Plan a flight · Mon 6:36 am CDT (11:36 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to Southwest Florida International RFD → RSW

1,007 nautical miles (1,159 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 157°, about 160° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 6 h 32 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 34-knot tailwind), arriving about 2:08 pm EDT (18:08 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots; RSW is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 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

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 route from 239 to 528 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, 459 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 499 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 519 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 718 to 877 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

B38M at 38,000 ft, 28 nm northeast, 6:00 am CDT (11:00 UTC): moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: ztlfd 22. 658 nm along the route, 28 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV VNA/TM 1100/FL380/TP B38M/TB MOD/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD 22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over VNA
Time
11:00 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
ztlfd 22
A21N at 31,000 ft, 47 nm northeast, 5:33 am CDT (10:33 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 130 nm along the route, 47 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAF UA /OV BVT/TM 1033/FL310/TP A21N/TB NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAF
Where
over BVT
Time
10:33 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the climb
E550 at 8,700 ft, 30 nm west, 5:30 am CDT (10:30 UTC): clear from 8,700 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: visual conditions clear during the climb. 259 nm along the route, 30 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EVV UA /OV EVV/TM 1030/FL087/TP E550/SK SKC/RM VMC CLR DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through EVV
Where
over EVV
Time
10:30 UTC
Height
at 8,700 ft
Aircraft
E550
Sky
clear
Remarks
visual conditions clear during the climb
E75L at 33,000 ft, 3 nm southeast, 6:09 am CDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: ZME62. 359 nm along the route, 3 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BNA UA /OV BNA045040/TM 1109/FL330/TP E75L/TB NEG/RM ZME62
```
Report
a routine report filed through BNA
Where
40 nm northeast (045°) of BNA
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
none
Remarks
ZME62
C56X at 1,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 6:04 am CDT (11:04 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. 469 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1104/FL010/TP C56X/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
11:04 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 8 nm northeast, 5:15 am CDT (10:15 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. 469 nm along the route, 8 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1015/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
10:15 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
B38M at 35,000 ft, 27 nm east, 5:04 am CDT (10:04 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 39. 489 nm along the route, 27 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GQO110025/TM 1004/FL350/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 39
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm east (110°) of GQO
Time
10:04 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 39
B739 at 34,000 ft, 19 nm west, 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. 778 nm along the route, 19 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV SZW120050/TM 1053/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
50 nm southeast (120°) of SZW
Time
10:53 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
B738 at 38,000 ft, 29 nm east, 6:09 am CDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence. 848 nm along the route, 29 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF/TM 1109/FL380/TP B738/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
over OCF
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none
B737 at 21,000 ft, 6 nm east, 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC): no chop turbulence from 12,000 ft to 21,000 ft, clear from 21,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 858 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CGC UA /OV CGC/TM 1107/FL210/TP B737/SK SKC/TB NEG CHOP 120-210
```
Report
a routine report filed through CGC
Where
over CGC
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no chop from 12,000 ft to 21,000 ft
B38M at 21,000 ft, 20 nm south, 5:51 am CDT (10:51 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RSW UA /OV RSW180020/TM 1051/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through RSW
Where
20 nm south (180°) of RSW
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent

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 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 10 forecast points nearest it (JOT, IND, EVV, BNA, HSV, ATL, CSG, TLH, JAX, PIE). 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	310° at 18 kt	−15 kt		135 kt	7 h 28 min	3:04 pm EDT (19:04 UTC)
5,500 ft	310° at 18 kt	−16 kt		136 kt	7 h 24 min	3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC)
7,500 ft	320° at 16 kt	−15 kt	13 °C	135 kt	7 h 28 min	3:04 pm EDT (19:04 UTC)
9,500 ft	310° at 14 kt	−13 kt	10 °C	133 kt	7 h 34 min	3:10 pm EDT (19:10 UTC)
11,500 ft	300° at 15 kt	−12 kt	7 °C	132 kt	7 h 38 min	3:14 pm EDT (19:14 UTC)
13,500 ft	300° at 17 kt	−13 kt	3 °C	133 kt	7 h 34 min	3:10 pm EDT (19:10 UTC)
15,500 ft	300° at 19 kt	−15 kt	-1 °C	135 kt	7 h 28 min	3:04 pm EDT (19:04 UTC)
17,500 ft	300° at 22 kt	−17 kt	-5 °C	137 kt	7 h 21 min	2:57 pm EDT (18:57 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 22 kt	−17 kt	-6 °C	137 kt	7 h 21 min	2:57 pm EDT (18:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 25 kt	−20 kt	-18 °C	140 kt	7 h 12 min	2:48 pm EDT (18:48 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 32 kt	−26 kt	-33 °C	146 kt	6 h 54 min	2:30 pm EDT (18:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	310° at 39 kt	−34 kt	-41 °C	154 kt	6 h 32 min	2:08 pm EDT (18:08 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	310° at 36 kt	−32 kt	-51 °C	152 kt	6 h 38 min	2:14 pm EDT (18:14 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
JOT	used from 0 nm out; 36 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°
IND	used from 150 nm out; 62 nm from the line	270/22	290/19 15°	270/19 8°	270/18 4°	290/28 -7°	280/35 -20°	270/37 -34°	300/51 -42°	300/61 -51°
EVV	used from 199 nm out; 45 nm from the line	270/25	290/17 15°	260/10 8°	270/16 5°	280/29 -6°	280/33 -19°	290/38 -33°	300/53 -41°	310/54 -51°
BNA	used from 299 nm out; 66 nm from the line	300/20	300/14 15°	300/14 10°	300/13 4°	310/22 -5°	280/24 -18°	310/37 -33°	310/50 -41°	320/49 -51°
HSV	used from 449 nm out; 74 nm from the line	300/20	310/14 16°	310/18 10°	310/15 4°	320/19 -5°	290/16 -18°	320/36 -32°	320/47 -41°	330/42 -50°
ATL	used from 499 nm out; 38 nm from the line	330/32	340/36 17°	350/34 10°	340/25 6°	330/27 -6°	350/35 -18°	330/49 -32°	340/47 -41°	340/27 -51°
CSG	used from 598 nm out; 35 nm from the line	330/27	340/28 16°	350/28 11°	330/17 6°	340/25 -6°	350/33 -18°	330/46 -32°	340/45 -41°	350/31 -52°
TLH	used from 698 nm out; 54 nm from the line	340/23	350/26 17°	350/21 11°	300/13 6°	320/25 -6°	340/35 -16°	350/44 -32°	360/51 -42°	350/33 -52°
JAX	used from 798 nm out; 90 nm from the line	310/22	310/19 16°	300/22 14°	290/25 8°	300/25 -7°	300/24 -18°	270/20 -33°	260/25 -41°	290/17 -51°
PIE	used from 848 nm out; 45 nm from the line	360/10	340/12 18°	330/9 13°	290/12 8°	260/21 -7°	280/18 -18°	250/20 -33°	250/26 -41°	250/20 -51°

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	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC)
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	30 nm out, 16 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	9 mi	none	712 ft	10:52 UTC
HUF Terre Haute, IN	179 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	589 ft	10:53 UTC
OWB Owensboro, KY	279 nm out, 21 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	407 ft	10:56 UTC
BWG Bowling Green, KY	339 nm out, 6 nm west of the line	low IFR Weather: fog	calm	0.5 mi	none	547 ft	11:18 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	469 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.13 mi	200 ft	682 ft	10:53 UTC
FTY Atlanta, GA	548 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	841 ft	10:53 UTC
ABY Albany, GA	678 nm out, 19 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the west (280°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	196 ft	22:53 UTC
VLD Valdosta, GA	738 nm out, 10 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Weather: mist	calm	6 mi	none	203 ft	10:53 UTC
BKV Brooksville, FL	887 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	8 mi	none	76 ft	10:53 UTC
PGD Punta Gorda, FL	977 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (020°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	25 ft	10:53 UTC
RSW Fort Myers, FL	destination	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet	from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	29 ft	7:16 am EDT (11:16 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 841 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RSW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:08 pm EDT (18:08 UTC)

Wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RSW

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): a broken layer at 1,200 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 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

6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 20 nm from the route, 638 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm EDT (23:25 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 lower Mississippi valley · 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, Southwest Florida International.