Plan a flight · Mon 2:45 am PDT (09:45 UTC)

Santa Barbara Municipal to Chicago Executive SBA → PWK

1,564 nautical miles (1,800 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 063°, about 049° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 8 h 33 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 63-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:18 pm CDT (18:18 UTC). Right now SBA is VFR, wind calm; PWK is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 3 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: 2 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 W18W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 3:55 am PDT (10:55 UTC). Over the route from 339 to 379 nm out.

as issued

WSUS33 KKCI 120855
MKCW WST 120855
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 18W
VALID UNTIL 1055Z
AZ UT NV
FROM 20WNW BVL-30N BCE-60SSW BCE-50NNE LAS-60NNW ELY-20WNW BVL
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL300.

AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 50 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 100 to 598 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 319 to 319 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 329 to 668 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, 369 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 379 to 827 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 548 to 797 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 608 to 797 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 927 to 1455 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

PC12 at 12,000 ft, 44 nm north, 12:08 am PDT (07:08 UTC): light turbulence, no icing, 4 °C, remarks: instrument conditions ZDVWC-11. 578 nm along the route, 44 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GJT UA /OV JNC237019/TM 0708/FL120/TP PC12/TA 04/TB OCNL LGT/IC NEG/RM IMC. ZDVWC-11
```
Report
a routine report filed through GJT
Where
19 nm southwest (237°) of JNC
Time
07:08 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
4 °C
Turbulence
occasional light
Icing
none
Remarks
instrument conditions ZDVWC-11
B38M at 37,000 ft, 34 nm southeast, 12:42 am PDT (07:42 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw +/-7KT zdvwc. 727 nm along the route, 34 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
B38M at 22,000 ft, 6 nm east, 1:14 am PDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 737 nm along the route, 6 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN216059/TM 0814/FL220/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
59 nm southwest (216°) of DEN
Time
08:14 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
zdvwc
A21N at 33,000 ft, 26 nm south, 11:59 pm PDT (06:59 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: mtw a 10-knot loss of airspeed 100FT zdvwc. 777 nm along the route, 26 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, 25 nm northwest, 1:10 am PDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 797 nm along the route, 25 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
B737 descending, 25 nm northwest, 12:10 am PDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. 797 nm along the route, 25 nm northwest 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

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 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	240° at 27 kt	−26 kt	12 °C	146 kt	10 h 43 min	3:28 pm CDT (20:28 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−24 kt	11 °C	144 kt	10 h 52 min	3:37 pm CDT (20:37 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−23 kt	8 °C	143 kt	10 h 56 min	3:41 pm CDT (20:41 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 26 kt	−24 kt	3 °C	144 kt	10 h 52 min	3:37 pm CDT (20:37 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 29 kt	−27 kt	-1 °C	147 kt	10 h 38 min	3:23 pm CDT (20:23 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 33 kt	−30 kt	-6 °C	150 kt	10 h 26 min	3:11 pm CDT (20:11 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 37 kt	−34 kt	-10 °C	154 kt	10 h 09 min	2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 38 kt	−35 kt	-11 °C	155 kt	10 h 05 min	2:50 pm CDT (19:50 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 47 kt	−45 kt	-21 °C	165 kt	9 h 29 min	2:14 pm CDT (19:14 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 57 kt	−57 kt	-31 °C	177 kt	8 h 50 min	1:35 pm CDT (18:35 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 62 kt	−63 kt	-37 °C	183 kt	8 h 33 min	1:18 pm CDT (18:18 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 60 kt	−61 kt	-46 °C	181 kt	8 h 38 min	1:23 pm CDT (18:23 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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	220/9 2°	240/16 1°	240/19 -3°	260/25 -13°	260/27 -24°	230/37 -31°	220/54 -37°	220/52 -45°
WJF	used from 50 nm out; 19 nm from the line		210/26 4°	210/28 2°	230/23 -4°	240/28 -13°	220/47 -23°	220/57 -30°	220/65 -37°	220/59 -45°
LAS	used from 149 nm out; 76 nm from the line		210/20 8°	210/29 4°	200/32 -3°	200/51 -15°	210/64 -21°	220/70 -30°	220/66 -38°	220/55 -44°
BCE	used from 349 nm out; 54 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
GJT	used from 498 nm out; 97 nm from the line			220/26 6°	230/39 0°	220/55 -13°	230/60 -23°	230/78 -31°	230/80 -35°	230/74 -44°
DEN	used from 697 nm out; 77 nm from the line			270/24 11°	230/13 5°	230/48 -8°	230/46 -20°	230/63 -30°	240/78 -36°	240/78 -48°
GLD	used from 847 nm out; 61 nm from the line		260/37	260/25 14°	250/27 8°	230/36 -8°	230/49 -21°	250/71 -30°	260/82 -36°	250/73 -48°
GRI	used from 996 nm out; 72 nm from the line		230/39 23°	230/32 15°	210/29 7°	230/31 -8°	230/43 -21°	250/52 -31°	260/59 -35°	260/59 -46°
OMA	used from 1146 nm out; 34 nm from the line	230/47	240/33 21°	230/22 13°	220/27 5°	240/35 -8°	250/43 -21°	260/47 -33°	260/59 -36°	270/58 -46°
DSM	used from 1245 nm out; 34 nm from the line	250/47	260/25 20°	240/19 11°	240/31 5°	250/26 -9°	260/38 -20°	260/47 -34°	270/58 -37°	270/61 -47°
DBQ	used from 1395 nm out; 41 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
JOT	used from 1495 nm out; 44 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°

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	1:53 am PDT (08:53 UTC)
MHV Mojave, CA	90 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the west-southwest (250°) at 18 knots, gusting to 23	10+ mi	none	2,801 ft	06:55 UTC
VGT Las Vegas, NV	249 nm out, 3 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the southeast (130°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	2,205 ft	08:53 UTC
AZC Colorado City, AZ	369 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: overcast at 8,000 feet	from the east-southeast (120°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	8,000 ft	4,873 ft	09:35 UTC
AIB Nucla, CO	588 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south-southwest (210°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22	1 mi	8,500 ft	5,945 ft	06:55 UTC
APA Denver, CO	777 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 22,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	none	5,884 ft	08:53 UTC
CFO Denver, CO	797 nm out, 21 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 17 knots	10+ mi	none	5,515 ft	09:35 UTC
MCK Mc Cook, NE	976 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots	10+ mi	none	2,582 ft	08:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	1156 nm out, 10 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	08:54 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	1305 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	08:54 UTC
DPA Chicago/West Chicago, IL	1544 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	758 ft	08:52 UTC
PWK Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,500 feet, a broken layer at 11,000 feet	from the south (180°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	644 ft	3:52 am CDT (08:52 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 PWK when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:18 pm CDT (18:18 UTC)

PWK has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

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, 229 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 7 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 11 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

Daylight

Sunset at SBA 6:27 pm PDT (01:27 UTC), at PWK 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

Radar now, the Pacific Southwest · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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 Executive.