Punta Gorda Airport to Chicago Midway International PGD → MDW
937 nautical miles (1,078 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 344°, about 350° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 18 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 4:31 am CDT (09:31 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PGD is VFR, wind calm; MDW is VFR, wind from the southeast (130°) 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: 196 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 SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 428 to 548 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Near the route, 468 nm along 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). Over the route from 528 to 618 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 588 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 PGD.
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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (PIE, JAX, TLH, CSG, ATL, TYS, BNA, LOU, IND, 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 | 310° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 105 kt | 8 h 55 min | 5:08 am CDT (10:08 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | +21 kt | 14 °C | 99 kt | 9 h 28 min | 5:41 am CDT (10:41 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | +22 kt | 12 °C | 98 kt | 9 h 34 min | 5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 26 kt | +24 kt | 8 °C | 96 kt | 9 h 46 min | 5:59 am CDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 320° at 27 kt | +24 kt | 5 °C | 96 kt | 9 h 46 min | 5:59 am CDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 26 kt | +22 kt | 0 °C | 98 kt | 9 h 34 min | 5:47 am CDT (10:47 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 25 kt | +20 kt | -4 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 22 min | 5:35 am CDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 25 kt | +18 kt | -7 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 11 min | 5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 26 kt | +18 kt | -18 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 11 min | 5:24 am CDT (10:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 28 kt | +16 kt | -34 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 01 min | 5:14 am CDT (10:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 27 kt | +10 kt | -41 °C | 110 kt | 8 h 31 min | 4:44 am CDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 23 kt | +7 kt | -50 °C | 113 kt | 8 h 18 min | 4:31 am CDT (09:31 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIE | used from 0 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 310/7 | 270/12 17° | 270/14 13° | 260/14 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/24 -16° | 220/26 -31° | 200/31 -41° | 180/33 -53° |
| JAX | used from 149 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 280/14 | 300/22 16° | 260/27 15° | 260/26 9° | 240/41 -6° | 230/38 -16° | 220/44 -32° | 200/49 -41° | 200/52 -53° |
| TLH | used from 199 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 300/17 | 340/32 17° | 320/27 13° | 300/27 8° | 280/23 -7° | 250/37 -17° | 230/44 -33° | 220/53 -41° | 220/48 -51° |
| CSG | used from 299 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 300/20 | 330/41 15° | 320/42 11° | 320/41 7° | 300/33 -6° | 290/33 -18° | 270/32 -34° | 260/31 -41° | 260/24 -51° |
| ATL | used from 349 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 300/23 | 320/26 14° | 320/34 10° | 320/41 5° | 290/32 -6° | 290/31 -18° | 280/28 -33° | 260/32 -41° | 250/28 -50° |
| TYS | used from 498 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| BNA | used from 598 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| LOU | used from 648 nm out; 38 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| IND | used from 747 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 320/10 | 350/30 16° | 350/32 10° | 350/30 4° | 340/31 -10° | 340/42 -21° | 340/49 -37° | 320/46 -41° | 320/47 -47° |
| JOT | used from 847 nm out; 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGD Punta Gorda, FL | departure | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 25 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
| TPA Tampa, FL | 70 nm out, 10 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 26 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 100 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 76 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 239 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 203 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 359 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (270°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| ATL Atlanta, GA | 418 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,026 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 518 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,900 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 2,200 ft | 682 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| TZV Tompkinsville, KY | 618 nm out, 5 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,036 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | 697 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 500 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 767 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 845 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 847 nm out, 8 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 7:53 pm CDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,036 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, 4:31 am CDT (09:31 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- 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
The forecast for PGD, the departure
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, 349 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
- 6/8693 Atlanta, GA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 1 nm from the route, 428 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at PGD 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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: Punta Gorda Airport, Chicago Midway International.