Plan a flight · Mon 8:59 am CDT (13:59 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Spokane International RFD → GEG

1,245 nautical miles (1,432 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 295°, about 298° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 11 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 knots; GEG is VFR, wind from the east (100°) 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: 1 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 C20C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 37,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 10:55 am CDT (15:55 UTC). Near the route, 538 nm along the route.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 121355
MKCC WST 121355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 20C
VALID UNTIL 1555Z
SD ND
FROM 80W GFK-40WNW FAR-40W ABR-50ENE DPR-30S BIS-80W GFK
AREA TS MOV FROM 21040KT. TOPS TO FL370.
```
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 249 to 1065 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 747 to 806 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 428 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 876 to 1155 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 169 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 RFD.

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

PC12 at 20,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 70 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV 0WI4/TM 1327/FL200/TP PC12/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over 0WI4
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
none
C510 at 17,000 ft, 36 nm northeast, 8:27 am CDT (13:27 UTC): no turbulence. 70 nm along the route, 36 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNR UA /OV LNR/TM 1327/FL170/TP C510/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNR
Where
over LNR
Time
13:27 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
C510
Turbulence
none
B752 at 34,000 ft, 15 nm southwest, 7:23 am CDT (12:23 UTC): light chop turbulence. 90 nm along the route, 15 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DBQ UA /OV DBQ300020/TM 1223/FL340/TP B752/TB OCNL LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DBQ
Where
20 nm northwest (300°) of DBQ
Time
12:23 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
occasional light chop
P46T at 31,000 ft, 41 nm south, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): light chop turbulence. 149 nm along the route, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO270005/TM 1337/FL310/TP P46T/TB INTMT LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
5 nm west (270°) of ALO
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
P46T
Turbulence
intermittent light chop
BE36 at 6,000 ft, 12 nm south, 8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC): no turbulence. 249 nm along the route, 12 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FRM UA /OV FRM/TM 1312/FL060/TP BE36/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through FRM
Where
over FRM
Time
13:12 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
BE36
Turbulence
none
SF50 at 13,000 ft, 23 nm northeast, 8:36 am CDT (13:36 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 13,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 299 nm along the route, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RWF UA /OV RWF/TM 1336/FL130/TP SF50/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through RWF
Where
over RWF
Time
13:36 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
SF50
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
UAL1095 at 36,000 ft, 48 nm south, 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): no turbulence, -41 °C, wind 253° at 52 knots. 348 nm along the route, 48 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1095 4338N 09646W 1300 F360 MS41 253/052KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C25A at 7,500 ft, 23 nm northeast, 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 388 nm along the route, 23 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATY UA /OV ATY/TM 1231/FL075/TP C25A/SK BASEUNKN/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATY
Where
over ATY
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
C25A
Sky
baseunkn
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
C441 at 5,000 ft, 31 nm northeast, 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the climb. 448 nm along the route, 31 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ABR UA /OV ABR/TM 1152/FL050/TP C441/SK BASEUNKN-TOP032/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ABR
Where
over ABR
Time
11:52 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C441
Sky
BASEUNKN-TOP032
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
A321 at 35,000 ft, 12 nm north, 8:38 am CDT (13:38 UTC): no turbulence. 528 nm along the route, 12 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
MBG UA /OV MBG/TM 1338/FL350/TP A321/SK TOP310/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through MBG
Where
over MBG
Time
13:38 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
TOP310
Turbulence
none
SR22 at 7,000 ft, 50 nm north, 8:37 am CDT (13:37 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, clear from 7,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 548 nm along the route, 50 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BIS UA /OV BIS170030/TM 1337/FL070/TP SR22/SK SKC/TB NEG/IC NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BIS
Where
30 nm south (170°) of BIS
Time
13:37 UTC
Height
at 7,000 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Sky
clear
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
A319 at 7,500 ft, 20 nm north, 8:41 am CDT (13:41 UTC): overcast from 30,000 ft to 7,500 ft. 996 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GTF UA /OV 180010/TM 1341/FL075/TP A319/SK OVC003-TOPS075
```
Report
a routine report filed through GTF
Where
wind from 180° at 10 knots
Time
13:41 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 300 ft, tops 7,500 ft
BE9L at 7,500 ft, 39 nm south, 7:45 am CDT (12:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing, overcast from 7,500 ft to 9,000 ft, -6 °C, remarks: during the climb. 1006 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN120010/TM 1245/FL075/TP BE9L/SK OVC075-TOPS090/TA M06/TB NEG/IC LGT RIME/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of HLN
Time
12:45 UTC
Height
at 7,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Sky
overcast from 7,500 ft, tops 9,000 ft
Temperature
−6 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the climb
B752 at 41,000 ft, 24 nm south, 7:31 am CDT (12:31 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 41,000 ft. 1006 nm along the route, 24 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HLN UA /OV HLN009010/TM 1231/FL410/TP B752/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 410/ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through HLN
Where
10 nm north (009°) of HLN
Time
12:31 UTC
Height
at 41,000 ft
Aircraft
B752
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate 410/ZLC

1 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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 12 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, LSE, MCW, FSD, ABR, PIR, DIK, MLS, BIL, GTF, GPI, GEG). 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	250° at 10 kt	+7 kt	2 °C	113 kt	11 h 01 min	6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 11 kt	+7 kt	9 °C	113 kt	11 h 01 min	6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 15 kt	+8 kt	7 °C	112 kt	11 h 07 min	6:06 pm PDT (01:06 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 17 kt	+10 kt	2 °C	110 kt	11 h 19 min	6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	+12 kt	-1 °C	108 kt	11 h 32 min	6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC)
14,500 ft	230° at 20 kt	+12 kt	-5 °C	108 kt	11 h 32 min	6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	+12 kt	-9 °C	108 kt	11 h 32 min	6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 21 kt	+12 kt	-12 °C	108 kt	11 h 32 min	6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 30 kt	+17 kt	-24 °C	103 kt	12 h 05 min	7:04 pm PDT (02:04 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 34 kt	+22 kt	-36 °C	98 kt	12 h 42 min	7:41 pm PDT (02:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 43 kt	+32 kt	-39 °C	88 kt	14 h 09 min	9:08 pm PDT (04:08 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 53 kt	+45 kt	-46 °C	75 kt	16 h 36 min	11:35 pm PDT (06:35 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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
DBQ	used from 0 nm out; 49 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
LSE	used from 100 nm out; 54 nm from the line	250/25	240/21 17°	240/28 11°	250/28 5°	280/24 -10°	280/31 -21°	260/35 -37°	270/45 -43°	280/59 -47°
MCW	used from 149 nm out; 29 nm from the line	250/36	250/24 19°	240/26 11°	250/30 5°	270/22 -9°	260/30 -21°	260/31 -36°	280/53 -38°	280/66 -48°
FSD	used from 299 nm out; 54 nm from the line	210/20	230/23 21°	220/25 14°	230/30 5°	230/26 -9°	240/30 -21°	270/33 -36°	260/47 -37°	270/58 -47°
ABR	used from 398 nm out; 40 nm from the line	080/12	210/12 17°	220/22 12°	230/26 5°	220/28 -10°	230/41 -21°	250/36 -36°	260/47 -39°	260/63 -47°
PIR	used from 498 nm out; 57 nm from the line		230/15 15°	220/22 14°	220/24 6°	200/32 -10°	210/48 -22°	240/45 -33°	240/43 -37°	250/55 -46°
DIK	used from 597 nm out; 61 nm from the line		190/12 5°	230/29 7°	220/33 1°	220/43 -11°	210/47 -23°	220/53 -33°	240/56 -40°	250/72 -47°
MLS	used from 697 nm out; 41 nm from the line		290/17 -1°	250/18 0°	230/25 0°	220/31 -11°	220/32 -24°	220/50 -32°	220/60 -38°	230/71 -46°
BIL	used from 846 nm out; 57 nm from the line		300/14	270/19 -2°	260/26 -2°	220/28 -13°	210/51 -25°	220/56 -33°	220/61 -39°	220/72 -45°
GTF	used from 896 nm out; 78 nm from the line		L/V	L/V -7°	240/8 -8°	240/30 -14°	240/40 -28°	210/52 -38°	210/76 -38°	220/72 -43°
GPI	used from 1045 nm out; 72 nm from the line		090/8 -4°	140/7 -7°	090/10 -8°	110/10 -19°	210/25 -30°	200/24 -40°	210/31 -39°	210/35 -42°
GEG	used from 1145 nm out; 75 nm from the line		060/7 -2°	070/12 -6°	050/8 -8°	120/11 -21°	110/18 -33°	030/22 -37°	040/6 -38°	240/7 -41°

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 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 am CDT (13:54 UTC)
DBQ Dubuque, IA	70 nm out, 18 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	13:53 UTC
AEL Albert Lea, MN	209 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 17,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,261 ft	13:55 UTC
TKC Tracy, MN	309 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the north (010°) at 4 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	1,335 ft	13:55 UTC
ATY Watertown, SD	388 nm out, 19 nm northeast of the line	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 300 feet Weather: fog	from the east-northeast (070°) at 8 knots	0.25 mi	300 ft	1,749 ft	13:53 UTC
MBG Mobridge, SD	528 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (340°) at 8 knots	2.5 mi	900 ft	1,716 ft	13:52 UTC
HEI Hettinger, ND	627 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 500 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: mist	from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots	1 mi	500 ft	2,705 ft	13:53 UTC
MLS Miles City, MT	767 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,700 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 9 knots	9 mi	600 ft	2,634 ft	13:53 UTC
LWT Lewistown, MT	916 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	no report just now				4,170 ft
GTF Great Falls, MT	996 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	400 ft	3,680 ft	13:53 UTC
THM Thompson Falls, MT	1155 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	no report just now				2,467 ft
GEG Spokane, WA	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the east (100°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	2,385 ft	6:53 am PDT (13:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 4,170 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At GEG when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC)

Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for GEG

From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 3:00 am PDT (10:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

The forecast for RFD, the departure

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
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, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet

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

6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 1095 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 22 nm from the route, 1115 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at GEG 6:06 pm PDT (01:06 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:37 pm PDT (01:37 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 Pacific Northwest · 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/Rockford International, Spokane International.