Plan a flight · Sun 8:50 pm EDT (00:50 UTC)

Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International to Chicago Midway International ROC → MDW

453 nautical miles (522 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 52 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 11:42 pm CDT (04:42 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now ROC is marginal VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 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: 974 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 ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 24,000 ft. Over the first 30 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the first 30 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 49 nm of 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, 39 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). Over the route from 217 to 276 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 ROC.

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

DH8D at 19,000 ft, 0 nm southwest, 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2335/FL190/TP DH8D/TB CONS MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:35 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
DH8D
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop
Remarks
zob
E170 at 25,000 ft, 9 nm south, 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC): moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. 39 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF120010/TM 2237/FL250/TP E170/TB MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
10 nm southeast (120°) of BUF
Time
22:37 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
A320 at 20,000 ft, 41 nm east, 8:08 pm EDT (00:08 UTC): light to moderate rime icing from 15,000 ft to 20,000 ft, -15 °C, remarks: zob. At the departure end, 41 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SYR UA /OV SYR250030/TM 0008/FL200/TP A320/TA M15/IC LGT-MOD RIME 200-150/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through SYR
Where
30 nm west (250°) of SYR
Time
00:08 UTC
Height
at 20,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Temperature
−15 °C
Icing
light to moderate rime from 20,000 ft to 15,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B38M at 500 ft, 0 nm southwest, 7:52 pm EDT (23:52 UTC): a broken layer above 500 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2352/FL005/TP B38M/SK BKN005-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
23:52 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Sky
a broken layer from 500 ft, tops unknown
E145 at 2,500 ft, 10 nm east, 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC): overcast above 2,700 ft. At the departure end, 10 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC110010/TM 2304/FL025/TP E145/SK OVC027
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
10 nm east (110°) of ROC
Time
23:04 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
E145
Sky
overcast from 2,700 ft
A320 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm southwest, 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC): a broken layer above 2,500 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2215/FL025/TP A320/SK BKN025-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
22:15 UTC
Height
at 2,500 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
a broken layer from 2,500 ft, tops unknown
E170 climbing, 7 nm south, 5:58 pm EDT (21:58 UTC): overcast above 3,300 ft. At the departure end, 7 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC180007/TM 2158/FLDURC/TP E170/SK OVC033
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
7 nm south (180°) of ROC
Time
21:58 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
overcast from 3,300 ft
A319 at 3,500 ft, 0 nm southwest, 5:32 pm EDT (21:32 UTC): overcast above 3,500 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ROC UA /OV ROC/TM 2132/FL035/TP A319/SK OVC035-TOPUNKN
```
Report
a routine report filed through ROC
Where
over ROC
Time
21:32 UTC
Height
at 3,500 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
overcast from 3,500 ft, tops unknown
A320 at 4,000 ft, 10 nm south, 5:29 pm EDT (21:29 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 39 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV DEPEW/TM 2129/FL040/TP A320/SK OVC 040/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
depew
Time
21:29 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent
A21N at 30,000 ft, 32 nm south, 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. 49 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JHW UA /OV JHW050025/TM 2336/FL300/TP A21N/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JHW
Where
25 nm northeast (050°) of JHW
Time
23:36 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
zob
B38M at 30,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:54 pm EDT (22:54 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: zob. 49 nm along the route, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
JHW UA /OV JHW080020/TM 2254/FL300/TP B38M/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through JHW
Where
20 nm east (080°) of JHW
Time
22:54 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light to moderate chop
Remarks
zob
PC12 at 25,000 ft, 30 nm south, 6:14 pm EDT (22:14 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 25,000 ft, remarks: zob. 49 nm along the route, 30 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF180025/TM 2214/FL250/TP PC12/TB LGT-MOD 250/RM ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
25 nm south (180°) of BUF
Time
22:14 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
light to moderate at 25,000 ft
Remarks
zob
B712 at 30,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 6:09 pm EDT (22:09 UTC): light to moderate turbulence above 30,000 ft, remarks: improves westbound zob. 49 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF/TM 2209/FL300/TP B712/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD 300/RM IMPROVES WESTBOUND ZOB
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
over BUF
Time
22:09 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B712
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate at 30,000 ft
Remarks
improves westbound zob
A321 at 6,000 ft, 15 nm south, 5:59 pm EDT (21:59 UTC): a broken layer above 6,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 59 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUF UA /OV BUF230015/TM 2159/FL060/TP A321/SK BKN 060/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUF
Where
15 nm southwest (230°) of BUF
Time
21:59 UTC
Height
at 6,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Sky
a broken layer from 6,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb

16 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 5 forecast points nearest it (BUF, CLE, FWA, MKG, 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	290° at 4 kt	+3 kt		117 kt	3 h 52 min	11:42 pm CDT (04:42 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 9 kt	+4 kt	12 °C	116 kt	3 h 54 min	11:44 pm CDT (04:44 UTC)
8,500 ft	330° at 11 kt	+3 kt	9 °C	117 kt	3 h 52 min	11:42 pm CDT (04:42 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 10 kt	+5 kt	5 °C	115 kt	3 h 56 min	11:46 pm CDT (04:46 UTC)
12,500 ft	310° at 10 kt	+6 kt	2 °C	114 kt	3 h 58 min	11:48 pm CDT (04:48 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 11 kt	+8 kt	-3 °C	112 kt	4 h 03 min	11:53 pm CDT (04:53 UTC)
16,500 ft	300° at 12 kt	+9 kt	-7 °C	111 kt	4 h 05 min	11:55 pm CDT (04:55 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 13 kt	+10 kt	-10 °C	110 kt	4 h 07 min	11:57 pm CDT (04:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 16 kt	+12 kt	-22 °C	108 kt	4 h 12 min	12:02 am CDT (05:02 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 26 kt	+22 kt	-36 °C	98 kt	4 h 37 min	12:27 am CDT (05:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 33 kt	+32 kt	-42 °C	88 kt	5 h 09 min	12:59 am CDT (05:59 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 40 kt	+38 kt	-49 °C	82 kt	5 h 31 min	1:21 am CDT (06:21 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
BUF	used from 0 nm out; 23 nm from the line	170/19	L/V 10°	040/9 6°	220/8 2°	230/15 -11°	220/33 -22°	220/47 -35°	230/55 -41°	230/56 -50°
CLE	used from 148 nm out; 80 nm from the line	340/5	320/13 14°	300/12 8°	310/10 2°	310/14 -10°	340/14 -23°	320/27 -35°	260/28 -40°	250/36 -48°
FWA	used from 296 nm out; 79 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°
MKG	used from 345 nm out; 66 nm from the line	250/5	320/10 15°	310/19 9°	320/21 3°	310/23 -10°	330/37 -22°	330/51 -38°	320/44 -47°	300/60 -49°
JOT	used from 394 nm out; 58 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
ROC Rochester, NY	departure	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,100 feet, overcast at 4,500 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the south-southeast (150°) at 6 knots	4 mi	4,500 ft	558 ft	8:03 pm EDT (00:03 UTC)
GVQ Batavia, NY	20 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 22 knots, gusting to 27	10+ mi	none	913 ft	14:56 UTC
BUF Buffalo, NY	49 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 4,900 feet	from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	4,900 ft	726 ft	23:54 UTC
CYQS St Thomas,	148 nm out, 5 nm west of the line	no report just now				776 ft
PHN Port Huron, MI	217 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	3 mi	300 ft	650 ft	00:15 UTC
DET Detroit, MI	237 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower	IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 900 feet Weather: mist	calm	3 mi	900 ft	624 ft	23:53 UTC
JXN Jackson, MI	306 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	1,000 ft	23:56 UTC
AZO Kalamazoo, MI	355 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	873 ft	23:53 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	394 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	23:54 UTC
MGC Michigan City, IN	414 nm out, 14 nm south of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	654 ft	23:35 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 1,000 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, 11:42 pm CDT (04:42 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 ROC, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
30% chance between Sun 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC) and 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 1,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am EDT (05:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 6 miles, mist, a broken layer at 700 feet
From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 4 miles, mist, overcast at 300 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 2,000 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 ROC 6:33 pm EDT (22:33 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 Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · 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: Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester International, Chicago Midway International.