Plan a flight · Sun 6:48 pm CDT (23:48 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Philadelphia International RFD → PHL

642 nautical miles (739 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 098°, about 101° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 38-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:52 pm EDT (03:52 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 knots; PHL is IFR, wind from the east-northeast (060°) 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: 746 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 E12E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 30 knots, until 7:55 pm CDT (00:55 UTC). Over the last 79 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112255
MKCE WST 112255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12E
VALID UNTIL 0055Z
NJ PA DE MD VA DC WV AND NJ CSTL WTRS
FROM 30WNW SAX-40ESE CYN-20SW DCA-50SSE JST-30WNW SAX
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 24030KT. TOPS TO FL340.

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 last 405 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the route from 395 to 593 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 415 to 553 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 474 to 622 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 148 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

C25B at 25,000 ft, 25 nm north, 4:47 pm CDT (21:47 UTC): moderate rime icing, 0 °C. 504 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSB UA /OV PSB/TM 2147/FL250/TP C25B/TA 0/IC MOD RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSB
Where
over PSB
Time
21:47 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
C25B
Temperature
0 °C
Icing
moderate rime
B38M at 25,000 ft, 15 nm northeast, 5:25 pm CDT (22:25 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 15 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TEB UA /OV 3958N 07457W/TM 2225/FL250/TP B38M/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TEB
Where
3958N 07457W
Time
22:25 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate
C17 at 500 ft, 21 nm south, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 30 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L arrival
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B39M at 34,000 ft, 24 nm north, 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. 49 nm along the route, 24 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORD UA /OV OBK360015/TM 2100/FL340/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORD
Where
15 nm north (360°) of OBK
Time
21:00 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
continuous light chop
A319 at 15,000 ft, 21 nm south, 5:08 pm CDT (22:08 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft. 109 nm along the route, 21 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PPO UA /OV PPO/TM 2208/FL150/TP A319/TB NEG/RM DURD 150-130
```
Report
a routine report filed through PPO
Where
over PPO
Time
22:08 UTC
Height
at 15,000 ft
Aircraft
A319
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent from 15,000 ft to 13,000 ft
F2TH at 3,100 ft, 34 nm north, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC): remarks: tops 3,100 ft. 168 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV BTL/TM 2340/FL031/TP F2TH/RM TOPS 031
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over BTL
Time
23:40 UTC
Height
at 3,100 ft
Aircraft
F2TH
Remarks
tops 3,100 ft
E145 at 2,600 ft, 44 nm south, 6:05 pm CDT (23:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 188 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2305/FL026/TP E145/SK B026
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
23:05 UTC
Height
at 2,600 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B026
CRJ9 climbing, 44 nm south, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): overcast from 2,500 ft to 3,300 ft. 188 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2201/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK OVC025 - TOPS 033
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
22:01 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
overcast from 2,500 ft, tops 3,300 ft
CRJ2 at 3,300 ft, 44 nm south, 4:33 pm CDT (21:33 UTC): no turbulence. 188 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FWA UA /OV FWA/TM 2133/FL033/TP CRJ2/SK B28 T33/TB SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through FWA
Where
over FWA
Time
21:33 UTC
Height
at 3,300 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
B28 T33
Turbulence
smooth
A320 descending, 5 nm northeast, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): overcast from 1,600 ft to 3,500 ft, wind 350° at 9 knots. 237 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP A320/SK OVC016 TOP035/WV 35009KTS AT 023
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft, tops 3,500 ft
Wind
wind from 350° at 9 knots at at 2,300 ft
TBM8 at 1,600 ft, 42 nm north, 4:24 pm CDT (21:24 UTC): overcast above 1,600 ft. 237 nm along the route, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARB UA /OV ARB060001/TM 2124/FL016/TP TBM8/SK OVC016
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARB
Where
1 nm northeast (060°) of ARB
Time
21:24 UTC
Height
at 1,600 ft
Aircraft
TBM8
Sky
overcast from 1,600 ft
C208 at 8,000 ft, 25 nm north, 3:54 pm CDT (20:54 UTC): vmc. 237 nm along the route, 25 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV SIZOR/TM 2054/FL080/TP C208/WX VMC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
sizor
Time
20:54 UTC
Height
at 8,000 ft
Aircraft
C208
Weather
visual conditions
E75S descending, 45 nm north, 6:01 pm CDT (23:01 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 247 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTW UA /OV RWY 3R/TM 2301/FLDURD/TP E75S/SK TOPS 020 BASES 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTW
Where
runway 3R
Time
23:01 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E75S
Sky
tops 2,000 ft bases 1,000 ft
E55P descending, 45 nm north, 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 247 nm along the route, 45 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
YIP UA /OV KYIP/TM 2300/FLDURD/TP E55P/SK B015
```
Report
a routine report filed through YIP
Where
over KYIP
Time
23:00 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E55P
Sky
B015

16 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 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, FWA, CLE, AGC, PSB, ACY). 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	300° at 5 kt	−4 kt		124 kt	5 h 11 min	12:59 am EDT (04:59 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 10 kt	−9 kt	13 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	−9 kt	11 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 10 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 10 kt	−8 kt	5 °C	128 kt	5 h 01 min	12:49 am EDT (04:49 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	−9 kt	0 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	12:47 am EDT (04:47 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 12 kt	−11 kt	-4 °C	131 kt	4 h 54 min	12:42 am EDT (04:42 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	−13 kt	-9 °C	133 kt	4 h 50 min	12:38 am EDT (04:38 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 14 kt	−13 kt	-10 °C	133 kt	4 h 50 min	12:38 am EDT (04:38 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 15 kt	−14 kt	-21 °C	134 kt	4 h 47 min	12:35 am EDT (04:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 31 kt	−28 kt	-35 °C	148 kt	4 h 20 min	12:08 am EDT (04:08 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 37 kt	−32 kt	-41 °C	152 kt	4 h 13 min	12:01 am EDT (04:01 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 41 kt	−38 kt	-49 °C	158 kt	4 h 04 min	11:52 pm EDT (03:52 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; 41 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°
FWA	used from 99 nm out; 75 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°
CLE	used from 247 nm out; 57 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
AGC	used from 395 nm out; 30 nm from the line	140/12	350/10 12°	L/V 9°	L/V 3°	200/11 -11°	220/21 -22°	220/47 -33°	230/51 -39°	230/45 -48°
PSB	used from 445 nm out; 38 nm from the line		260/13 13°	220/12 8°	220/11 4°	230/27 -11°	210/31 -21°	220/73 -32°	220/75 -40°	230/66 -50°
ACY	used from 593 nm out; 63 nm from the line	230/15	230/22 15°	230/31 11°	230/27 6°	230/40 -7°	230/51 -17°	230/71 -31°	230/81 -41°	230/86 -53°

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	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC)
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	49 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,500 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	644 ft	22:52 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	128 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northwest (330°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	798 ft	22:54 UTC
EKM Elkhart, IN	138 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	calm	4 mi	none	777 ft	23:35 UTC
TOL Toledo, OH	237 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet	calm	10+ mi	2,300 ft	683 ft	23:30 UTC
LPR Lorain/Elyria, OH	316 nm out, 5 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet	calm	10+ mi	1,900 ft	793 ft	22:53 UTC
CLE Cleveland, OH	326 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,800 feet	from the east (080°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,800 ft	799 ft	22:51 UTC
BVI Beaver Falls, PA	405 nm out, 11 nm southwest of the line, tower	reported, no category	calm		none	1,252 ft	19:47 UTC
JST Johnstown, PA	474 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the east-northeast (070°) at 5 knots	0.5 mi	200 ft	2,284 ft	23:38 UTC
CXY Harrisburg, PA	563 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: rain	from the east (080°) at 8 knots	9 mi	700 ft	346 ft	22:56 UTC
LNS Lancaster, PA	593 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 2,200 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the east (090°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	2,200 ft	402 ft	23:28 UTC
PHL Philadelphia, PA	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east-northeast (060°) at 9 knots	3 mi	900 ft	35 ft	7:16 pm EDT (23:16 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,284 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PHL when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:52 pm EDT (03:52 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet IFR

The whole forecast for PHL

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 10 knots, visibility 3 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm EDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 500 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, overcast at 800 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 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

6/8587 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 356 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZOB
6/8829 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 375 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZOB
6/8888 Youngstown, OH, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 385 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC), at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm EDT (22:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at PHL is before sunrise there (7:07 am EDT (11:07 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · 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, Philadelphia International.