Plan a flight · Sun 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC)

Raleigh-Durham International to Chicago O'Hare International RDU → ORD

561 nautical miles (646 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 313°, about 322° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 12:09 am CDT (05:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RDU is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 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: 7,120 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 69 to 226 nm out.
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 79 to 345 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 89 to 148 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 RDU.

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

E145 at 9,000 ft, 45 nm northeast, 5:56 pm EDT (21:56 UTC): moderate turbulence, overcast up to 9,000 ft, heavy rain. 69 nm along the route, 45 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LYH UA /OV LYH/TM 2156/FL090/TP E145/SK OVCUNKN-TOP090/WX +RA/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LYH
Where
over LYH
Time
21:56 UTC
Height
at 9,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast, tops 9,000 ft
Weather
heavy rain
Turbulence
moderate
B763 at 3,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 7:26 pm EDT (23:26 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2326/FL030/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
B763 descending, 22 nm southwest, 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 UTC): a broken layer above 3,000 ft. 49 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV 10 NE GSO/TM 2324/FLDURD/TP B763/SK BKN030
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
10 northeast gso
Time
23:24 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B763
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft
CRJ7 descending, 32 nm southwest, 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft. 49 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV GSO/TM 2232/FLDURD/TP CRJ7/SK BKN045
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
over GSO
Time
22:32 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft
CRJ7 at 3,000 ft, 22 nm southwest, 5:15 pm EDT (21:15 UTC): overcast from 6,700 ft to 5,200 ft. 49 nm along the route, 22 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GSO UA /OV HEVED/TM 2115/FL030/TP CRJ7/SK 067OVC052
```
Report
a routine report filed through GSO
Where
heved
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 3,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
067OVC052
PC24 at 4,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: 18 final. 108 nm along the route, 36 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CLT UA /OV CLT005090/TM 2300/FL040/TP PC24/WX FIS/TB SMOOTH/RM 18 FINAL
```
Report
a routine report filed through CLT
Where
90 nm north (005°) of CLT
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Weather
fi s
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
18 final
B39M at 36,000 ft, 10 nm southwest, 6:12 pm EDT (22:12 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZTLFD-15. 118 nm along the route, 10 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSK UA /OV PSK/TM 2212/FL360/TP B39M/TB NEG/RM ZTLFD-15
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSK
Where
over PSK
Time
22:12 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZTLFD-15
CRJ7 at 2,800 ft, 34 nm northeast, 6:19 pm EDT (22:19 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 138 nm along the route, 34 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LWB UA /OV KLWB/TM 2219/FL028/TP CRJ7/SK BASES029
```
Report
a routine report filed through LWB
Where
over KLWB
Time
22:19 UTC
Height
at 2,800 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Sky
BASES029
BE9L at 20,000 ft, 46 nm southwest, 5:23 pm EDT (21:23 UTC): no turbulence. 158 nm along the route, 46 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV JFZ/TM 2123/FL200/TP BE9L/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over JFZ
Time
21:23 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Turbulence
none
C310 at 5,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 5:54 pm EDT (21:54 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, rain, 12 °C. 236 nm along the route, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV ECB220008/TM 2154/FL050/TP C310/WX RA/TA 12/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
8 nm southwest (220°) of ECB
Time
21:54 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C310
Weather
rain
Temperature
12 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
P28A climbing, 8 nm southwest, 7:15 pm EDT (23:15 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: instrument conditions. 246 nm along the route, 8 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV DWU/TM 2315/FLDURC/TP P28A/TB SMOOTH/RM IMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over DWU
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
P28A
Turbulence
smooth
Remarks
instrument conditions
P28A descending, 37 nm northeast, 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,200 ft. 256 nm along the route, 37 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV KUNI/TM 2214/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK SCT012/WX 3SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over KUNI
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
scattered clouds from 1,200 ft
Weather
3SM
CRJ9 at 28,000 ft, 40 nm southwest, 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 UTC): light turbulence. 286 nm along the route, 40 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV FGX/TM 2233/FL280/TP CRJ9/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over FGX
Time
22:33 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Turbulence
light
C150 climbing, 49 nm northeast, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 295 nm along the route, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV LHQ/TM 2245/FLDURC/TP C150/SK B015 T038
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over LHQ
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
C150
Sky
B015 T038

13 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 7 forecast points nearest it (RDU, ROA, CRW, CMH, CVG, 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	310° at 12 kt	+12 kt		108 kt	5 h 12 min	12:09 am CDT (05:09 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	+15 kt	12 °C	105 kt	5 h 21 min	12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	+14 kt	9 °C	106 kt	5 h 18 min	12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	+13 kt	6 °C	107 kt	5 h 15 min	12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC)
12,500 ft	330° at 13 kt	+13 kt	2 °C	107 kt	5 h 15 min	12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC)
14,500 ft	320° at 14 kt	+13 kt	-2 °C	107 kt	5 h 15 min	12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	+14 kt	-6 °C	106 kt	5 h 18 min	12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 15 kt	+14 kt	-9 °C	106 kt	5 h 18 min	12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 19 kt	+18 kt	-20 °C	102 kt	5 h 30 min	12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 27 kt	+19 kt	-33 °C	101 kt	5 h 33 min	12:30 am CDT (05:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 33 kt	+21 kt	-40 °C	99 kt	5 h 40 min	12:37 am CDT (05:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 35 kt	+25 kt	-48 °C	95 kt	5 h 54 min	12:51 am CDT (05:51 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
RDU	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	240/28	250/22 10°	230/30 11°	230/40 7°	230/45 -4°	220/69 -15°	220/83 -29°	210/84 -40°	220/75 -52°
ROA	used from 49 nm out; 37 nm from the line	280/9	290/15 12°	290/11 8°	210/6 3°	210/30 -6°	220/46 -19°	210/74 -30°	220/78 -39°	220/64 -48°
CRW	used from 148 nm out; 34 nm from the line	320/16	310/16 12°	320/12 7°	320/12 2°	330/15 -11°	280/11 -22°	230/26 -30°	240/33 -37°	240/37 -47°
CMH	used from 246 nm out; 66 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
CVG	used from 295 nm out; 47 nm from the line	350/13	340/20 13°	340/22 8°	350/30 3°	340/30 -9°	340/38 -21°	330/37 -35°	320/38 -40°	310/35 -47°
FWA	used from 394 nm out; 31 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 492 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
RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,800 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	4,800 ft	435 ft	7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC)
TDF Roxboro, NC	20 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, scattered clouds at 4,600 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	5,500 ft	608 ft	23:35 UTC
ROA Roanoke, VA	98 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 2,600 feet, overcast at 3,300 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	5 mi	2,600 ft	1,175 ft	23:36 UTC
PSK Dublin, VA	118 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line	reported, no category	from the west (270°) at 12 knots, gusting to 17	10+ mi	none	2,104 ft	23:35 UTC
CRW Charleston, WV	197 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 7 knots	1 mi	500 ft	947 ft	22:54 UTC
HTS Huntington, WV	236 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	variable at 5 knots	1 mi	700 ft	828 ft	23:51 UTC
ILN Wilmington, OH	315 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots	5 mi	700 ft	1,076 ft	23:54 UTC
DAY Dayton, OH	354 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 7 knots	7 mi	800 ft	1,009 ft	22:56 UTC
MIE Muncie, IN	404 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	937 ft	23:53 UTC
GUS Peru, IN	453 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	810 ft	23:55 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	532 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	596 ft	23:50 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,104 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:09 am CDT (05:09 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for ORD

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 RDU, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 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 RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC), at ORD 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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 Northeast · 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: Raleigh-Durham International, Chicago O'Hare International.