Plan a flight · Sun 8:33 pm CDT (01:33 UTC)

Chicago Executive to Rifle Garfield County PWK → RIL

912 nautical miles (1,049 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 267°, about 269° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 51 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 17-knot headwind), arriving about 4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now PWK is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots; RIL is VFR, wind calm. 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 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 1W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 59 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120055
MKCW WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1W
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
CO NM WY AZ UT
FROM 40NNW CHE-40WNW TBE-60WNW CME-40N SJN-40ESE MTU-40NNW CHE
AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.

AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft, from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 258 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft, from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 159 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist), from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 69 nm of the route.
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), from 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC). Over the last 59 nm of 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 PWK.

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

UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 5 nm south, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 585 nm along the route, 5 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A21N at 32,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 724 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 15 nm southeast, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 724 nm along the route, 15 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 22 nm north, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 783 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
Time
23:28 UTC
Height
at 24,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Turbulence
moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
B39M at 32,000 ft, 28 nm north, 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: moderate mtw a 30-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-14. 843 nm along the route, 28 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR069073/TM 2358/FL320/TP B39M/TB OCNL MOD CHOP/IC NEG/RM MOD MTW +/-30KT ZDVWC-14
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
73 nm east (069°) of EKR
Time
23:58 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
occasional moderate chop
Icing
none
Remarks
moderate mtw a 30-knot loss of airspeed ZDVWC-14
C650 at 40,000 ft, 16 nm south, 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 872 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2348/FL400/TP C650/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
23:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
C650
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
C680A at 16,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 5:59 pm CDT (22:59 UTC): moderate turbulence, scattered clouds above 16,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV HAERI/TM 2259/FL160/TP C680A/SK SCT160/TB CONS MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
haeri
Time
22:59 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
C680A
Sky
scattered clouds from 16,000 ft
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Remarks
during the descent
C680 at 18,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft. At the destination end, 34 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV ASE230020/TM 2235/FL180/TP C680/TB MOD/RM 180-100
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
20 nm southwest (230°) of ASE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C680
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft
E170 at 10,000 ft, 46 nm southwest, 6:41 pm CDT (23:41 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the destination end, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT144009/TM 2341/FL100/TP E170/TB MOD SFC-100/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
9 nm southeast (144°) of GJT
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate from the surface to 10,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B39M at 35,000 ft, 39 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IKK UA /OV CGT/TM 0029/FL350/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through IKK
Where
over CGT
Time
00:29 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
smooth
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 39 nm east, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 39 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
B789 at 40,000 ft, 3 nm north, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 605 nm along the route, 3 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088081/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
81 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B789 at 40,000 ft, 7 nm north, 7:22 pm CDT (00:22 UTC): light to moderate clear-air turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 615 nm along the route, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SNY UA /OV SNY088072/TM 0022/FL400/TP B789/TB OCNL LGT-MOD CAT /RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SNY
Where
72 nm east (088°) of SNY
Time
00:22 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B789
Turbulence
occasional light to moderate clear-air turbulence
Remarks
zdvwc
B738 at 35,000 ft, 5 nm southwest, 6:30 pm CDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. 724 nm along the route, 5 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:30 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
ZDVWC-07

15 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 8 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT). 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	210° at 26 kt	+17 kt	19 °C	103 kt	8 h 51 min	4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC)
6,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+20 kt	17 °C	100 kt	9 h 07 min	4:40 am MDT (10:40 UTC)
8,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	+19 kt	13 °C	101 kt	9 h 02 min	4:35 am MDT (10:35 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	+19 kt	10 °C	101 kt	9 h 02 min	4:35 am MDT (10:35 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 21 kt	+20 kt	5 °C	100 kt	9 h 07 min	4:40 am MDT (10:40 UTC)
14,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	+23 kt	1 °C	97 kt	9 h 24 min	4:57 am MDT (10:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 26 kt	+25 kt	-4 °C	95 kt	9 h 36 min	5:09 am MDT (11:09 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 28 kt	+28 kt	-8 °C	92 kt	9 h 55 min	5:28 am MDT (11:28 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 32 kt	+32 kt	-19 °C	88 kt	10 h 22 min	5:55 am MDT (11:55 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 38 kt	+39 kt	-32 °C	81 kt	11 h 16 min	6:49 am MDT (12:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 47 kt	+49 kt	-40 °C	71 kt	12 h 51 min	8:24 am MDT (14:24 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 58 kt	+58 kt	-50 °C	62 kt	14 h 43 min	10:16 am MDT (16:16 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
JOT	used from 0 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°
DBQ	used from 50 nm out; 55 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°
DSM	used from 198 nm out; 39 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 297 nm out; 41 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
GRI	used from 397 nm out; 53 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
GLD	used from 595 nm out; 81 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
DEN	used from 694 nm out; 55 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°
GJT	used from 843 nm out; 88 nm from the line			210/40 11°	210/46 3°	210/61 -10°	210/68 -22°	220/57 -29°	230/59 -36°	240/66 -46°

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
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	644 ft	7:52 pm CDT (00:52 UTC)
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	50 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	00:54 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	169 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	00:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	258 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	00:54 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	357 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	984 ft	00:52 UTC
FET Fremont, NE	387 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,204 ft	01:15 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	476 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	00:53 UTC
GTE Gothenburg, NE	555 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				2,558 ft
FMM Fort Morgan, CO	724 nm out, 1 nm west of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 20 knots	10+ mi	none	4,595 ft	01:15 UTC
BJC Denver, CO	793 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (350°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,673 ft	00:45 UTC
EGE Eagle, CO	872 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	6,547 ft	00:56 UTC
RIL Rifle, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet Weather: light rain	calm	8 mi	7,000 ft	5,536 ft	6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,547 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RIL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:24 am MDT (10:24 UTC)

Wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RIL

From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
At times between Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind variable at 20 knots, gusting to 35, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 7,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 15 knots, gusting to 32, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC) and 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC) and 12:00 pm MDT (18:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 4,000 feet

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 PWK 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC), at RIL 6:36 pm MDT (00:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:03 pm MDT (01:03 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RIL is before sunrise there (7:17 am MDT (13:17 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 upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · 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: Chicago Executive, Rifle Garfield County.