Plan a flight · Mon 12:16 am CDT (05:16 UTC)

Chicago/Rockford International to John Wayne/Orange County RFD → SNA

1,447 nautical miles (1,665 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 259°, about 262° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 1:11 pm PDT (20:11 UTC). Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; SNA is marginal VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 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: 4 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 738 to 838 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 649 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 659 to 938 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 659 to 1227 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 738 to 878 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 928 to 1347 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 928 to 1247 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 1108 to 1177 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Near the route, 1157 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1297 to 1437 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

BE9L at 24,500 ft, 22 nm south, 9:21 pm CDT (02:21 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-41. 778 nm along the route, 22 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, 13 nm southeast, 10:22 pm CDT (03:22 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 1377 nm along the route, 13 nm southeast 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
B737 at 13,000 ft, 19 nm southwest, 10:30 pm CDT (03:30 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the destination end, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLI UA /OV SLI180020/TM 0330/FL130/TP B737/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLI
Where
20 nm south (180°) of SLI
Time
03:30 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
moderate
CL60 at 33,000 ft, 7 nm northwest, 9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC): remarks: mtw +/-100FT zdvwc. 718 nm along the route, 7 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
E170 at 22,500 ft, 37 nm north, 12:06 am CDT (05:06 UTC): light to moderate turbulence up to 23,000 ft, remarks: during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13. 768 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216057/TM 0506/FL225/TP E170/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD BLO 230/RM DURD TBARR STAR. ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
57 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
05:06 UTC
Height
at 22,500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate below 23,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent tbarr star ZDVWC-13
B38M at 36,000 ft, 28 nm south, 9:22 pm CDT (02:22 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-200FT ZDVWC-30. 798 nm along the route, 28 nm south 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, 27 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. 848 nm along the route, 27 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, 31 nm southeast, 10:14 pm CDT (03:14 UTC): rain, heavy rain, blowing, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 888 nm along the route, 31 nm southeast 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, 33 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. 928 nm along the route, 33 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, 16 nm southeast, 9:36 pm CDT (02:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence. 1377 nm along the route, 16 nm southeast 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, 10 nm northwest, 11:59 pm CDT (04:59 UTC): a broken layer above 3,300 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 10 nm northwest 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, 8 nm north, 11:15 pm CDT (04:15 UTC): a broken layer above 4,500 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the destination end, 8 nm north 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
A20N climbing, 7 nm north, 10:04 pm CDT (03:04 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 7 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT153007/TM 0304/FLDURC/TP A20N/SK B-036 -T047
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
7 nm southeast (153°) of ONT
Time
03:04 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A20N
Sky
B-036 T047
A20N climbing, 12 nm northwest, 10:03 pm CDT (03:03 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the destination end, 12 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ONT UA /OV ONT204003/TM 0303/FLDURC/TP A20N/SK B-030
```
Report
a routine report filed through ONT
Where
3 nm southwest (204°) of ONT
Time
03:03 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
A20N
Sky
B-030

5 more routine reports are on the map.

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 13 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, PUB, ALS, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS, 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 32 kt	+29 kt	17 °C	91 kt	15 h 54 min	2:10 pm PDT (21:10 UTC)
6,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	+28 kt	14 °C	92 kt	15 h 44 min	2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC)
8,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	+23 kt	10 °C	97 kt	14 h 55 min	1:11 pm PDT (20:11 UTC)
10,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	+23 kt	6 °C	97 kt	14 h 55 min	1:11 pm PDT (20:11 UTC)
12,500 ft	220° at 26 kt	+24 kt	3 °C	96 kt	15 h 04 min	1:20 pm PDT (20:20 UTC)
14,500 ft	220° at 30 kt	+28 kt	-2 °C	92 kt	15 h 44 min	2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC)
16,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	+31 kt	-6 °C	89 kt	16 h 16 min	2:32 pm PDT (21:32 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 36 kt	+34 kt	-9 °C	86 kt	16 h 50 min	3:06 pm PDT (22:06 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 43 kt	+42 kt	-21 °C	78 kt	18 h 33 min	4:49 pm PDT (23:49 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 58 kt	+58 kt	-30 °C	62 kt	23 h 20 min	9:36 pm PDT (04:36 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 62 kt	+63 kt	-36 °C	57 kt	25 h 23 min	11:39 pm PDT (06:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 57 kt	+58 kt	-47 °C	62 kt	23 h 20 min	9:36 pm PDT (04:36 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; 50 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 150 nm out; 34 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; 39 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; 54 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; 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 649 nm out; 74 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; 51 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 898 nm out; 49 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 1048 nm out; 87 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 1147 nm out; 74 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°
LAS	used from 1197 nm out; 74 nm from the line		210/21 10°	200/18 5°	200/23 -2°	210/49 -14°	210/63 -21°	220/58 -30°	220/61 -35°	210/56 -44°
BLH	used from 1297 nm out; 78 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 1347 nm out; 54 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	120 nm out, 6 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	210 nm out, 6 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	349 nm out, 6 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	04:54 UTC
OIN Oberlin, KS	539 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 12 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	2,706 ft	04:55 UTC
ITR Burlington, CO	629 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	4,218 ft	04:53 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	738 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 18,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	18,000 ft	6,187 ft	04:54 UTC
CEZ Cortez, CO	948 nm out, 7 nm southeast 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	1137 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 1,900 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	600 ft	6,608 ft	05:09 UTC
IFP Bullhead City, AZ	1257 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	707 ft	04:55 UTC
RIV Riverside, CA	1417 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,200 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	3,200 ft	1,536 ft	04:55 UTC
SNA Santa Ana, CA	destination	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	2,700 ft	55 ft	10:00 pm PDT (05:00 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 SNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:11 pm PDT (20:11 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SNA

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 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

6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 23 nm from the route, 768 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 1257 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA

Daylight

Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at SNA 6:21 pm PDT (01:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:46 pm PDT (01:46 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, John Wayne/Orange County.