Plan a flight · Sun 6:24 pm PDT (01:24 UTC)

Santa Barbara Municipal to Chicago O'Hare International SBA → ORD

1,563 nautical miles (1,799 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 064°, about 050° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 56 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 55-knot tailwind), arriving about 5:20 am CDT (10:20 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SBA is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 7 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: 232 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 1W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm PDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 558 to 727 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120055
MKCW WST 120055
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 1W
VALID UNTIL 0255Z
CO NM WY AZ UT
FROM 40NNW CHE-40WNW TBE-60WNW CME-40N SJN-40ESE MTU-40NNW CHE
AREA SEV TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
WIND GUSTS TO 60KT POSS.

AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 209 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Near the route, 80 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 149 to 508 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 179 to 886 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 219 to 806 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 229 to 707 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 348 to 408 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 498 to 687 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 518 to 558 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

UAL493 at 24,000 ft, 2 nm northeast, 3:54 pm PDT (22:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. 339 nm along the route, 2 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL493 3648N 11330W 2254 F240 TB MODERATE SK IN CLOUDS IC LIGHT
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
E170 at 10,000 ft, 37 nm north, 4:41 pm PDT (23:41 UTC): moderate turbulence up to 10,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. 607 nm along the route, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV GJT144009/TM 2341/FL100/TP E170/TB MOD SFC-100/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
9 nm southeast (144°) of GJT
Time
23:41 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
E170
Turbulence
moderate from the surface to 10,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
UAL2238 at 38,000 ft, 37 nm south, 4:44 pm PDT (23:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, wind 244° at 64 knots. 667 nm along the route, 37 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2238 3807N 10649W 2344 F380 244/064KT TB CONT MOD TURB IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
C680 at 18,000 ft, 22 nm north, 3:35 pm PDT (22:35 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft. 667 nm along the route, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV ASE230020/TM 2235/FL180/TP C680/TB MOD/RM 180-100
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
20 nm southwest (230°) of ASE
Time
22:35 UTC
Height
at 18,000 ft
Aircraft
C680
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
from 18,000 ft to 10,000 ft
C650 at 40,000 ft, 39 nm north, 4:48 pm PDT (23:48 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 687 nm along the route, 39 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV DBL/TM 2348/FL400/TP C650/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
over DBL
Time
23:48 UTC
Height
at 40,000 ft
Aircraft
C650
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
C680A at 16,000 ft, 26 nm north, 3:59 pm PDT (22:59 UTC): moderate turbulence, scattered clouds above 16,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. 687 nm along the route, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ASE UA /OV HAERI/TM 2259/FL160/TP C680A/SK SCT160/TB CONS MOD/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through ASE
Where
haeri
Time
22:59 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
C680A
Sky
scattered clouds from 16,000 ft
Turbulence
continuous moderate
Remarks
during the descent
GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 6 nm southeast, 3:44 pm PDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. 777 nm along the route, 6 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
```
Report
a routine report filed through COS
Where
25 nm north (350°) of COS
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF5
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-46
A21N at 32,000 ft, 43 nm north, 4:42 pm PDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. 836 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
```
Report
a routine report filed through AKO
Where
30 nm west (270°) of AKO
Time
23:42 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
intermittent moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-61
UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 32 nm north, 4:31 pm PDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. 846 nm along the route, 32 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
UAL1340 at 40,000 ft, 35 nm north, 5:18 pm PDT (00:18 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 244° at 70 knots. 976 nm along the route, 35 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL1340 4046N 10049W 0018 F400 244/070KT TB OCNL MOD CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
SR22 at 10,000 ft, 27 nm northwest, 4:26 pm PDT (23:26 UTC): remarks: mountain wave 5-10 knots zlawc. At the departure end, 27 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAT UA /OV FLW115010/TM 2326/FL100/TP SR22/RM MTN WAVE /- 5-10 KTS /ZLAWC AWC-WEB
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAT
Where
10 nm southeast (115°) of FLW
Time
23:26 UTC
Height
at 10,000 ft
Aircraft
SR22
Remarks
mountain wave 5-10 knots zlawc
C172 at 5,000 ft, 26 nm southeast, 4:15 pm PDT (23:15 UTC): remarks: tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25. At the departure end, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2315/FL050/TP C172/RM TOPS 050 ON DEP RWY25
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXR
Where
over KOXR
Time
23:15 UTC
Height
at 5,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Remarks
tops 5,000 ft on departure runway 25
E50P at 3,200 ft, 26 nm southeast, 3:57 pm PDT (22:57 UTC): remarks: bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25. At the departure end, 26 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OXR UA /OV KOXR/TM 2257/FL032/TP E50P/RM BASES 036 ON ARR RWY25
```
Report
a routine report filed through OXR
Where
over KOXR
Time
22:57 UTC
Height
at 3,200 ft
Aircraft
E50P
Remarks
bases 3,600 ft on arrival runway 25
B739 at 4,000 ft, 44 nm southeast, 5:32 pm PDT (00:32 UTC): overcast above 4,000 ft. At the departure end, 44 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BUR UA /OV BUR/TM 0032/FL040/TP B739/SK OVC040
```
Report
a routine report filed through BUR
Where
over BUR
Time
00:32 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Sky
overcast from 4,000 ft

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 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 (SBA, WJF, LAS, BCE, GJT, DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, 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	210° at 24 kt	−19 kt	13 °C	139 kt	11 h 15 min	7:39 am CDT (12:39 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 25 kt	−21 kt	12 °C	141 kt	11 h 05 min	7:29 am CDT (12:29 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−22 kt	9 °C	142 kt	11 h	7:24 am CDT (12:24 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	−24 kt	4 °C	144 kt	10 h 51 min	7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 28 kt	−26 kt	0 °C	146 kt	10 h 42 min	7:06 am CDT (12:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 30 kt	−28 kt	-4 °C	148 kt	10 h 34 min	6:58 am CDT (11:58 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 32 kt	−31 kt	-8 °C	151 kt	10 h 21 min	6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 33 kt	−31 kt	-9 °C	151 kt	10 h 21 min	6:45 am CDT (11:45 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 36 kt	−35 kt	-20 °C	155 kt	10 h 05 min	6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 42 kt	−42 kt	-30 °C	162 kt	9 h 39 min	6:03 am CDT (11:03 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 47 kt	−49 kt	-38 °C	169 kt	9 h 15 min	5:39 am CDT (10:39 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 53 kt	−55 kt	-48 °C	175 kt	8 h 56 min	5:20 am CDT (10:20 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
SBA	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	L/V	170/13 7°	220/23 4°	220/30 -2°	230/26 -14°	230/34 -20°	220/38 -28°	220/37 -35°	220/43 -44°
WJF	used from 50 nm out; 19 nm from the line		220/30 8°	240/28 5°	230/34 -2°	220/34 -13°	220/48 -20°	220/47 -29°	210/48 -34°	220/52 -44°
LAS	used from 149 nm out; 76 nm from the line		200/25 11°	230/22 5°	240/25 -1°	220/37 -12°	220/44 -21°	210/52 -27°	210/60 -34°	220/58 -44°
BCE	used from 348 nm out; 55 nm from the line				210/47 0°	200/50 -12°	220/31 -23°	220/56 -26°	220/58 -35°	230/58 -45°
GJT	used from 498 nm out; 99 nm from the line			210/40 11°	210/46 3°	210/61 -10°	210/68 -22°	220/57 -29°	230/59 -36°	240/66 -46°
DEN	used from 697 nm out; 79 nm from the line			190/31 16°	210/32 7°	240/41 -8°	230/47 -21°	240/56 -32°	250/65 -37°	250/61 -47°
GLD	used from 846 nm out; 58 nm from the line		190/29	200/30 15°	240/23 8°	250/39 -7°	230/39 -19°	230/57 -31°	240/67 -39°	250/62 -49°
GRI	used from 996 nm out; 74 nm from the line		210/31 19°	240/21 14°	240/17 6°	260/27 -7°	260/34 -18°	240/45 -32°	250/56 -40°	260/62 -51°
OMA	used from 1145 nm out; 37 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
DSM	used from 1245 nm out; 36 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
DBQ	used from 1394 nm out; 47 nm from the line	220/23	240/22 16°	240/24 10°	260/18 5°	270/16 -8°	290/27 -19°	310/42 -35°	320/55 -44°	300/71 -52°
JOT	used from 1493 nm out; 40 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
SBA Santa Barbara, CA	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 feet, scattered clouds at 4,700 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet Weather: haze	from the west-southwest (250°) at 9 knots	6 mi	5,500 ft	13 ft	5:53 pm PDT (00:53 UTC)
MHV Mojave, CA	90 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: overcast at 14,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 32	10+ mi	14,000 ft	2,801 ft	22:15 UTC
VGT Las Vegas, NV	249 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18	10+ mi	none	2,205 ft	00:53 UTC
AZC Colorado City, AZ	368 nm out, 3 nm west of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,200 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet Weather: rain	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots, gusting to 15	7 mi	3,200 ft	4,873 ft	01:15 UTC
AIB Nucla, CO	587 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line	low IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,500 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the south (180°) at 18 knots, gusting to 22	0.5 mi	8,500 ft	5,945 ft	22:15 UTC
APA Denver, CO	777 nm out, 18 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 23 knots, gusting to 31	10+ mi	22,000 ft	5,884 ft	00:53 UTC
SYF St Francis, KS	916 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	3,429 ft	01:15 UTC
HSI Hastings, NE	1085 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,961 ft	00:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	1155 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	00:54 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	1304 nm out, 10 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	00:54 UTC
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	1543 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	00:52 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	7:51 pm CDT (00:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,945 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, 5:20 am CDT (10:20 UTC)

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

The whole forecast for ORD

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 SBA, the departure

From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Sun 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 12:00 am PDT (07:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 10,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): light rain showers
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 9 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, 229 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 249 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 747 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, 767 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at SBA 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC), at ORD 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm CDT (23:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is before sunrise there (7:00 am CDT (12:00 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 O'Hare International.