Chicago/Rockford International to Jackson Hole Airport RFD → JAC
953 nautical miles (1,096 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 282°, about 285° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 40 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 10-knot headwind), arriving about 9:11 am MDT (15:11 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; JAC is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 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 C11C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 2:55 am CDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 625 to 645 nm out.
as issued
WSUS32 KKCI 120555 MKCC WST 120555 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 11C VALID UNTIL 0755Z SD WY FROM 60WNW DPR-20SSE DPR-40SSW RAP-60W RAP-60WNW DPR DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 50 to 278 nm out.
- 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 476 to 913 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 635 to 893 nm out.
- 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). Over the route from 645 to 864 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 685 to 903 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 218 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 179 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
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 (DBQ, MCW, FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP, LND). 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 23 kt | +10 kt | 15 °C | 110 kt | 8 h 40 min | 9:11 am MDT (15:11 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +12 kt | 15 °C | 108 kt | 8 h 49 min | 9:20 am MDT (15:20 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +11 kt | 11 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 45 min | 9:16 am MDT (15:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 23 kt | +14 kt | 8 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 59 min | 9:30 am MDT (15:30 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 25 kt | +16 kt | 4 °C | 104 kt | 9 h 10 min | 9:41 am MDT (15:41 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +18 kt | -1 °C | 102 kt | 9 h 21 min | 9:52 am MDT (15:52 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +19 kt | -6 °C | 101 kt | 9 h 26 min | 9:57 am MDT (15:57 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 26 kt | +20 kt | -9 °C | 100 kt | 9 h 32 min | 10:03 am MDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | +27 kt | -21 °C | 93 kt | 10 h 15 min | 10:46 am MDT (16:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 40 kt | +32 kt | -34 °C | 88 kt | 10 h 50 min | 11:21 am MDT (17:21 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 49 kt | +45 kt | -40 °C | 75 kt | 12 h 42 min | 1:13 pm MDT (19:13 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 57 kt | +55 kt | -48 °C | 65 kt | 14 h 40 min | 3:11 pm MDT (21:11 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 48 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| MCW | used from 149 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/30 17° | 230/14 12° | 240/17 6° | 250/22 -8° | 270/29 -20° | 250/34 -34° | 260/52 -43° | 260/59 -51° |
| FSD | used from 248 nm out; 77 nm from the line | 190/9 | 230/30 18° | 240/23 13° | 240/20 6° | 260/22 -9° | 250/31 -21° | 250/43 -36° | 260/49 -43° | 270/53 -47° |
| ONL | used from 397 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| PIR | used from 447 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| RAP | used from 546 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| LND | used from 744 nm out; 109 nm from the line | 200/23 6° | 220/31 1° | 220/39 -11° | 230/39 -23° | 220/51 -28° | 220/66 -37° | 230/68 -45° |
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 broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC) |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 69 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 149 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CAV Clarion, IA | 208 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,900 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,900 ft | 1,156 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| FSD Sioux Falls, SD | 347 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northeast (020°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,430 ft | 05:56 UTC |
| ICR Winner, SD | 476 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | from the northeast (050°) at 7 knots | 6 mi | 400 ft | 2,032 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 526 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 6 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 2,724 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| CUT Custer, SD | 645 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet Weather: light rain | variable at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 5,619 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 675 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR | from the east-southeast (110°) at 16 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 4,177 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| HSG Thermopolis, WY | 854 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,800 feet | from the north-northeast (020°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 1,800 ft | 4,891 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 903 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 3,800 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: drizzle | from the northwest (310°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,800 ft | 7,298 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| JAC Jackson, WY | destination | VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 6,451 ft | 11:56 pm MDT (05:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At JAC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:11 am MDT (15:11 UTC)
Wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for JAC
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 7:00 am MDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 5 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC) and 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm MDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds 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
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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at JAC 6:43 pm MDT (00:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 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, Jackson Hole Airport.
