San Diego International to Chicago O'Hare International SAN → ORD
1,494 nautical miles (1,720 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 54 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 69-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC). 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: 7,595 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 11:55 pm PDT (06:55 UTC). Over the route from 568 to 717 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the first 687 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 120 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 209 to 399 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 249 to 777 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 289 to 329 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 618 to 707 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 697 to 747 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 767 to 1365 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 SAN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 2,500 ft, 0 nm northwest, 10:07 pm PDT (05:07 UTC): a broken layer from 3,000 ft to 5,000 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0507/FL025/TP B737/SK BKN030-TOP050/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 05:07 UTC
- Height
- at 2,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,000 ft, tops 5,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
- B38M at 3,100 ft, 0 nm northwest, 9:11 pm PDT (04:11 UTC): a broken layer above 3,100 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 27. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0411/FL031/TP B38M/SK BKN031/RM DURD RY27
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 04:11 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- B38M
- Sky
- a broken layer from 3,100 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent runway 27
- B737 at 3,100 ft, 0 nm northwest, 8:05 pm PDT (03:05 UTC): remarks: during the descent bases 3,100 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
SAN UA /OV SAN/TM 0305/FL031/TP B737/RM DURD BASES 031
- Report
- a routine report filed through SAN
- Where
- over SAN
- Time
- 03:05 UTC
- Height
- at 3,100 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- during the descent bases 3,100 ft
- C525 at 2,900 ft, 23 nm northwest, 7:46 pm PDT (02:46 UTC): remarks: B029. At the departure end, 23 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
CRQ UA /OV CRQ/TM 0246/FL029/TP C525/RM B029
- Report
- a routine report filed through CRQ
- Where
- over CRQ
- Time
- 02:46 UTC
- Height
- at 2,900 ft
- Aircraft
- C525
- Remarks
- B029
- PC12 at 16,400 ft, 20 nm north, 8:15 pm PDT (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. 518 nm along the route, 20 nm north 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
- BE20 at 20,400 ft, 20 nm north, 8:14 pm PDT (03:14 UTC): rain, heavy rain, blowing, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-36. 558 nm along the route, 20 nm north 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
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 13 forecast points nearest it (SAN, BLH, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, SLN, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, 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 | 230° at 31 kt | −30 kt | 21 °C | 150 kt | 9 h 58 min | 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −25 kt | 11 °C | 145 kt | 10 h 18 min | 10:54 am CDT (15:54 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 9 °C | 142 kt | 10 h 31 min | 11:07 am CDT (16:07 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 220° at 24 kt | −23 kt | 5 °C | 143 kt | 10 h 27 min | 11:03 am CDT (16:03 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −26 kt | 1 °C | 146 kt | 10 h 14 min | 10:50 am CDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −30 kt | -3 °C | 150 kt | 9 h 58 min | 10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | −35 kt | -7 °C | 155 kt | 9 h 38 min | 10:14 am CDT (15:14 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 37 kt | −36 kt | -8 °C | 156 kt | 9 h 35 min | 10:11 am CDT (15:11 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 44 kt | −44 kt | -20 °C | 164 kt | 9 h 07 min | 9:43 am CDT (14:43 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 61 kt | −61 kt | -30 °C | 181 kt | 8 h 15 min | 8:51 am CDT (13:51 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 67 kt | −69 kt | -36 °C | 189 kt | 7 h 54 min | 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 59 kt | −61 kt | -47 °C | 181 kt | 8 h 15 min | 8:51 am CDT (13:51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 200/11 | 200/23 7° | 210/27 4° | 210/31 -3° | 220/56 -10° | 220/56 -19° | 220/52 -30° | 220/64 -37° | 220/67 -44° |
| BLH | used from 50 nm out; 61 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° |
| PRC | used from 199 nm out; 43 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 399 nm out; 80 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° | ||
| ALS | used from 548 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| PUB | used from 648 nm out; 36 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° | ||
| GLD | used from 797 nm out; 41 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° | |
| SLN | used from 946 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| GRI | used from 1046 nm out; 80 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° | |
| OMA | used from 1096 nm out; 55 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 1196 nm out; 41 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° |
| BRL | used from 1295 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| JOT | used from 1395 nm out; 62 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN San Diego, CA | departure | no report just now | 16 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 20 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,394 ft | ||||
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 269 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,045 ft | ||||
| FLG Flagstaff, AZ | 309 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 7,014 ft | ||||
| FMN Farmington, NM | 498 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,506 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 707 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| OEL Oakley, KS | 877 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,045 ft | ||||
| TKO Mankato, KS | 1006 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,859 ft | ||||
| FBY Fairbury, NE | 1066 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,478 ft | ||||
| MUT Muscatine, IA | 1345 nm out, 2 nm south of the line | no report just now | 547 ft | ||||
| DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL | 1475 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | no report just now | 758 ft | ||||
| ORD Chicago, IL | destination | no report just now | 680 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,014 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At ORD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:30 am CDT (13:30 UTC)
ORD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 12 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8887 Indio, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 24 nm from the route, 70 nm along the route · security · until 12 October · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 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: San Diego International, Chicago O'Hare International.