Chicago/Rockford International to Florence Regional RFD → FLO
653 nautical miles (751 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 134°, about 137° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 30-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:01 am EDT (06:01 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; FLO is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 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: 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 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Near the route, 405 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 336 to 494 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 376 to 504 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 8,000 ft. Over the route from 475 to 564 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 RFD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 14 nm southwest, 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 415 nm along the route, 14 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- PA46 at 23,000 ft, 8 nm east, 6:28 pm CDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 475 nm along the route, 8 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 10 nm east (090°) of HMV
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Turbulence
- light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-44
- B39M at 35,000 ft, 19 nm northeast, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 79 nm along the route, 19 nm northeast 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
- E170 at 23,000 ft, 13 nm southwest, 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC): light turbulence. 168 nm along the route, 13 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV VHP315020/TM 2314/FL230/TP E170/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm northwest (315°) of VHP
- Time
- 23:14 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E170
- Turbulence
- light
- B744 climbing, 17 nm northeast, 7:02 pm CDT (00:02 UTC): light turbulence, overcast. 267 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 10 N CVG/TM 0002/FLDURC/TP B744/SK B022 OVC T036/TB LT TB SFC-036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 north cvg
- Time
- 00:02 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B744
- Sky
- B022 overcast T036
- Turbulence
- lt turbulence from the surface to 3,600 ft
- A333 at 4,000 ft, 4 nm east, 5:44 pm CDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. 267 nm along the route, 4 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 10 nm west (270°) of CVG
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 4,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A333
- Sky
- B025 overcast T035
- B737 at 23,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 277 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- over CVG
- Time
- 23:51 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light
- B739 climbing, 8 nm north, 6:31 pm CDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 277 nm along the route, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
- Report
- a routine report filed through CVG
- Where
- 5 west cvg
- Time
- 23:31 UTC
- Height
- during the climb
- Aircraft
- B739
- Sky
- B026 overcast T036
- B712 at 600 ft, 26 nm southwest, 8:06 pm CDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. 326 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over KLEX
- Time
- 01:06 UTC
- Height
- at 600 ft
- Aircraft
- B712
- Sky
- overcast B006
- CRJ9 descending, 26 nm southwest, 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. 326 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
- Report
- a routine report filed through LEX
- Where
- over LEX
- Time
- 23:43 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- CRJ9
- Sky
- tops OVC062 bases OVC018
- S22T descending, 9 nm southwest, 7:24 pm CDT (00:24 UTC): a broken layer above 2,600 ft, remarks: during the descent RY23 tri. 465 nm along the route, 9 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV KTRI050002/TM 0024/FLUNKN/TP S22T/SK BKN026-TOPUNKN/RM DURD RY23 TRI
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 2 nm northeast (050°) of KTRI
- Time
- 00:24 UTC
- Height
- height not given
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Sky
- a broken layer from 2,600 ft, tops unknown
- Remarks
- during the descent RY23 tri
- SR22 at 8,000 ft, 16 nm northeast, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): no turbulence, clear, remarks: thin layer below but can see lights from the ground. At the destination end, 16 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
FLO UA /OV BBP/TM 0018/FL080/TP SR22/SK CLR/TB SMOOTH/RM THIN LAYER BELOW BUT CAN SEE LIGHTS FROM THE GROUND
- Report
- a routine report filed through FLO
- Where
- over BBP
- Time
- 00:18 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- SR22
- Sky
- clear
- Turbulence
- smooth
- Remarks
- thin layer below but can see lights from the ground
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 eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd 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 (JOT, IND, CVG, TRI, GSP, FLO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 290° at 10 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 5 h 04 min | 2:44 am EDT (06:44 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 11 °C | 139 kt | 4 h 42 min | 2:22 am EDT (06:22 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 320° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 11 °C | 142 kt | 4 h 36 min | 2:16 am EDT (06:16 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −24 kt | 8 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 32 min | 2:12 am EDT (06:12 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 320° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 5 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 320° at 23 kt | −23 kt | 0 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 310° at 23 kt | −23 kt | -3 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -7 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -8 °C | 143 kt | 4 h 34 min | 2:14 am EDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 300° at 29 kt | −27 kt | -20 °C | 147 kt | 4 h 27 min | 2:07 am EDT (06:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 290° at 32 kt | −26 kt | -34 °C | 146 kt | 4 h 28 min | 2:08 am EDT (06:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 33 kt | −25 kt | -41 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 30 min | 2:10 am EDT (06:10 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 37 kt | −30 kt | -48 °C | 150 kt | 4 h 21 min | 2:01 am EDT (06:01 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; 33 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° |
| IND | used from 148 nm out; 26 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° |
| CVG | used from 247 nm out; 14 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° |
| TRI | used from 346 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| GSP | used from 544 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 300/22 | 310/22 11° | 300/22 7° | 290/28 5° | 270/36 -5° | 250/42 -18° | 230/54 -31° | 230/59 -40° | 230/65 -50° |
| FLO | used from 593 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 240/25 | 270/23 11° | 250/36 10° | 240/38 7° | 240/50 -4° | 230/66 -15° | 220/75 -30° | 210/77 -40° | 220/73 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 7:54 pm CDT (00:54 UTC) |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 40 nm out, 2 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| IKK Kankakee, IL | 89 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 629 ft | 01:15 UTC |
| LAF Lafayette, IN | 148 nm out, 7 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 605 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| IND Indianapolis, IN | 198 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 796 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| CVG Covington, KY | 277 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 896 ft | 01:21 UTC |
| JKL Jackson, KY | 386 nm out, 3 nm north of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | variable at 3 knots | 2 mi | 200 ft | 1,380 ft | 01:20 UTC |
| LNP Wise, VA | 435 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: light rain | from the west (270°) at 6 knots | 3 mi | 400 ft | 2,684 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 465 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,518 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| HKY Hickory, NC | 524 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,189 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| UDG Darlington, SC | 633 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 192 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| FLO Florence, SC | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 146 ft | 8:53 pm EDT (00:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,684 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FLO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:01 am EDT (06:01 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for FLO
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- 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
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 8 nm from the route, 277 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at FLO 6:48 pm EDT (22:48 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FLO is before sunrise there (7:21 am EDT (11:21 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: Chicago/Rockford International, Florence Regional.
