Plan a flight · Mon 12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Palm Springs International RFD → PSP

1,383 nautical miles (1,592 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 258°, about 261° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 12:27 pm PDT (19:27 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; PSP is VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 12 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 7C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 1:55 am CDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 736 to 846 nm out.

as issued

WSUS32 KKCI 120455
MKCC WST 120455
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 7C
VALID UNTIL 0655Z
TX OK CO NM
FROM 40NNW PUB-70WSW LBL-40NE CME-40ESE RSK-30ENE HBU-40NNW PUB
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL340.

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 60 to 657 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 657 to 1214 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 667 to 846 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 746 to 866 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 527 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1025 to 1254 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1114 to 1164 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the last 70 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

urgent B407 at 10,000 ft, 24 nm northwest, 9:13 pm CDT (02:13 UTC): moderate to severe turbulence. 746 nm along the route, 24 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UUA /OV 10 W COS/TM 0213/FL100/TP B407/TB MDT-SEV
```
Report
an urgent report filed through COS
Where
10 west cos
Time
02:13 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
B407
Turbulence
mdt-sev
BE9L at 24,500 ft, 8 nm south, 9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. 776 nm along the route, 8 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB250040/TM 0221/FL245/TP BE9L/TB OCNL MOD/RM ZDVWC-41
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (250°) of PUB
Time
02:21 UTC
Height
at 24,500 ft
Aircraft
BE9L
Turbulence
occasional moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-41
E75L climbing, 12 nm northwest, 10:22 pm CDT (03:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSP UA /OV PSP345013/TM 0322/FLDURC/TP E75L/TB MOD CHOP/LT TURBU SFC-60
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSP
Where
13 nm north (345°) of PSP
Time
03:22 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate chop/lt turbu SFC-60
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 8 nm southeast, 9:15 pm CDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 119 nm along the route, 8 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
CL60 at 33,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. 716 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK080015/TM 0235/FL330/TP CL60/RM MTW +/-100FT ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
15 nm east (080°) of BRK
Time
02:35 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
CL60
Remarks
mtw +/-100FT zdvwc
B38M at 36,000 ft, 14 nm southeast, 9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30. 806 nm along the route, 14 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALS UA /OV ALS360035/TM 0222/FL360/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM MTW +/-200FT ZDVWC-30
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALS
Where
35 nm north (360°) of ALS
Time
02:22 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
Remarks
mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30
B733 at 20,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 10:16 pm CDT (03:16 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 20,000 ft, clear from 20,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-12. 846 nm along the route, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU/TM 0316/FL200/TP B733/SK SKC/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 200/RM DURC ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
over HBU
Time
03:16 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
B733
Sky
clear
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 20,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-12
BE20 at 20,400 ft, 15 nm south, 10:14 pm CDT (03:14 UTC): rain, heavy rain, blowing, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 886 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO050025/TM 0314/FL204/TP BE20/WX RA-+RA BLO 150/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
25 nm northeast (050°) of DRO
Time
03:14 UTC
Height
at 20,400 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Weather
ra-+ra, below, at 15,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-36
PC12 at 16,400 ft, 16 nm southeast, 10:15 pm CDT (03:15 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 16,000 ft, clear from 16,400 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 925 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO230013/TM 0315/FL164/TP PC12/SK SKC/TB CONS LGT CHOP BLO 160/RM DURC ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
13 nm southwest (230°) of DRO
Time
03:15 UTC
Height
at 16,400 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
clear
Turbulence
continuous light chop below 16,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-36
E75L climbing, 9 nm northwest, 9:36 pm CDT (02:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. At the destination end, 9 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PSP UA /OV PSP347010/TM 0236/FLDURC/TP E75L/TB LT TO MOD CHOP IN CLIMB
```
Report
a routine report filed through PSP
Where
10 nm north (347°) of PSP
Time
02:36 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
lt to moderate chop in climb
A321 at 3,300 ft, 48 nm west, 11:59 pm CDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 48 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT078008/TM 0459/FL033/TP A321/SK BKN033-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
8 nm east (078°) of ONT
Time
04:59 UTC
Height
at 3,300 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
a broken layer from 3,300 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent
B38M at 4,500 ft, 45 nm west, 11:15 pm CDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT078012/TM 0415/FL045/TP B38M/SK BKN045-TOPUNKN/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
12 nm east (078°) of ONT
Time
04:15 UTC
Height
at 4,500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 4,500 ft, tops unknown
Remarks
during the descent

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 12 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, BLH, ONT). 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	230° at 34 kt	+31 kt	21 °C	89 kt	15 h 32 min	1:44 pm PDT (20:44 UTC)
6,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	+30 kt	15 °C	90 kt	15 h 22 min	1:34 pm PDT (20:34 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	+23 kt	10 °C	97 kt	14 h 15 min	12:27 pm PDT (19:27 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+23 kt	7 °C	97 kt	14 h 15 min	12:27 pm PDT (19:27 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+24 kt	3 °C	96 kt	14 h 24 min	12:36 pm PDT (19:36 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+28 kt	-1 °C	92 kt	15 h 02 min	1:14 pm PDT (20:14 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	+32 kt	-5 °C	88 kt	15 h 43 min	1:55 pm PDT (20:55 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 36 kt	+35 kt	-9 °C	85 kt	16 h 16 min	2:28 pm PDT (21:28 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 44 kt	+42 kt	-21 °C	78 kt	17 h 44 min	3:56 pm PDT (22:56 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 61 kt	+61 kt	-30 °C	59 kt	23 h 26 min	9:38 pm PDT (04:38 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 66 kt	+67 kt	-36 °C	53 kt	26 h 06 min	12:18 am PDT (07:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 59 kt	+61 kt	-47 °C	59 kt	23 h 26 min	9:38 pm PDT (04:38 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; 51 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°
DSM	used from 149 nm out; 35 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
OMA	used from 249 nm out; 42 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
GRI	used from 348 nm out; 59 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
GLD	used from 497 nm out; 74 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
PUB	used from 647 nm out; 72 nm from the line			230/25 13°	230/32 6°	220/44 -8°	230/49 -21°	240/70 -28°	240/67 -34°	240/58 -46°
ALS	used from 796 nm out; 36 nm from the line				230/37 4°	220/54 -9°	230/62 -22°	240/77 -26°	240/74 -33°	230/59 -45°
FMN	used from 895 nm out; 36 nm from the line			220/28 9°	220/40 2°	220/53 -10°	220/62 -22°	230/79 -28°	240/91 -34°	230/71 -45°
BCE	used from 1045 nm out; 106 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
PRC	used from 1094 nm out; 81 nm from the line			210/25 5°	200/30 1°	220/55 -10°	220/61 -21°	220/84 -28°	230/90 -34°	230/73 -45°
BLH	used from 1244 nm out; 69 nm from the line	210/13	200/21 11°	200/22 5°	210/25 -1°	210/51 -10°	220/61 -20°	220/81 -29°	220/92 -34°	220/79 -45°
ONT	used from 1343 nm out; 72 nm from the line	190/8	190/19 6°	210/23 4°	210/29 -3°	210/47 -13°	210/49 -19°	220/47 -30°	220/50 -36°	220/55 -43°

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	11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC)
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	119 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	02:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	209 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	04:54 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	358 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	04:54 UTC
NRN Norton, KS	507 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	2,384 ft	04:55 UTC
GLD Goodland, KS	597 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 15 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	3,657 ft	04:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	746 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	04:53 UTC
CEZ Cortez, CO	945 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 9,500 feet	from the south (190°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	5,917 ft	04:53 UTC
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ	1134 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, a broken layer at 1,100 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	6,608 ft	04:54 UTC
IFP Bullhead City, AZ	1264 nm out, 24 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	707 ft	04:55 UTC
PSP Palm Springs, CA	destination	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	476 ft	9:53 pm PDT (04:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,608 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At PSP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:27 pm PDT (19:27 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for PSP

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 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

6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 1264 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 12 October · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at PSP 6:16 pm PDT (01:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:41 pm PDT (01:41 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 southern Plains · 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, Palm Springs International.