Plan a flight · Sun 7:48 pm EDT (23:48 UTC)

St. Pete-Clearwater International to Chicago/Rockford International PIE → RFD

913 nautical miles (1,051 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 342°, about 347° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PIE is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 6 knots; RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 263 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). Near the route, 437 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 466 to 476 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 6W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 28,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 486 to 526 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 PIE.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

MD11 at 35,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 7:18 pm EDT (23:18 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ080015/TM 2318/FL350/TP MD11/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
15 nm east (080°) of SRQ
Time
23:18 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
MD11
Turbulence
none
B38M at 27,000 ft, 16 nm south, 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ330018/TM 2200/FL270/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
18 nm northwest (330°) of SRQ
Time
22:00 UTC
Height
at 27,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
PC12 at 18,000 ft, 35 nm south, 5:26 pm EDT (21:26 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 35 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SRQ UA /OV SRQ190004/TM 2126/FL180/TP PC12/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through SRQ
Where
4 nm south (190°) of SRQ
Time
21:26 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
none
H60 at 1,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 5:45 pm EDT (21:45 UTC): clear from 1,000 ft to 60,000 ft. At the departure end, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BKV UA /OV BKV045007 /TM 2145 /FL010 /TP H60 /SK SKC /WX FV99SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through BKV
Where
7 nm northeast (045°) of BKV
Time
21:45 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
H60
Sky
clear
Weather
flight visibility 99 miles
PAY1 at 21,000 ft, 48 nm east, 6:39 pm EDT (22:39 UTC): light rime icing, -11 °C. 40 nm along the route, 48 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF160030/TM 2239/FL210/TP PAY1/TA M11/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
30 nm south (160°) of OCF
Time
22:39 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
PAY1
Temperature
−11 °C
Icing
light rime
E170 at 20,000 ft, 5 nm north, 6:02 pm EDT (22:02 UTC): light chop turbulence. 60 nm along the route, 5 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CTY UA /OV CTY180040/TM 2202/FL200/TP E170/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through CTY
Where
40 nm south (180°) of CTY
Time
22:02 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
light chop
B38M at 38,000 ft, 37 nm west, 5:13 pm EDT (21:13 UTC): light chop turbulence. 129 nm along the route, 37 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV TLH170040/TM 2113/FL380/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
40 nm south (170°) of TLH
Time
21:13 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
A320 at 36,000 ft, 38 nm east, 4:49 pm EDT (20:49 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-27. 248 nm along the route, 38 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
WRB UA /OV VNA180015/TM 2049/FL360/TP A320/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZTLFD-27
```
Report
a routine report filed through WRB
Where
15 nm south (180°) of VNA
Time
20:49 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-27
BE58 descending, 44 nm east, 5:55 pm EDT (21:55 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 32 bases BKN040. 288 nm along the route, 44 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MCN UA /OV MCN/TM 2155/FLDURD/TP BE58/RM DURD RWY 32. BASES BKN040
```
Report
a routine report filed through MCN
Where
over MCN
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
BE58
Remarks
during the descent runway 32 bases BKN040
B737 at 38,000 ft, 47 nm west, 7:40 pm EDT (23:40 UTC): no chop turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-08. 328 nm along the route, 47 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC240025/TM 2340/FL380/TP B737/TB NEG CHOP /RM ZTLFD-08
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
25 nm southwest (240°) of LGC
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
no chop
Remarks
ZTLFD-08
FA7X at 41,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 5:41 pm EDT (21:41 UTC): light chop turbulence above 41,000 ft, remarks: ztlfd. 337 nm along the route, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LGC UA /OV LGC085005/TM 2141/FL410/TP FA7X/TB OCNL LGT CHOP 410/RM ZTLFD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LGC
Where
5 nm east (085°) of LGC
Time
21:41 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
FA7X
Turbulence
occasional light chop at 41,000 ft
Remarks
ztlfd
B752 descending, 26 nm east, 7:03 pm EDT (23:03 UTC): remarks: final runway 26R atl. 357 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2303/FLDURD/TP B752/SK BASES 031 TOPS 045/RM FINAL RWY 26R ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
23:03 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B752
Sky
bases 3,100 ft tops 4,500 ft
Remarks
final runway 26R atl
B739 descending, 26 nm east, 6:38 pm EDT (22:38 UTC): a broken layer above 3,200 ft, remarks: final runway 28 atl. 357 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2238/FLDURD/TP B739/SK BKN032/RM FINAL RWY 28 ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
22:38 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B739
Sky
a broken layer from 3,200 ft
Remarks
final runway 28 atl
B717 descending, 26 nm east, 5:42 pm EDT (21:42 UTC): 18 °C, wind 284° at 15 knots, remarks: final runway 27L atl. 357 nm along the route, 26 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV ATL/TM 2142/FLDURD/TP B717/SK BASES 030/TA 18/WV 284/15/RM FINAL RWY 27L ATL
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over ATL
Time
21:42 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B717
Sky
bases 3,000 ft
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
284/15
Remarks
final runway 27L atl

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 9 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, ATL, HSV, BNA, EVV, 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	320° at 19 kt	+17 kt		103 kt	8 h 52 min	3:40 am CDT (08:40 UTC)
6,500 ft	330° at 26 kt	+26 kt	15 °C	94 kt	9 h 43 min	4:31 am CDT (09:31 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 28 kt	+27 kt	12 °C	93 kt	9 h 49 min	4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	+27 kt	8 °C	93 kt	9 h 49 min	4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 29 kt	+27 kt	5 °C	93 kt	9 h 49 min	4:37 am CDT (09:37 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 27 kt	+25 kt	0 °C	95 kt	9 h 37 min	4:25 am CDT (09:25 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 26 kt	+23 kt	-4 °C	97 kt	9 h 25 min	4:13 am CDT (09:13 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 25 kt	+21 kt	-8 °C	99 kt	9 h 13 min	4:01 am CDT (09:01 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	310° at 27 kt	+22 kt	-19 °C	98 kt	9 h 19 min	4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 33 kt	+25 kt	-34 °C	95 kt	9 h 37 min	4:25 am CDT (09:25 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	290° at 32 kt	+22 kt	-41 °C	98 kt	9 h 19 min	4:07 am CDT (09:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 26 kt	+18 kt	-49 °C	102 kt	8 h 57 min	3:45 am CDT (08:45 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; 25 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°
TLH	used from 99 nm out; 57 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 248 nm out; 34 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 347 nm out; 31 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°
HSV	used from 397 nm out; 70 nm from the line	290/15	330/34 16°	330/38 11°	330/40 5°	320/36 -7°	320/31 -18°	320/44 -34°	330/53 -41°	330/34 -48°
BNA	used from 496 nm out; 30 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°
EVV	used from 596 nm out; 42 nm from the line	310/13	340/26 16°	330/29 10°	330/32 4°	330/30 -9°	340/38 -20°	330/60 -35°	320/57 -41°	330/39 -48°
IND	used from 695 nm out; 65 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 794 nm out; 47 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
PIE St Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	departure	VFR	from the north (360°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	10 ft	6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)
BKV Brooksville, FL	30 nm out, 22 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-northwest (300°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	76 ft	22:53 UTC
FPY Perry, FL	139 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	44 ft	23:35 UTC
ABY Albany, GA	228 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	196 ft	22:53 UTC
CSG Columbus, GA	298 nm out, 21 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	397 ft	22:51 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	447 nm out, 18 nm east of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	2,500 ft	682 ft	23:06 UTC
MQY Smyrna, TN	526 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (090°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	543 ft	22:56 UTC
OWB Owensboro, KY	635 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (260°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	407 ft	22:56 UTC
EVV Evansville, IN	655 nm out, 25 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	421 ft	22:54 UTC
CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL	774 nm out, 15 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	754 ft	22:53 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	883 nm out, 17 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	22:52 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 754 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, 3:40 am CDT (08:40 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 PIE, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north at 6 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 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8792 Lake City, FL, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local on the route, 159 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZJX
6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 22 nm from the route, 546 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME

Daylight

Sunset at PIE 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 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

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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: St. Pete-Clearwater International, Chicago/Rockford International.