Norfolk International to Chicago Midway International ORF → MDW
611 nautical miles (703 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 302°, about 311° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 13-knot headwind), arriving about 4:14 am CDT (09:14 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ORF is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 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: 1,138 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 E11E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 12:55 am EDT (04:55 UTC). Near the route, at the departure end.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120255 MKCE WST 120255 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11E VALID UNTIL 0455Z NY NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND DE NJ NY MD CT VA CSTL WTRS FROM 20NE JFK-90SE SIE-20NNW ORF-30ENE EKN-10S JST-20NE JFK AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- 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 99 to 581 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 118 to 236 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 148 to 286 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 ORF.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A320 at 34,000 ft, 12 nm north, 10:03 pm EDT (02:03 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 443 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
FWA UA /OV FWA115040/TM 0203/FL340/TP A320/TB MOD CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through FWA
- Where
- 40 nm southeast (115°) of FWA
- Time
- 02:03 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- BCS3 at 25,000 ft, 7 nm north, 8:58 pm EDT (00:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 286 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PKB UA /OV JPU/TM 0058/FL250/TP BCS3/TB LGT/IC NEG/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through PKB
- Where
- over JPU
- Time
- 00:58 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- light
- Icing
- none
- Remarks
- during the climb
- BCS3 climbing, 3 nm north, 10:27 pm EDT (02:27 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 365 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 0227/FLDURC/TP BCS3/SK B010
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over CMH
- Time
- 02:27 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Sky
- B010
- CRJ9 descending, 31 nm southwest, 9:15 pm EDT (01:15 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 414 nm along the route, 31 nm southwest 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
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 7 forecast points nearest it (ORF, RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, FWA, JOT). 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 | 300° at 17 kt | +17 kt | 12 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 56 min | 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +17 kt | 12 °C | 103 kt | 5 h 56 min | 4:27 am CDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 310° at 17 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 52 min | 4:23 am CDT (09:23 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +14 kt | 6 °C | 106 kt | 5 h 46 min | 4:17 am CDT (09:17 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 13 kt | +13 kt | 3 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 43 min | 4:14 am CDT (09:14 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | +16 kt | -1 °C | 104 kt | 5 h 52 min | 4:23 am CDT (09:23 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 300° at 20 kt | +19 kt | -5 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 03 min | 4:34 am CDT (09:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 22 kt | +21 kt | -8 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 10 min | 4:41 am CDT (09:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 28 kt | +27 kt | -19 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 34 min | 5:05 am CDT (10:05 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 33 kt | +31 kt | -34 °C | 89 kt | 6 h 52 min | 5:23 am CDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 44 kt | +42 kt | -41 °C | 78 kt | 7 h 50 min | 6:21 am CDT (11:21 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 40 kt | +39 kt | -49 °C | 81 kt | 7 h 33 min | 6:04 am CDT (11:04 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/24 | 230/32 11° | 220/37 10° | 220/37 6° | 230/47 -5° | 230/62 -17° | 220/89 -30° | 220/93 -40° | 230/77 -51° |
| RIC | used from 49 nm out; 9 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| EKN | used from 148 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| CRW | used from 246 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| CMH | used from 296 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 330/15 | 340/22 14° | 340/24 9° | 340/23 4° | 340/35 -9° | 340/49 -20° | 340/58 -37° | 330/70 -42° | 340/55 -47° |
| FWA | used from 443 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| JOT | used from 542 nm out; 59 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF Norfolk, VA | departure | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 3,000 ft | 26 ft | 10:51 pm EDT (02:51 UTC) |
| PHF Newport News, VA | 20 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 42 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| RIC Richmond, VA | 69 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 30,000 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 30,000 ft | 167 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 128 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a few clouds at 200 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet Weather: rain, mist | calm | 2.5 mi | 1,100 ft | 640 ft | 03:24 UTC |
| EKN Elkins, WV | 207 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 7 mi | 1,200 ft | 1,987 ft | 03:09 UTC |
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 286 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 2.5 mi | 400 ft | 858 ft | 03:28 UTC |
| CMH Columbus, OH | 365 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,000 ft | 815 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| OSU Columbus, OH | 374 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet | from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots | 8 mi | 1,400 ft | 905 ft | 03:05 UTC |
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 483 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 814 ft | 02:54 UTC |
| HHG Huntington, IN | 493 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | IFR Weather: mist | calm | 2 mi | none | 805 ft | 03:15 UTC |
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 591 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 596 ft | 02:50 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR | from the south (190°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MDW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:14 am CDT (09:14 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 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 south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for ORF, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the north at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 ORF 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is before sunrise there (6:59 am CDT (11:59 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: Norfolk International, Chicago Midway International.