Philadelphia International to Chicago Midway International PHL → MDW
579 nautical miles (667 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 285°, about 297° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 2,998 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 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 410 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 20 to 240 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 90 to 230 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 PHL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 41 nm south, 8:18 pm EDT (00:18 UTC): moderate turbulence above 17,000 ft, -9 °C. At the departure end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DOV UA /OV ENO/TM 0018/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M09/TB MOD 170
- Report
- a routine report filed through DOV
- Where
- over ENO
- Time
- 00:18 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Turbulence
- moderate at 17,000 ft
- E75L at 20,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 8:41 pm EDT (00:41 UTC): moderate turbulence above 20,000 ft. At the departure end, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
ILG UA /OV DQO/TM 0041/FL200/TP E75L/TB MOD 200
- Report
- a routine report filed through ILG
- Where
- over DQO
- Time
- 00:41 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- moderate at 20,000 ft
- A21N at 18,000 ft, 16 nm north, 8:38 pm EDT (00:38 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. At the departure end, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
PTW UA /OV PTW/TM 0038/FL180/TP A21N/TB MOD CAT
- Report
- a routine report filed through PTW
- Where
- over PTW
- Time
- 00:38 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- moderate clear-air turbulence
- E145 at 12,000 ft, 2 nm north, 8:43 pm EDT (00:43 UTC): moderate turbulence. 50 nm along the route, 2 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
LNS UA /OV LRP/TM 0043/FL120/TP E145/TB CONS MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through LNS
- Where
- over LRP
- Time
- 00:43 UTC
- Height
- at 12,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E145
- Turbulence
- continuous moderate
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 41 nm south, 7:49 pm EDT (23:49 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: zob. 190 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
2G9 UA /OV IHD/TM 2349/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD 300/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through 2G9
- Where
- over IHD
- Time
- 23:49 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate at 30,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- A320 at 33,000 ft, 46 nm north, 8:36 pm EDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 469 nm along the route, 46 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
- Report
- a routine report filed through JXN
- Where
- 30 nm west (280°) of JXN
- Time
- 00:36 UTC
- Height
- at 33,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
- Remarks
- zob
- GLF5 at 600 ft, 15 nm northeast, 9:40 pm EDT (01:40 UTC): overcast above 600 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 06 pne. At the departure end, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PNE UA /OV PNE240001/TM 0140/FL006/TP GLF5/SK OVC006/RM DURD RY06 PNE
- Report
- a routine report filed through PNE
- Where
- 1 nm southwest (240°) of PNE
- Time
- 01:40 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Sky
- overcast from 600 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 06 pne
- A320 at 19,000 ft, 43 nm east, 9:34 pm EDT (01:34 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: flight level from 19,000 ft to 22,000 ft. At the departure end, 43 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
MJX UA /OV CYN045010/TM 0134/FL190/TP A320/TB LGT-MOD/RM FL 190-220
- Report
- a routine report filed through MJX
- Where
- 10 nm northeast (045°) of CYN
- Time
- 01:34 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- flight level from 19,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- E75S at 9,000 ft, 40 nm northeast, 9:22 pm EDT (01:22 UTC): light rime icing above 9,000 ft. At the departure end, 40 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LGA UA /OV RBV/TM 0122/FL090/TP E75S/IC LGT RIME 090
- Report
- a routine report filed through LGA
- Where
- over RBV
- Time
- 01:22 UTC
- Height
- at 9,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75S
- Icing
- light rime at 9,000 ft
- B38M at 2,300 ft, 40 nm southeast, 9:11 pm EDT (01:11 UTC): remarks: tops 2,300 ft during the descent. At the departure end, 40 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ACY UA /OV ACY/TM 0111/FL023/TP B38M/SK TOPS 023/RM TOPS 023 DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through ACY
- Where
- over ACY
- Time
- 01:11 UTC
- Height
- at 2,300 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- tops 2,300 ft
- Remarks
- tops 2,300 ft during the descent
- A21N at 20,000 ft, 40 nm southeast, 8:28 pm EDT (00:28 UTC): light rime icing, -10 °C. At the departure end, 40 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ACY UA /OV ACY/TM 0028/FL200/TP A21N/TA M10/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through ACY
- Where
- over ACY
- Time
- 00:28 UTC
- Height
- at 20,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Temperature
- −10 °C
- Icing
- light rime
- A321 climbing, 0 nm northwest, 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC): light chop turbulence, sandstorm. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
PHL UA /OV E NE PHL/TM 0020/FLDURC/TP A321/WV LOSS 15KT AT 015 /TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through PHL
- Where
- east northeast phl
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- A321
- Wind
- loss 15 knots at at 1,500 ft
- Turbulence
- light chop
- BCS3 at 1,800 ft, 40 nm southeast, 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): remarks: tops 1,800 ft during the climb. At the departure end, 40 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
ACY UA /OV ACY/TM 0000/FL018/TP BCS3/RM TOPS 018 DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ACY
- Where
- over ACY
- Time
- 00:00 UTC
- Height
- at 1,800 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Remarks
- tops 1,800 ft during the climb
- PC24 at 900 ft, 14 nm northeast, 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 UTC): remarks: reported bases 900 ft during the descent runway 6. At the departure end, 14 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PNE UA /OV PNE240002/TM 2325/FL009/TP PC24/RM RPTD BASES 009 DURD RY6
- Report
- a routine report filed through PNE
- Where
- 2 nm southwest (240°) of PNE
- Time
- 23:25 UTC
- Height
- at 900 ft
- Aircraft
- PC24
- Remarks
- reported bases 900 ft during the descent runway 6
16 more routine reports are on the map.
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 6 forecast points nearest it (ACY, PSB, AGC, CLE, 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 8 kt | +7 kt | 13 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 07 min | 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 310° at 11 kt | +9 kt | 13 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 13 min | 2:09 am CDT (07:09 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 9 kt | +8 kt | 10 °C | 112 kt | 5 h 10 min | 2:06 am CDT (07:06 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 6 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 07 min | 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 9 kt | +7 kt | 3 °C | 113 kt | 5 h 07 min | 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 300° at 10 kt | +9 kt | -2 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 13 min | 2:09 am CDT (07:09 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 290° at 12 kt | +11 kt | -7 °C | 109 kt | 5 h 19 min | 2:15 am CDT (07:15 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -10 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 25 min | 2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 14 kt | +13 kt | -21 °C | 107 kt | 5 h 25 min | 2:21 am CDT (07:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 31 kt | +27 kt | -34 °C | 93 kt | 6 h 14 min | 3:10 am CDT (08:10 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 39 kt | +31 kt | -41 °C | 89 kt | 6 h 30 min | 3:26 am CDT (08:26 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 42 kt | +36 kt | -49 °C | 84 kt | 6 h 54 min | 3:50 am CDT (08:50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACY | used from 0 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 230/15 | 230/22 15° | 230/31 11° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 230/51 -17° | 230/71 -31° | 230/81 -41° | 230/86 -53° |
| PSB | used from 50 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 260/13 13° | 220/12 8° | 220/11 4° | 230/27 -11° | 210/31 -21° | 220/73 -32° | 220/75 -40° | 230/66 -50° | |
| AGC | used from 200 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 140/12 | 350/10 12° | L/V 9° | L/V 3° | 200/11 -11° | 220/21 -22° | 220/47 -33° | 230/51 -39° | 230/45 -48° |
| CLE | used from 250 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 340/5 | 320/13 14° | 300/12 8° | 310/10 2° | 310/14 -10° | 340/14 -23° | 320/27 -35° | 260/28 -40° | 250/36 -48° |
| FWA | used from 400 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 350/9 | 350/24 15° | 360/25 9° | 360/29 4° | 350/31 -10° | 340/39 -22° | 330/40 -37° | 320/38 -43° | 320/48 -48° |
| JOT | used from 549 nm out; 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHL Philadelphia, PA | departure | no report just now | 35 ft | ||||
| LNS Lancaster, PA | 50 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 402 ft | ||||
| MDT Harrisburg, PA | 70 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 310 ft | ||||
| JST Johnstown, PA | 170 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,284 ft | ||||
| PIT Pittsburgh, PA | 230 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,202 ft | ||||
| BVI Beaver Falls, PA | 240 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,252 ft | ||||
| CAK Akron, OH | 290 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,225 ft | ||||
| TOL Toledo, OH | 400 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 683 ft | ||||
| DFI Defiance, OH | 430 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 706 ft | ||||
| SBN South Bend, IN | 519 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 798 ft | ||||
| GYY Gary/Chicago, IN | 559 nm out, 9 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 2,284 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, 2:03 am CDT (07:03 UTC)
MDW has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 240 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
- 6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 21 nm from the route, 260 nm along the route · security · today · ZOB
- 6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 260 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZOB
Daylight
Sunset at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 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: Philadelphia International, Chicago Midway International.