Plan a flight · Mon 1:06 am PDT (08:06 UTC)

Santa Barbara Municipal to Chicago Midway International SBA → MDW

1,569 nautical miles (1,805 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 064°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 01 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 54-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC). Right now SBA is VFR, wind calm; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 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: 1 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 below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 260 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 210 to 390 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 270 to 859 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 290 to 380 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 320 to 620 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the route from 390 to 839 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, 410 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 650 to 799 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 919 to 1469 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 SBA.

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

A321 at 31,000 ft, 15 nm south, 11:41 pm PDT (06:41 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-15KT zdvwc. 779 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0641/FL310/TP A321/TB MOD/RM MTW +/-15KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:41 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
mtw +/-15KT zdvwc
B737 at 14,500 ft, 17 nm south, 10:30 pm PDT (05:30 UTC): light turbulence. 250 nm along the route, 17 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS155012/TM 0530/FL145/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
12 nm southeast (155°) of LAS
Time
05:30 UTC
Height
at 14,500 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B737 at 19,000 ft, 5 nm southeast, 10:45 pm PDT (05:45 UTC): light turbulence. 260 nm along the route, 5 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS050012/TM 0545/FL190/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
12 nm northeast (050°) of LAS
Time
05:45 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B38M at 14,000 ft, 10 nm south, 10:47 pm PDT (05:47 UTC): light rime icing, 6 °C. 290 nm along the route, 10 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAS UA /OV LAS059040/TM 0547/FL140/TP B38M/TA 06/IC LGT RIME
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAS
Where
40 nm northeast (059°) of LAS
Time
05:47 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Temperature
6 °C
Icing
light rime
GLF6 at 47,000 ft, 44 nm southeast, 12:47 am PDT (07:47 UTC): remarks: moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc. 689 nm along the route, 44 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU105046/TM 0747/FL470/TP GLF6/RM MOD MTW +/-1500FPM. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
46 nm east (105°) of HBU
Time
07:47 UTC
Height
at 47,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Remarks
moderate mtw +/-1500FPM zdvwc
PC12 at 26,000 ft, 31 nm south, 11:27 pm PDT (06:27 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-12. 699 nm along the route, 31 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU090040/TM 0627/FL260/TP PC12/TB OCNL LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-12
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
40 nm east (090°) of HBU
Time
06:27 UTC
Height
at 26,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Turbulence
occasional light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-12
B38M at 37,000 ft, 24 nm southeast, 12:42 am PDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. 729 nm along the route, 24 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB280055/TM 0742/FL370/TP B38M/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-7KT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
55 nm west (280°) of PUB
Time
07:42 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw +/-7KT zdvwc
A320 at 31,000 ft, 45 nm south, 11:58 pm PDT (06:58 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 739 nm along the route, 45 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUB UA /OV PUB260040/TM 0658/FL310/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUB
Where
40 nm west (260°) of PUB
Time
06:58 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A320
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
CRJ2 at 22,000 ft, 9 nm north, 11:35 pm PDT (06:35 UTC): no turbulence up to 26,000 ft, no icing, clear from 22,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-26. 739 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN220060/TM 0635/FL220/TP CRJ2/SK SKC/TB NEG BLO 260/IC NEG/RM DURD/ ZDVWC-26
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (220°) of DEN
Time
06:35 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no below 26,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent ZDVWC-26
B738 at 23,000 ft, 20 nm northwest, 11:23 pm PDT (06:23 UTC): no turbulence from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft, clear from 23,000 ft to 60,000 ft, remarks: during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06. 739 nm along the route, 20 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN230060/TM 0623/FL230/TP B738/SK SKC/TB NEG 230-260/RM DURD SSKII STAR. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
60 nm southwest (230°) of DEN
Time
06:23 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no from 23,000 ft to 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the descent sskii star ZDVWC-06
A20N at 25,000 ft, 39 nm north, 11:19 pm PDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 749 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
45 nm west (250°) of DEN
Time
06:19 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
A20N
Turbulence
occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb ZDVWC-06
A21N at 33,000 ft, 15 nm south, 11:59 pm PDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 779 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV BRK/TM 0659/FL330/TP A21N/TB LGT CHOP/RM MTW +/-10KT 100FT. ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
over BRK
Time
06:59 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
light chop
Remarks
mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc
B737 descending, 35 nm north, 12:10 am PDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 789 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
07:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
smooth
B738 descending, 35 nm north, 11:15 pm PDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 789 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
06:15 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
light chop

1 more routine reports are on the map.

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 14 forecast points nearest it (SBA, WJF, LAS, BCE, GJT, PUB, DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, 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	230° at 30 kt	−27 kt	13 °C	147 kt	10 h 40 min	1:46 pm CDT (18:46 UTC)
7,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−25 kt	11 °C	145 kt	10 h 49 min	1:55 pm CDT (18:55 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−22 kt	9 °C	142 kt	11 h 03 min	2:09 pm CDT (19:09 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−23 kt	4 °C	143 kt	10 h 58 min	2:04 pm CDT (19:04 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−25 kt	-1 °C	145 kt	10 h 49 min	1:55 pm CDT (18:55 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−27 kt	-5 °C	147 kt	10 h 40 min	1:46 pm CDT (18:46 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	−29 kt	-9 °C	149 kt	10 h 32 min	1:38 pm CDT (18:38 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 32 kt	−30 kt	-10 °C	150 kt	10 h 28 min	1:34 pm CDT (18:34 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 42 kt	−39 kt	-20 °C	159 kt	9 h 52 min	12:58 pm CDT (17:58 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 50 kt	−48 kt	-31 °C	168 kt	9 h 20 min	12:26 pm CDT (17:26 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 53 kt	−54 kt	-37 °C	174 kt	9 h 01 min	12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	240° at 50 kt	−52 kt	-47 °C	172 kt	9 h 07 min	12:13 pm CDT (17:13 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
SBA	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	L/V	190/13 5°	210/20 2°	220/22 -3°	260/19 -13°	230/35 -22°	220/43 -28°	220/46 -36°	220/45 -44°
WJF	used from 50 nm out; 18 nm from the line		200/28 6°	210/28 3°	210/29 -4°	210/28 -14°	220/41 -20°	220/47 -29°	220/46 -37°	220/53 -44°
LAS	used from 150 nm out; 76 nm from the line		210/21 10°	200/18 5°	200/23 -2°	210/49 -14°	210/63 -21°	220/58 -30°	220/61 -35°	210/56 -44°
BCE	used from 350 nm out; 55 nm from the line				220/27 -1°	210/40 -13°	220/54 -21°	220/64 -30°	220/64 -34°	220/52 -44°
GJT	used from 500 nm out; 99 nm from the line			210/43 7°	230/45 1°	220/49 -12°	220/62 -22°	220/59 -28°	230/60 -33°	220/55 -45°
PUB	used from 699 nm out; 74 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°
DEN	used from 749 nm out; 43 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°
GLD	used from 849 nm out; 52 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 999 nm out; 73 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 1149 nm out; 38 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 1249 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°
BRL	used from 1349 nm out; 55 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 1449 nm out; 61 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 1499 nm out; 28 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
SBA Santa Barbara, CA	departure	VFR Sky: overcast at 6,500 feet	calm	10+ mi	6,500 ft	13 ft	12:53 am PDT (07:53 UTC)
MHV Mojave, CA	90 nm out, 2 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (240°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	2,801 ft	06:35 UTC
VGT Las Vegas, NV	250 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	10,000 ft	2,205 ft	07:53 UTC
KNB Kanab, UT	390 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	reported, no category	from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	4,867 ft	07:55 UTC
AIB Nucla, CO	590 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet Weather: haze	from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots	1.25 mi	9,000 ft	5,945 ft	06:35 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	769 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	07:54 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	919 nm out, 4 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	07:55 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	979 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 14 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	07:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	1159 nm out, 6 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	07:54 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	1309 nm out, 21 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	07:54 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	1539 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	07:52 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	25,000 ft	619 ft	2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 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, 12:07 pm CDT (17:07 UTC)

Wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few 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 SBA, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 4,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 230 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, 250 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, 749 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at SBA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 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

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: Santa Barbara Municipal, Chicago Midway International.