; 72 nm from the line		320/7	260/13 1°	230/21 -7°	210/38 -17°	220/43 -26°	230/54 -29°	230/59 -32°	230/54 -41°
SAC	used from 1491 nm out; 45 nm from the line	270/5	L/V 5°	L/V -1°	240/11 -5°	250/22 -15°	270/25 -24°	260/31 -27°	240/39 -33°	240/39 -42°
SFO	used from 1541 nm out; 35 nm from the line	220/11	L/V 5°	280/7 1°	270/15 -3°	290/23 -14°	310/29 -24°	280/26 -28°	250/30 -34°	250/36 -43°

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, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	00:52 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	169 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	869 ft	21:52 UTC
DNS Denison, IA	338 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,274 ft	00:35 UTC
BUB Burwell, NE	507 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	no report just now				2,183 ft
CYS Cheyenne, WY	755 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the east-southeast (110°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	6,159 ft	23:53 UTC
DWX Dixon, WY	885 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 11,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	6,548 ft	00:35 UTC
PVU Provo, UT	1083 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,500 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southwest (210°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	5,500 ft	4,496 ft	23:56 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	1233 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	6,259 ft	00:53 UTC
HTH Hawthorne, NV	1411 nm out, 7 nm south of the line	VFR	from the north-northwest (340°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20	10+ mi	none	4,230 ft	00:35 UTC
SCK Stockton, CA	1541 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	32 ft	23:55 UTC
SFO San Francisco, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	13 ft	4:56 pm PDT (23:56 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 SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:51 am PDT (14:51 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for SFO

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 16 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 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

6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ended 11 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 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

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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, San Francisco International.