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 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC). 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
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the first 59 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the route from 20 to 532 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 108 to 227 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 167 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
- E145 at 800 ft, 4 nm east, 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 69 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
RIC UA /OV RIC340001/TM 0607/FL008/TP E145
- Report
- a routine report filed through RIC
- Where
- 1 nm north (340°) of RIC
- Time
- 06:07 UTC
- Height
- at 800 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- B738 at 33,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 4:44 am EDT (08:44 UTC): -39 °C, wind 350° at 65 knots, remarks: produced by skypath. 207 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
EKN UA /OV EKN188027 /TM 0844 /FL330 /TP B738 /TA M39 /WV 35065KT /TB MOD-CONS /RM PRODUCED BY SKYPATH
- Report
- a routine report filed through EKN
- Where
- 27 nm south (188°) of EKN
- Time
- 08:44 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Temperature
- −39 °C
- Wind
- from 350° at 65 knots
- Turbulence
- mod-cons
- Remarks
- produced by skypath
- B737 at 39,000 ft, 17 nm north, 4:40 am EDT (08:40 UTC): light chop turbulence. 355 nm along the route, 17 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CMH UA /OV APE/TM 0840/FL390/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP 390 NEG 350-330
- Report
- a routine report filed through CMH
- Where
- over APE
- Time
- 08:40 UTC
- Height
- at 39,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- continuous light chop at 39,000 ft no from 35,000 ft to 33,000 ft
- A21N at 33,000 ft, 7 nm south, 4:07 am EDT (08:07 UTC): light chop turbulence. 424 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DAY UA /OV ROD/TM 0807/FL330/TP A21N/TB OCNL LT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DAY
- Where
- over ROD
- Time
- 08:07 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- occasional lt chop
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 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 | 320° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 5 h 59 min | 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +19 kt | 12 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 03 min | 10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 22 kt | +19 kt | 9 °C | 101 kt | 6 h 03 min | 10:06 am CDT (15:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | +21 kt | 6 °C | 99 kt | 6 h 10 min | 10:13 am CDT (15:13 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 2 °C | 96 kt | 6 h 22 min | 10:25 am CDT (15:25 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | +26 kt | -1 °C | 94 kt | 6 h 30 min | 10:33 am CDT (15:33 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 320° at 30 kt | +29 kt | -5 °C | 91 kt | 6 h 43 min | 10:46 am CDT (15:46 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 31 kt | +30 kt | -8 °C | 90 kt | 6 h 47 min | 10:50 am CDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 320° at 34 kt | +33 kt | -20 °C | 87 kt | 7 h 01 min | 11:04 am CDT (16:04 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 38 kt | +37 kt | -35 °C | 83 kt | 7 h 22 min | 11:25 am CDT (16:25 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 310° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -42 °C | 72 kt | 8 h 29 min | 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -50 °C | 72 kt | 8 h 29 min | 12:32 pm CDT (17:32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORF | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 310/30 | 320/27 11° | 310/30 8° | 320/30 3° | 290/36 -8° | 270/40 -21° | 250/52 -32° | 250/50 -39° | 260/42 -48° |
| RIC | used from 49 nm out; 9 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| EKN | used from 148 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| CRW | used from 246 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| CMH | used from 296 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
| FWA | used from 443 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 270/20 | 300/16 15° | 290/14 10° | 280/17 3° | 290/25 -7° | 280/30 -19° | 280/34 -35° | 290/48 -44° | 300/64 -52° |
| JOT | used from 542 nm out; 59 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° |
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 | no report just now | 26 ft | ||||
| PHF Newport News, VA | 20 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 42 ft | ||||
| RIC Richmond, VA | 69 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 167 ft | ||||
| CHO Charlottesville, VA | 128 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 640 ft | ||||
| EKN Elkins, WV | 207 nm out, 13 nm north of the line | no report just now | 1,987 ft | ||||
| PKB Parkersburg, WV | 286 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 858 ft | ||||
| CMH Columbus, OH | 365 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 815 ft | ||||
| OSU Columbus, OH | 374 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 905 ft | ||||
| FWA Fort Wayne, IN | 483 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 814 ft | ||||
| HHG Huntington, IN | 493 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 805 ft | ||||
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 591 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 596 ft | ||||
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | no report just now | 619 ft |
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, 10:02 am CDT (15:02 UTC)
MDW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
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)).
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.