Reno/Tahoe International to Chicago Midway International RNO → MDW
1,457 nautical miles (1,676 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 074°, about 061° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 25 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 10:30 am CDT (15:30 UTC). Right now RNO is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) 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: 204 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 TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 110 to 599 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 140 to 609 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 269 to 738 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 409 to 788 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 509 to 678 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 509 to 589 nm out.
- 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 778 to 1337 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 938 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.
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 RNO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 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 11 forecast points nearest it (RNO, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, BFF, ONL, OMA, DSM, DBQ, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | −14 kt | 20 °C | 134 kt | 10 h 52 min | 12:57 pm CDT (17:57 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 21 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 10 h 48 min | 12:53 pm CDT (17:53 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −16 kt | 7 °C | 136 kt | 10 h 43 min | 12:48 pm CDT (17:48 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 3 °C | 138 kt | 10 h 33 min | 12:38 pm CDT (17:38 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −19 kt | -1 °C | 139 kt | 10 h 29 min | 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −21 kt | -5 °C | 141 kt | 10 h 20 min | 12:25 pm CDT (17:25 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | −23 kt | -10 °C | 143 kt | 10 h 11 min | 12:16 pm CDT (17:16 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 29 kt | −24 kt | -11 °C | 144 kt | 10 h 07 min | 12:12 pm CDT (17:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 35 kt | −28 kt | -22 °C | 148 kt | 9 h 51 min | 11:56 am CDT (16:56 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 44 kt | −38 kt | -31 °C | 158 kt | 9 h 13 min | 11:18 am CDT (16:18 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 50 kt | −48 kt | -37 °C | 168 kt | 8 h 40 min | 10:45 am CDT (15:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 53 kt | −53 kt | -46 °C | 173 kt | 8 h 25 min | 10:30 am CDT (15:30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 010/9 | 320/10 -2° | 210/23 -9° | 210/34 -19° | 220/36 -25° | 230/31 -29° | 230/41 -33° | 230/38 -42° | |
| BAM | used from 100 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 310/7 0° | 270/19 -7° | 200/38 -17° | 190/49 -28° | 220/69 -29° | 220/63 -33° | 230/48 -41° | ||
| ELY | used from 200 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/39 3° | 210/27 -2° | 210/45 -15° | 220/56 -24° | 210/60 -28° | 210/63 -34° | 220/61 -43° | ||
| SLC | used from 299 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 200/5 | 230/8 2° | 220/20 -2° | 210/40 -12° | 190/53 -25° | 210/62 -30° | 220/69 -34° | 220/64 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 449 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 200/41 | 220/44 1° | 220/35 -11° | 220/46 -24° | 210/53 -27° | 220/62 -35° | 230/61 -44° | ||
| BFF | used from 648 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 180/28 | 220/33 15° | 210/31 7° | 230/32 -9° | 220/41 -21° | 220/40 -33° | 240/47 -36° | 250/54 -46° | |
| ONL | used from 848 nm out; 100 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| OMA | used from 1048 nm out; 50 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° |
| DSM | used from 1147 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° |
| DBQ | used from 1247 nm out; 57 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° |
| JOT | used from 1397 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNO Reno, NV | departure | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 4,414 ft | 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC) |
| SPZ Silver Springs, NV | 20 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 4,265 ft | ||||
| ENV Wendover, UT | 269 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 2,500 feet | from the east (080°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 2,500 ft | 4,236 ft | 06:56 UTC |
| SLC Salt Lake City, UT | 369 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,300 feet, scattered clouds at 6,500 feet, a broken layer at 13,000 feet, overcast at 17,000 feet | from the east-southeast (120°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 13,000 ft | 4,230 ft | 06:54 UTC |
| FBR Fort Bridger, WY | 439 nm out, 16 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the west (270°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 7,038 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SAA Saratoga, WY | 599 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southeast (160°) at 21 knots, gusting to 39 | 10+ mi | none | 7,014 ft | 06:50 UTC |
| BFF Scottsbluff, NE | 748 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,967 ft | 06:53 UTC |
| TIF Thedford, NE | 888 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 500 feet | from the east (080°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 500 ft | 2,925 ft | 06:55 UTC |
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 1067 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 1277 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 1427 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 06:52 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 1:53 am CDT (06:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,038 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, 10:30 am CDT (15:30 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- 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 24, 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
The forecast for RNO, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 am PDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm PDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 pm PDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 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 RNO 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC), at MDW 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 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
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: Reno/Tahoe International, Chicago Midway International.