Plan a flight · Mon 2:28 am CDT (07:28 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to San Diego International RFD → SAN

1,446 nautical miles (1,664 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 256°, about 259° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 3:22 pm PDT (22:22 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 3 knots; SAN is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 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: 5 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 C12C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 25,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 3:55 am CDT (08:55 UTC). Over the route from 768 to 828 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 120655
MKCC WST 120655
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12C
VALID UNTIL 0855Z
CO NM
FROM 40W PUB-30SSE PUB-30W CIM-50WSW ALS-40W PUB
DMSHG AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL250.
```
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 668 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 658 to 1197 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 688 to 778 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 748 to 848 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the last 658 nm of the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1047 to 1236 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 1117 to 1167 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 1326 nm along 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

A321 at 31,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 1:41 am CDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 728 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:41 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
A21N at 33,000 ft, 46 nm northwest, 1:59 am CDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 728 nm along the route, 46 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
A320 at 31,000 ft, 21 nm north, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 778 nm along the route, 21 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
PC12 at 26,000 ft, 41 nm northwest, 1:27 am CDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 818 nm along the route, 41 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
40 nm east (090°) of HBU
Time
06:27 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-12
PC12 at 11,000 ft, 11 nm northwest, 1:58 am CDT (06:58 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36. 907 nm along the route, 11 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DRO UA /OV DRO/TM 0658/FL110/TP PC12/SK BASE117/TB CONS LGT/IC NEG/RM DURD ARR KFMN. ZDVWC-36
```
Report
a routine report filed through DRO
Where
over DRO
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 11,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Sky
BASE117
Turbulence
continuous light
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent arrival KFMN ZDVWC-36
E75L at 700 ft, 0 nm northwest, 1:40 am CDT (06:40 UTC): a broken layer, 18 °C, wind 170° at 6 knots, remarks: rain bases 700 ft to the east. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV FINAL RWY 27/TM 0640/FL007/TP E75L/SK BKN/WX 5SM/TA 18/WV 17006/RM -RA BASES 007 TO THE EAST
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
final runway 27
Time
06:40 UTC
Height
at 700 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Sky
a broken layer
Weather
5SM
Temperature
18 °C
Wind
from 170° at 6 knots
Remarks
rain bases 700 ft to the east
BCS3 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm northwest, 1:20 am CDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0620/FL010/TP BCS3/SK BASE010/RM DURD RY27
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
over SAN
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
BASE010
Remarks
during the descent runway 27
B737 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 12:07 am CDT (05:07 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the destination end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0507/FL025/TP B737/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY27
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
over SAN
Time
05:07 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent runway 27

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, BRL, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). 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 32 kt	+30 kt	21 °C	90 kt	16 h 04 min	4:32 pm PDT (23:32 UTC)
6,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	+29 kt	15 °C	91 kt	15 h 53 min	4:21 pm PDT (23:21 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	+23 kt	10 °C	97 kt	14 h 54 min	3:22 pm PDT (22:22 UTC)
10,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	+23 kt	7 °C	97 kt	14 h 54 min	3:22 pm PDT (22:22 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+25 kt	3 °C	95 kt	15 h 13 min	3:41 pm PDT (22:41 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 31 kt	+29 kt	-1 °C	91 kt	15 h 53 min	4:21 pm PDT (23:21 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 35 kt	+33 kt	-5 °C	87 kt	16 h 37 min	5:05 pm PDT (00:05 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 38 kt	+36 kt	-9 °C	84 kt	17 h 13 min	5:41 pm PDT (00:41 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 45 kt	+44 kt	-20 °C	76 kt	19 h 02 min	7:30 pm PDT (02:30 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 62 kt	+62 kt	-30 °C	58 kt	24 h 56 min	1:24 am PDT (08:24 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 68 kt	+69 kt	-36 °C	51 kt	28 h 21 min	4:49 am PDT (11:49 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 61 kt	+63 kt	-47 °C	57 kt	25 h 22 min	1:50 am PDT (08:50 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°
BRL	used from 100 nm out; 61 nm from the line	230/24	240/29 15°	290/16 10°	280/15 4°	260/23 -7°	260/32 -19°	260/36 -33°	280/48 -41°	280/59 -52°
DSM	used from 150 nm out; 37 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; 47 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 349 nm out; 66 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 499 nm out; 75 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 648 nm out; 70 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 798 nm out; 12 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 897 nm out; 21 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°
PRC	used from 1047 nm out; 111 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 1246 nm out; 44 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°
SAN	used from 1396 nm out; 25 nm from the line	200/11	200/23 7°	210/27 4°	210/31 -3°	220/56 -10°	220/56 -19°	220/52 -30°	220/64 -37°	220/67 -44°

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 south (170°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	1:54 am CDT (06:54 UTC)
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	120 nm out, 12 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, 16 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 21,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	06:54 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	349 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 15 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	06:54 UTC
PHG Phillipsburg, KS	489 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,910 ft	07:15 UTC
GLD Goodland, KS	598 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	3,657 ft	06:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	738 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	06:53 UTC
FMN Farmington, NM	947 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (100°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	5,506 ft	06:53 UTC
FLG Flagstaff, AZ	1137 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,200 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots, gusting to 30	10+ mi	1,200 ft	7,014 ft	06:57 UTC
PRC Prescott, AZ	1187 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	3,500 ft	5,045 ft	06:53 UTC
RNM Ramona, CA	1426 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 500 feet, a broken layer at 1,000 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	3 mi	1,000 ft	1,394 ft	06:53 UTC
SAN San Diego, CA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,700 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south-southwest (200°) at 4 knots	4 mi	2,400 ft	16 ft	11:51 pm PDT (06:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:22 pm PDT (22:22 UTC)

Wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SAN

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 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

6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 14 nm from the route, 1376 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 23 nm from the route, 1376 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 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, San Diego International.