Plan a flight · Sun 11:33 pm PDT (06:33 UTC)

San Diego International to Chicago/Rockford International SAN → RFD

1,446 nautical miles (1,664 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 059°, about 048° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 39 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 69-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:12 am CDT (14:12 UTC). Right now SAN is marginal VFR, wind from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 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: 5 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 C10C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 12:55 am PDT (07:55 UTC). Over the route from 598 to 728 nm out.

as issued

WSUS32 KKCI 120555
MKCC WST 120555
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 10C
VALID UNTIL 0755Z
CO NM
FROM 20NNE PUB-40WSW LAA-30WSW CIM-50WSW ALS-50ESE HBU-20NNE 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 658 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 788 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 279 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 598 to 698 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 668 to 758 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 1386 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

BCS3 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm northwest, 11:20 pm PDT (06:20 UTC): 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 0620/FL010/TP BCS3/SK BASE010/RM DURD RY27
```
Report
a routine report filed through SAN
Where
over SAN
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
BASE010
Remarks
during the descent runway 27
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

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 12 forecast points nearest it (SAN, BLH, PRC, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, 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	230° at 32 kt	−31 kt	21 °C	151 kt	9 h 35 min	11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	−25 kt	11 °C	145 kt	9 h 58 min	11:31 am CDT (16:31 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 23 kt	−22 kt	9 °C	142 kt	10 h 11 min	11:44 am CDT (16:44 UTC)
11,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	−24 kt	5 °C	144 kt	10 h 02 min	11:35 am CDT (16:35 UTC)
13,500 ft	220° at 28 kt	−27 kt	1 °C	147 kt	9 h 50 min	11:23 am CDT (16:23 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	−31 kt	-3 °C	151 kt	9 h 35 min	11:08 am CDT (16:08 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 37 kt	−35 kt	-8 °C	155 kt	9 h 20 min	10:53 am CDT (15:53 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 38 kt	−36 kt	-9 °C	156 kt	9 h 16 min	10:49 am CDT (15:49 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 45 kt	−44 kt	-20 °C	164 kt	8 h 49 min	10:22 am CDT (15:22 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 62 kt	−62 kt	-30 °C	182 kt	7 h 57 min	9:30 am CDT (14:30 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 68 kt	−69 kt	-36 °C	189 kt	7 h 39 min	9:12 am CDT (14:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 61 kt	−63 kt	-47 °C	183 kt	7 h 54 min	9:27 am CDT (14:27 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; 62 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; 44 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; 79 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; 51 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; 31 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 798 nm out; 31 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°
GRI	used from 947 nm out; 76 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 1097 nm out; 37 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 1197 nm out; 23 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 1296 nm out; 61 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°
DBQ	used from 1346 nm out; 31 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
SAN San Diego, CA	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet, overcast at 4,800 feet Weather: light rain, mist	from the east-southeast (120°) at 3 knots	5 mi	2,700 ft	16 ft	11:18 pm PDT (06:18 UTC)
RNM Ramona, CA	20 nm out, 9 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 700 feet, a broken layer at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet Weather: mist	from the west (270°) at 4 knots	6 mi	1,200 ft	1,394 ft	06:29 UTC
PRC Prescott, AZ	259 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 3,000 feet, overcast at 4,100 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 7 knots	9 mi	2,300 ft	5,045 ft	06:00 UTC
FLG Flagstaff, AZ	309 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,400 feet, overcast at 2,400 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 16 knots, gusting to 26	10+ mi	1,400 ft	7,014 ft	06:08 UTC
FMN Farmington, NM	499 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	5,506 ft	05:53 UTC
PUB Pueblo, CO	708 nm out, 9 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	4,729 ft	05:53 UTC
GLD Goodland, KS	848 nm out, 16 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 29	10+ mi	none	3,657 ft	05:53 UTC
PHG Phillipsburg, KS	957 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (180°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	1,910 ft	06:15 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	1097 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	05:54 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	1236 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	05:54 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	1326 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	02:52 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	calm	10+ mi	25,000 ft	742 ft	12:54 am CDT (05:54 UTC)

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 RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:12 am CDT (14:12 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for RFD

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 23, 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 SAN, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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 14 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 23 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 RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm CDT (23:47 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 southern Plains · 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: San Diego International, Chicago/Rockford International.