Plan a flight · Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC)

Chicago O'Hare International to John Wayne/Orange County ORD → SNA

1,497 nautical miles (1,722 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 260°, about 263° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (6,500 ft, a 25-knot headwind), arriving about 5:45 pm PDT (00:45 UTC). Right now ORD is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots; SNA is VFR, wind from the east (100°) at 4 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: 4,282 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 2W: 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 110 to 658 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 748 to 1197 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 768 to 988 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 828 to 1078 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 998 to 1457 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1048 to 1277 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 1167 to 1217 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 50 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

A321 at 31,000 ft, 24 nm north, 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 788 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:41 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
A21N at 33,000 ft, 24 nm north, 1:59 am CDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 788 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
B38M at 22,000 ft, 47 nm northwest, 3:14 am CDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 818 nm along the route, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
08:14 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
B38M at 37,000 ft, 18 nm northwest, 2:42 am CDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. 828 nm along the route, 18 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
55 nm west (280°) of PUB
Time
07:42 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
A320 at 31,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 828 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 3 nm west, 2:47 am CDT (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 868 nm along the route, 3 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
46 nm east (105°) of HBU
Time
07:47 UTC
Height
at 47,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Remarks
moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
PC12 at 26,000 ft, 13 nm north, 1:27 am CDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 868 nm along the route, 13 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
40 nm east (090°) of HBU
Time
06:27 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-12
BE20 at 9,000 ft, 23 nm south, 2:52 am CDT (07:52 UTC): light to moderate rime icing, -5 °C, remarks: during the descent zdvwc. 958 nm along the route, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0752/FL090/TP BE20/SK BASE110 TOP165/TA M05/IC LGT-MOD RIME/RM DURD. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
07:52 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Sky
BASE110 TOP165
Temperature
−5 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime
Remarks
during the descent zdvwc
PC12 at 11,000 ft, 23 nm south, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 958 nm along the route, 23 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE117
Turbulence
continuous light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS, BLH, ONT). 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	240° at 29 kt	+28 kt	17 °C	92 kt	16 h 16 min	6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 26 kt	+25 kt	14 °C	95 kt	15 h 45 min	5:45 pm PDT (00:45 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+25 kt	9 °C	95 kt	15 h 45 min	5:45 pm PDT (00:45 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	+26 kt	6 °C	94 kt	15 h 56 min	5:56 pm PDT (00:56 UTC)
12,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+28 kt	2 °C	92 kt	16 h 16 min	6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	+31 kt	-2 °C	89 kt	16 h 49 min	6:49 pm PDT (01:49 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-6 °C	85 kt	17 h 37 min	7:37 pm PDT (02:37 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 39 kt	+37 kt	-10 °C	83 kt	18 h 02 min	8:02 pm PDT (03:02 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 50 kt	+49 kt	-21 °C	71 kt	21 h 05 min	11:05 pm PDT (06:05 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 64 kt	+64 kt	-31 °C	56 kt	26 h 44 min	4:44 am PDT (11:44 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 70 kt	+71 kt	-37 °C	49 kt	30 h 33 min	8:33 am PDT (15:33 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 65 kt	+67 kt	-47 °C	53 kt	28 h 15 min	6:15 am PDT (13:15 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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; 26 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
DBQ	used from 100 nm out; 48 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
BRL	used from 150 nm out; 48 nm from the line	250/32	250/19 17°	260/15 11°	270/16 3°	290/23 -7°	260/42 -20°	270/52 -34°	280/63 -39°	290/64 -48°
DSM	used from 200 nm out; 42 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
OMA	used from 299 nm out; 50 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
GRI	used from 399 nm out; 65 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
GLD	used from 549 nm out; 73 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
PUB	used from 698 nm out; 70 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
ALS	used from 848 nm out; 41 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
FMN	used from 948 nm out; 41 nm from the line			220/16 6°	220/39 1°	220/50 -10°	230/67 -23°	230/94 -29°	230/102 -35°	230/90 -46°
BCE	used from 1097 nm out; 93 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
PRC	used from 1147 nm out; 89 nm from the line			200/37 6°	200/35 0°	220/60 -11°	220/71 -20°	220/88 -29°	220/98 -35°	220/94 -45°
LAS	used from 1247 nm out; 77 nm from the line		210/20 8°	210/29 4°	200/32 -3°	200/51 -15°	210/64 -21°	220/70 -30°	220/66 -38°	220/55 -44°
BLH	used from 1347 nm out; 77 nm from the line	240/19	210/20 10°	200/27 4°	210/34 -2°	220/59 -10°	220/67 -20°	220/75 -29°	230/78 -38°	220/90 -47°
ONT	used from 1397 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/11	200/20 4°	210/27 3°	220/26 -4°	240/32 -13°	220/52 -21°	220/67 -30°	220/72 -37°	220/65 -46°

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 broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	680 ft	3:51 am CDT (08:51 UTC)
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	20 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	08:52 UTC
CSQ Creston, IA	299 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,299 ft	08:55 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	399 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	08:54 UTC
NRN Norton, KS	559 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	2,384 ft	08:55 UTC
GLD Goodland, KS	649 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	3,657 ft	08:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	788 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (090°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	08:53 UTC
CEZ Cortez, CO	998 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	6,000 ft	5,917 ft	08:53 UTC
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ	1187 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 knots, gusting to 14	10+ mi	300 ft	6,608 ft	08:54 UTC
IFP Bullhead City, AZ	1307 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	707 ft	08:50 UTC
RIV Riverside, CA	1467 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	3,000 ft	1,536 ft	08:15 UTC
SNA Santa Ana, CA	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,700 feet, scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet	from the east (100°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	55 ft	1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:45 pm PDT (00:45 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SNA

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

The forecast for ORD, the departure

From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer 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

6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 1307 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:45 pm PDT (01:45 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, John Wayne/Orange County.