Plan a flight · Sun 8:20 pm EDT (00:20 UTC)

Richmond International to Chicago Midway International RIC → MDW

546 nautical miles (628 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 301°, about 311° magnetic at the departure end (variation 10W). At 120 knots that is 4 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 6-knot headwind), arriving about 12:07 am CDT (05:07 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RIC is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (170°) 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: 820 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 E17E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm EDT (01:55 UTC). Over the first 268 nm of the route.

as issued

WSUS31 KKCI 112355
MKCE WST 112355
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 17E
VALID UNTIL 0155Z
PA MD VA NC WV OH KY
FROM 30WSW EWC-20E RIC-70NNE ILM-70W BKW-10ESE APE-30WSW EWC
AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. 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 first 347 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 69 to 139 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 79 to 218 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 RIC.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

UAL2761 at 31,000 ft, 32 nm northeast, 7:57 pm EDT (23:57 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 218° at 58 knots. 159 nm along the route, 32 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2761 3917N 07949W 2357 F310 218/058KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
BCS3 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 8:06 pm EDT (00:06 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 0006/FL006/TP BCS3/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
00:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
bases 600 ft
B737 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm south, 5:55 pm EDT (21:55 UTC): remarks: bases 1,000 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 2155/FL010/TP B737/RM BASES 010
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
21:55 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
bases 1,000 ft
BE58 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm south, 5:50 pm EDT (21:50 UTC): remarks: bases 800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIC UA /OV RIC/TM 2150/FL010/TP BE58/RM BASES 008
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIC
Where
over RIC
Time
21:50 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
BE58
Remarks
bases 800 ft
E170 at 500 ft, 6 nm east, 8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 69 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IAD UA /OV CHO/TM 0001/FL005/TP E170/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through IAD
Where
over CHO
Time
00:01 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
E175 at 600 ft, 6 nm east, 6:20 pm EDT (22:20 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 69 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHO UA /OV CHO/TM 2220/FL006/TP E175/SK BASES 006
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHO
Where
over CHO
Time
22:20 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
E175
Sky
bases 600 ft
B737 at 40,000 ft, 2 nm south, 6:11 pm EDT (22:11 UTC): no turbulence. 139 nm along the route, 2 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV EKN150020/TM 2211/FL400/TP B737/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
20 nm southeast (150°) of EKN
Time
22:11 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
none
A321 at 32,000 ft, 21 nm north, 5:52 pm EDT (21:52 UTC): no turbulence. 169 nm along the route, 21 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CKB/TM 2152/FL320/TP A321/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CKB
Time
21:52 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
none
P28A descending, 26 nm southwest, 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC): scattered clouds above 1,200 ft. 248 nm along the route, 26 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
HTS UA /OV KUNI/TM 2214/FLDURD/TP P28A/SK SCT012/WX 3SM
```
Report
a routine report filed through HTS
Where
over KUNI
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
scattered clouds from 1,200 ft
Weather
3SM
C150 climbing, 7 nm south, 6:45 pm EDT (22:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 288 nm along the route, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV LHQ/TM 2245/FLDURC/TP C150/SK B015 T038
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over LHQ
Time
22:45 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
C150
Sky
B015 T038
S22T at 2,000 ft, 3 nm northwest, 5:47 pm EDT (21:47 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 298 nm along the route, 3 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV CMH/TM 2147/FL020/TP S22T/SK B020 T030
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over CMH
Time
21:47 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
S22T
Sky
B020 T030
C150 at 1,500 ft, 4 nm northeast, 6:18 pm EDT (22:18 UTC): overcast above 1,800 ft. 328 nm along the route, 4 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV MRT/TM 2218/FL015/TP C150/SK OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over MRT
Time
22:18 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
C150
Sky
overcast from 1,800 ft
E145 climbing, 32 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 347 nm along the route, 32 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV DAY/TM 2351/FLDURC/TP E145/SK B005 T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over DAY
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E145
Sky
B005 T035
C150 climbing, 49 nm southwest, 5:32 pm EDT (21:32 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 347 nm along the route, 49 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CMH UA /OV MGY/TM 2132/FLDURC/TP C150/SK B017 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CMH
Where
over MGY
Time
21:32 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
C150
Sky
B017 T036

6 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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, FWA, JOT). 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	300° at 11 kt	+10 kt	13 °C	110 kt	4 h 58 min	12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC)
6,500 ft	310° at 12 kt	+12 kt	13 °C	108 kt	5 h 03 min	12:23 am CDT (05:23 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 11 kt	+9 kt	9 °C	111 kt	4 h 55 min	12:15 am CDT (05:15 UTC)
10,500 ft	340° at 9 kt	+7 kt	6 °C	113 kt	4 h 50 min	12:10 am CDT (05:10 UTC)
12,500 ft	340° at 8 kt	+6 kt	2 °C	114 kt	4 h 47 min	12:07 am CDT (05:07 UTC)
14,500 ft	330° at 10 kt	+8 kt	-2 °C	112 kt	4 h 52 min	12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC)
16,500 ft	320° at 11 kt	+10 kt	-6 °C	110 kt	4 h 58 min	12:18 am CDT (05:18 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 13 kt	+12 kt	-9 °C	108 kt	5 h 03 min	12:23 am CDT (05:23 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 20 kt	+18 kt	-21 °C	102 kt	5 h 21 min	12:41 am CDT (05:41 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 27 kt	+20 kt	-34 °C	100 kt	5 h 28 min	12:48 am CDT (05:48 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 33 kt	+23 kt	-40 °C	97 kt	5 h 38 min	12:58 am CDT (05:58 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 36 kt	+29 kt	-48 °C	91 kt	6 h	1:20 am CDT (06:20 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
RIC	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	190/33	200/29 14°	210/31 12°	210/38 6°	230/42 -7°	230/68 -16°	220/84 -29°	220/86 -40°	220/81 -52°
EKN	used from 50 nm out; 72 nm from the line		270/18 13°	310/5 7°	140/7 3°	210/16 -9°	220/41 -20°	210/57 -32°	220/57 -38°	230/49 -47°
CRW	used from 199 nm out; 60 nm from the line	320/16	310/16 12°	320/12 7°	320/12 2°	330/15 -11°	280/11 -22°	230/26 -30°	240/33 -37°	240/37 -47°
CMH	used from 248 nm out; 28 nm from the line	340/14	320/13 12°	350/12 8°	360/10 2°	350/27 -10°	340/20 -22°	320/31 -35°	270/25 -39°	260/32 -48°
FWA	used from 347 nm out; 49 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°
JOT	used from 496 nm out; 42 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°

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
RIC Richmond, VA	departure	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, overcast at 1,300 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,300 ft	167 ft	8:01 pm EDT (00:01 UTC)
LKU Louisa, VA	40 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet	from the north (010°) at 5 knots	7 mi	400 ft	493 ft	23:35 UTC
CHO Charlottesville, VA	69 nm out, 6 nm east of the line, tower	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 600 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the north (010°) at 6 knots	5 mi	600 ft	640 ft	00:11 UTC
EKN Elkins, WV	149 nm out, 11 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,100 feet, overcast at 3,600 feet Weather: light rain	calm	10+ mi	2,100 ft	1,987 ft	23:51 UTC
PKB Parkersburg, WV	218 nm out, 5 nm west of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	from the northwest (320°) at 5 knots	2.5 mi	400 ft	858 ft	23:53 UTC
ZZV Zanesville, OH	258 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 2,100 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	2,100 ft	899 ft	00:14 UTC
CMH Columbus, OH	298 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, overcast at 1,200 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	1,200 ft	815 ft	23:51 UTC
EDJ Bellefontaine, OH	347 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	400 ft	1,121 ft	00:15 UTC
FWA Fort Wayne, IN	417 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet	from the east-southeast (110°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	814 ft	23:57 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	486 nm out, 23 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	23:54 UTC
GYY Gary/Chicago, IN	526 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	7 mi	none	596 ft	23:50 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,987 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MDW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:07 am CDT (05:07 UTC)

Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for MDW

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
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, 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

The forecast for RIC, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
30% chance between Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC) and 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, thunderstorms with rain, overcast at 600 feet (thunderheads)
From Sun 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 1,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at RIC 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MDW is before sunrise there (6:59 am CDT (11:59 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 Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · 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: Richmond International, Chicago Midway International.