Portland International to Chicago/Rockford International PDX → RFD
1,453 nautical miles (1,672 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 086°, about 070° magnetic at the departure end (variation 16E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 48-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PDX is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) at 3 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: 615 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 W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 6:55 pm PDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 587 to 697 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W VALID UNTIL 0155Z MT WY FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 14,000 ft. Over the route from 80 to 328 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 139 to 627 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 816 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 318 to 955 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 488 to 647 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). Near the route, 587 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 PDX.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 12 forecast points nearest it (PDX, YKM, LWS, DLN, BIL, MLS, RAP, PIR, FSD, MCW, DBQ, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 210° at 9 kt | −1 kt | 121 kt | 12 h | 7:26 am CDT (12:26 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 150° at 4 kt | +4 kt | 12 °C | 116 kt | 12 h 32 min | 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 180° at 3 kt | +2 kt | 6 °C | 118 kt | 12 h 19 min | 7:45 am CDT (12:45 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 210° at 6 kt | −1 kt | 3 °C | 121 kt | 12 h | 7:26 am CDT (12:26 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 210° at 11 kt | −4 kt | 1 °C | 124 kt | 11 h 43 min | 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 14 kt | −6 kt | -3 °C | 126 kt | 11 h 32 min | 6:58 am CDT (11:58 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | −9 kt | -7 °C | 129 kt | 11 h 16 min | 6:42 am CDT (11:42 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −12 kt | -12 °C | 132 kt | 11 h | 6:26 am CDT (11:26 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 19 kt | −13 kt | -13 °C | 133 kt | 10 h 55 min | 6:21 am CDT (11:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 29 kt | −21 kt | -22 °C | 141 kt | 10 h 18 min | 5:44 am CDT (10:44 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 33 kt | −24 kt | -35 °C | 144 kt | 10 h 05 min | 5:31 am CDT (10:31 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 42 kt | −35 kt | -42 °C | 155 kt | 9 h 22 min | 4:48 am CDT (09:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 52 kt | −48 kt | -48 °C | 168 kt | 8 h 39 min | 4:05 am CDT (09:05 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 330/7 | 360/13 0° | 040/22 -6° | 030/23 -12° | 020/64 -18° | 010/93 -25° | 010/91 -39° | 360/62 -40° | 350/41 -43° |
| YKM | used from 50 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 030/16 | 020/18 0° | 030/30 -8° | 030/23 -13° | 020/40 -23° | 010/73 -29° | 010/54 -36° | 360/29 -37° | 330/16 -40° |
| LWS | used from 149 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 010/5 | 050/14 -2° | 040/12 -6° | 160/7 -10° | 190/30 -22° | 200/54 -27° | 200/48 -35° | 210/40 -37° | 230/32 -41° |
| DLN | used from 348 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 080/10 -3° | 180/8 -3° | 180/23 -14° | 200/58 -22° | 200/80 -36° | 220/85 -41° | 230/81 -45° | ||
| BIL | used from 498 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 080/24 | 130/14 -1° | 180/33 0° | 210/43 -10° | 220/58 -21° | 200/55 -36° | 220/75 -44° | 240/83 -48° | |
| MLS | used from 647 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 120/22 5° | 170/18 4° | 200/33 1° | 230/49 -10° | 230/58 -21° | 220/54 -37° | 230/64 -44° | 250/74 -49° | |
| RAP | used from 746 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 896 nm out; 27 nm from the line | L/V 17° | 230/13 12° | 220/22 6° | 250/31 -9° | 250/34 -21° | 240/50 -35° | 230/61 -43° | 240/62 -51° | |
| FSD | used from 1045 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 200/16 | 220/20 17° | 240/26 13° | 230/19 6° | 240/25 -9° | 240/28 -20° | 250/39 -33° | 250/44 -43° | 260/63 -52° |
| MCW | used from 1194 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 200/35 | 240/33 18° | 250/20 10° | 260/10 6° | 270/18 -8° | 260/28 -19° | 280/30 -34° | 290/49 -43° | 280/70 -54° |
| DBQ | used from 1343 nm out; 17 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° |
| JOT | used from 1443 nm out; 62 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDX Portland, OR | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,500 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 30 ft | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| DLS The Dalles, OR | 60 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,500 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,500 ft | 246 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| PDT Pendleton, OR | 159 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the north (360°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 1,494 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| RVF Twin Bridges, MT | 428 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 500 feet Weather: freezing fog | from the north-northeast (030°) at 24 knots, gusting to 29 | 0.5 mi | 500 ft | 4,788 ft | 00:10 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 478 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 200 feet, scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: snow, fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 1,100 ft | 4,473 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| BIL Billings, MT | 587 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the north (010°) at 14 knots | 6 mi | 800 ft | 3,662 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| EFC Belle Fourche, SD | 796 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 3,190 ft | ||||
| PIR Pierre, SD | 945 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,744 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 1105 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 18,000 ft | 1,430 ft | 23:56 UTC |
| FXY Forest City, IA | 1244 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,229 ft | 00:10 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1383 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 23:53 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 6:54 pm CDT (23:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 4,788 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:05 am CDT (09:05 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, 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
The forecast for PDX, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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 PDX 6:30 pm PDT (01:30 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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: Portland International, Chicago/Rockford International.