Plan a flight · Sun 7:36 pm PDT (02:36 UTC)

Reno/Tahoe International to Chicago/Rockford International RNO → RFD

1,395 nautical miles (1,605 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 060° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:40 am CDT (10:40 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RNO is VFR, wind from the west (270°) at 8 knots; RFD is VFR, wind calm. 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 W10W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 139 to 249 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
NV
FROM 70SW TWF-40NNW BVL-40SW ELY-30ESE OAL-40WNW OAL-70SW TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
```

SIGMET 8W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 35,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 638 to 707 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120155
MKCW WST 120155
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 8W
VALID UNTIL 0355Z
CO MT WY
FROM 40N SHR-60WNW RAP-20ENE CYS-30SW CYS-10NW BOY-40N SHR
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL350.

AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 50 to 558 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 787 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 139 to 568 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 359 to 737 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). Near the route, 369 nm along the route.
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 438 to 668 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 488 to 588 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 1076 to 1265 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 RNO.

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

B38M descending, 9 nm south, 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: during the descent runway 35L rno. At the departure end, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RNO UA /OV KRNO167009/TM 0128/FLUNKN/TP B38M/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM DURD RY35L RNO
```
Report
a routine report filed through RNO
Where
9 nm south (167°) of KRNO
Time
01:28 UTC
Height
height not given
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
during the descent runway 35L rno
B737 at 16,000 ft, 13 nm south, 5:45 pm PDT (00:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 8 °C, remarks: during the climb. 349 nm along the route, 13 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH230020/TM 0045/FL160/TP B737/TA 8/TB NEG/IC LT RIME 130-170/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
20 nm southwest (230°) of TCH
Time
00:45 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Temperature
8 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
lt rime from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
B38M at 16,000 ft, 12 nm southeast, 5:06 pm PDT (00:06 UTC): no turbulence, no icing, 13 °C, remarks: during the climb. 349 nm along the route, 12 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH230015/TM 0006/FL160/TP B38M/TA 13/TB NEG/IC NEG/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
15 nm southwest (230°) of TCH
Time
00:06 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
13 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
none
Remarks
during the climb
A321 at 10,000 ft, 28 nm south, 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): light chop turbulence, no icing, remarks: during the descent. 359 nm along the route, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH165020/TM 0000/FL100/TP A321/TB LGT CHOP/IC NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
20 nm south (165°) of TCH
Time
00:00 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
light chop
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent
UAL2395 at 37,000 ft, 10 nm north, 5:58 pm PDT (00:58 UTC): no turbulence, wind 240° at 70 knots. 508 nm along the route, 10 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2395 4135N 10900W 0058 F370 240/070KT TB NONE SK CLEAR IC NONE
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C56X at 13,000 ft, 27 nm south, 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 648 nm along the route, 27 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAR UA /OV LAR/TM 0133/FL130/TP C56X/SK BASE160/TB OCNL CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAR
Where
over LAR
Time
01:33 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
BASE160
Turbulence
occasional continuous light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 39 nm south, 7:15 pm PDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1285 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A321 at 32,000 ft, 15 nm south, 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. At the destination end, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence

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, MCW, DBQ). 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 21 kt	−14 kt	20 °C	134 kt	10 h 25 min	8:01 am CDT (13:01 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	−15 kt	11 °C	135 kt	10 h 20 min	7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC)
9,500 ft	220° at 21 kt	−16 kt	7 °C	136 kt	10 h 15 min	7:51 am CDT (12:51 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 23 kt	−18 kt	3 °C	138 kt	10 h 07 min	7:43 am CDT (12:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	−20 kt	-1 °C	140 kt	9 h 58 min	7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC)
15,500 ft	220° at 27 kt	−22 kt	-6 °C	142 kt	9 h 49 min	7:25 am CDT (12:25 UTC)
17,500 ft	220° at 29 kt	−23 kt	-10 °C	143 kt	9 h 45 min	7:21 am CDT (12:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	220° at 29 kt	−24 kt	-11 °C	144 kt	9 h 41 min	7:17 am CDT (12:17 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	220° at 36 kt	−29 kt	-22 °C	149 kt	9 h 22 min	6:58 am CDT (11:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 46 kt	−38 kt	-31 °C	158 kt	8 h 50 min	6:26 am CDT (11:26 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 51 kt	−48 kt	-37 °C	168 kt	8 h 18 min	5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 54 kt	−53 kt	-46 °C	173 kt	8 h 04 min	5:40 am CDT (10:40 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; 35 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 199 nm out; 71 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; 43 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 448 nm out; 32 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 847 nm out; 98 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 1046 nm out; 64 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 1146 nm out; 52 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°
MCW	used from 1196 nm out; 52 nm from the line	220/44	250/30 17°	230/14 12°	240/17 6°	250/22 -8°	270/29 -20°	250/34 -34°	260/52 -43°	260/59 -51°
DBQ	used from 1245 nm out; 53 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°

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: a few clouds at 9,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	4,414 ft	6:55 pm PDT (01:55 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, 6 nm northeast of the line	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet	from the south-southeast (160°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	4,236 ft	02:24 UTC
OGD Ogden, UT	369 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	4,472 ft	01:53 UTC
FBR Fort Bridger, WY	438 nm out, 10 nm north of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 5,500 feet	from the west (260°) at 17 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	5,500 ft	7,038 ft	02:15 UTC
GUR Guernsey, WY	697 nm out, 23 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-northeast (070°) at 14 knots	9 mi	10,000 ft	4,401 ft	02:23 UTC
AIA Alliance, NE	787 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line	VFR	from the east (090°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	3,930 ft	01:53 UTC
TIF Thedford, NE	887 nm out, 13 nm south of the line	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	2,925 ft	02:15 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	1076 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	9 mi	none	1,098 ft	01:52 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	1245 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	01:54 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	1325 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	01:53 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	none	742 ft	8:54 pm CDT (01:54 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 RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:40 am CDT (10:40 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

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

The forecast for RNO, the departure

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm PDT (05:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 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 4,000 feet
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer 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 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC), at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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 Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Reno/Tahoe International, Chicago/Rockford International.