Plan a flight · Sun 8:53 pm CDT (01:53 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 1:57 am EDT (05:57 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; PHL is IFR, wind from the northeast (040°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17. 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 2E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the last 79 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 120055
MKCE WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2E
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
CT NY NJ PA DE MD AND NJ NY CT CSTL WTRS
FROM 30NE SAX-30SSW HTO-30ESE EMI-50WSW HAR-30NE SAX
AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 22020KT. 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 last 415 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 405 to 622 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.

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

A320 at 33,000 ft, 34 nm north, 7:36 pm CDT (00:36 UTC): moderate turbulence above 33,000 ft, remarks: zob. 178 nm along the route, 34 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JXN UA /OV JXN280030/TM 0036/FL330/TP A320/TB OCNL MOD 330/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JXN
Where
30 nm west (280°) of JXN
Time
00:36 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
occasional moderate at 33,000 ft
Remarks
zob
A321 at 30,000 ft, 46 nm south, 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC): moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: zob. 454 nm along the route, 46 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
2G9 UA /OV IHD/TM 2349/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD 300/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through 2G9
Where
over IHD
Time
23:49 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
zob
E145 at 12,000 ft, 1 nm northwest, 7:43 pm CDT (00:43 UTC): moderate turbulence. 593 nm along the route, 1 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LNS UA /OV LRP/TM 0043/FL120/TP E145/TB CONS MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through LNS
Where
over LRP
Time
00:43 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
E145
Turbulence
continuous moderate
A21N at 18,000 ft, 16 nm north, 7:38 pm CDT (00:38 UTC): moderate clear-air turbulence. At the destination end, 16 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTW UA /OV PTW/TM 0038/FL180/TP A21N/TB MOD CAT
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTW
Where
over PTW
Time
00:38 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
moderate clear-air turbulence
E75L at 20,000 ft, 16 nm southwest, 7:41 pm CDT (00:41 UTC): moderate turbulence above 20,000 ft. At the destination end, 16 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ILG UA /OV DQO/TM 0041/FL200/TP E75L/TB MOD 200
```
Report
a routine report filed through ILG
Where
over DQO
Time
00:41 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate at 20,000 ft
BCS3 at 19,000 ft, 41 nm south, 7:18 pm CDT (00:18 UTC): moderate turbulence above 17,000 ft, -9 °C. At the destination end, 41 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DOV UA /OV ENO/TM 0018/FL190/TP BCS3/TA M09/TB MOD 170
```
Report
a routine report filed through DOV
Where
over ENO
Time
00:18 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Temperature
−9 °C
Turbulence
moderate at 17,000 ft
B39M at 35,000 ft, 31 nm south, 7:29 pm CDT (00:29 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: smooth. 69 nm along the route, 31 nm south 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
CRJ7 at 17,000 ft, 11 nm northeast, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): no turbulence. 89 nm along the route, 11 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BEH UA /OV ELX270040/TM 0004/FL170/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through BEH
Where
40 nm west (270°) of ELX
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 17,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
B38M at 31,000 ft, 27 nm north, 7:04 pm CDT (00:04 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 31,000 ft. 158 nm along the route, 27 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AZO UA /OV AZO/TM 0004/FL310/TP B38M/TB CONS LGT CHOP 310 BLO
```
Report
a routine report filed through AZO
Where
over AZO
Time
00:04 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous light chop at 31,000 ft below
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
E170 at 21,000 ft, 48 nm north, 8:07 pm CDT (01:07 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the climb zob. 198 nm along the route, 48 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAN UA /OV LAN180020/TM 0107/FL210/TP E170/TB LGHT CHOP/RM DURC ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAN
Where
20 nm south (180°) of LAN
Time
01:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
lght chop
Remarks
during the climb zob
UAL2761 at 33,000 ft, 2 nm west, 6:24 pm CDT (23:24 UTC): no turbulence, wind 310° at 40 knots. 198 nm along the route, 2 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 4139N 08447W 2324 F330 310/040KT TB SMTH IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C525 descending, 5 nm northeast, 8:41 pm CDT (01:41 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 237 nm along the route, 5 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TOL UA /OV TOL/TM 0141/FLDURD/TP C525/SK TOPS035 BKN010/WX 2SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through TOL
Where
over TOL
Time
01:41 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
C525
Sky
TOPS035 BKN010
Weather
2SM

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	3:04 am EDT (07:04 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 10 kt	−9 kt	13 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
7,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	−9 kt	11 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
9,500 ft	300° at 10 kt	−9 kt	8 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
11,500 ft	310° at 10 kt	−8 kt	5 °C	128 kt	5 h 01 min	2:54 am EDT (06:54 UTC)
13,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	−9 kt	0 °C	129 kt	4 h 59 min	2:52 am EDT (06:52 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 12 kt	−11 kt	-4 °C	131 kt	4 h 54 min	2:47 am EDT (06:47 UTC)
17,500 ft	290° at 13 kt	−13 kt	-9 °C	133 kt	4 h 50 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	290° at 14 kt	−13 kt	-10 °C	133 kt	4 h 50 min	2:43 am EDT (06:43 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	290° at 15 kt	−14 kt	-21 °C	134 kt	4 h 47 min	2:40 am EDT (06:40 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	270° at 31 kt	−28 kt	-35 °C	148 kt	4 h 20 min	2:13 am EDT (06:13 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 37 kt	−32 kt	-41 °C	152 kt	4 h 13 min	2:06 am EDT (06:06 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 41 kt	−38 kt	-49 °C	158 kt	4 h 04 min	1:57 am EDT (05:57 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	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	7:54 pm CDT (00:54 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, a few clouds at 10,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	644 ft	00:52 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	128 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	00:54 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 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 2,200 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	683 ft	01:22 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	00:53 UTC
CLE Cleveland, OH	326 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,100 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	2,100 ft	799 ft	00:51 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 (060°) at 5 knots	0.25 mi	200 ft	2,284 ft	01:42 UTC
CXY Harrisburg, PA	563 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: overcast at 700 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 7 knots	3 mi	700 ft	346 ft	01:33 UTC
LNS Lancaster, PA	593 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,400 feet Weather: rain, mist	from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots	5 mi	1,000 ft	402 ft	00:53 UTC
PHL Philadelphia, PA	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	from the northeast (040°) at 9 knots, gusting to 17	6 mi	600 ft	35 ft	9:11 pm EDT (01:11 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, 1:57 am EDT (05:57 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 · today · 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 · today · 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 · today · ZOB

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 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.