Plan a flight · Sun 8:34 pm PDT (03:34 UTC)

San Francisco International to Chicago Midway International SFO → MDW

1,608 nautical miles (1,850 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 070°, about 056° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 24 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC). Right now SFO is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 5 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: 964 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 W12W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 9:55 pm PDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 230 to 359 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS33 KKCI 120255
MKCW WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 12W
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
NV
FROM 40SSE TWF-10W ELY-30SE OAL-30W OAL-70WSW TWF-40SSE TWF
AREA TS MOV FROM 24020KT. TOPS TO FL310.
```
SIGMET 2C: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 9:55 pm PDT (04:55 UTC). Over the route from 809 to 819 nm out.
as issued
```
WSUS32 KKCI 120255
MKCC WST 120255
CONVECTIVE SIGMET 2C
VALID UNTIL 0455Z
NE CO WY
FROM 40SE CZI-30WNW BFF-30SSE LAR-70NW LAR-40SE CZI
AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL310.
```
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 110 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, 180 nm along the route.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 200 to 699 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 250 to 669 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 479 to 899 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 499 to 949 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 589 to 819 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 629 to 639 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 959 to 1368 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 SFO.

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

E75L at 22,000 ft, 19 nm south, 6:04 pm PDT (01:04 UTC): moderate turbulence. 549 nm along the route, 19 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUC UA /OV PUC320020/TM 0104/FL220/TP E75L/TB MOD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUC
Where
20 nm northwest (320°) of PUC
Time
01:04 UTC
Height
at 22,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate zlc
S22T at 14,000 ft, 25 nm south, 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC): moderate rime icing, -16 °C. 559 nm along the route, 25 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUC UA /OV PUC360015/TM 0123/FL140/TP S22T/TA M16/IC MOD RIME /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUC
Where
15 nm north (360°) of PUC
Time
01:23 UTC
Height
at 14,000 ft
Aircraft
S22T
Temperature
−16 °C
Icing
moderate rime zlc
E75L at 28,000 ft, 47 nm south, 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 729 nm along the route, 47 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EEO UA /OV EKR085036/TM 0131/FL280/TP E75L/TB MOD/RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through EEO
Where
36 nm east (085°) of EKR
Time
01:31 UTC
Height
at 28,000 ft
Aircraft
E75L
Turbulence
moderate
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
CRJ2 at 19,000 ft, 11 nm south, 5:47 pm PDT (00:47 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-13. 789 nm along the route, 11 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
EGE UA /OV RLG010052/TM 0047/FL190/TP CRJ2/TB COSN MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-13
```
Report
a routine report filed through EGE
Where
52 nm north (010°) of RLG
Time
00:47 UTC
Height
at 19,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ2
Turbulence
cosn moderate chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-13
PC12 at 25,000 ft, 29 nm south, 6:35 pm PDT (01:35 UTC): light rime icing, -16 °C, remarks: during the descent zlc. 479 nm along the route, 29 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DTA UA /OV DTA360010/TM 0135/FL250/TP PC12/TA M16/IC LGT RIME /RM DURD /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through DTA
Where
10 nm north (360°) of DTA
Time
01:35 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
PC12
Temperature
−16 °C
Icing
light rime
Remarks
during the descent zlc
PRM1 at 21,000 ft, 9 nm south, 6:03 pm PDT (01:03 UTC): light rime icing, -15 °C. 499 nm along the route, 9 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PVU UA /OV FFU180025/TM 0103/FL210/TP PRM1/TA M15/IC LGT RIME /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through PVU
Where
25 nm south (180°) of FFU
Time
01:03 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
PRM1
Temperature
−15 °C
Icing
light rime zlc
B737 at 16,000 ft, 43 nm north, 5:45 pm PDT (00:45 UTC): no turbulence, light rime icing from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft, 8 °C, remarks: during the climb. 499 nm along the route, 43 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SLC UA /OV TCH230020/TM 0045/FL160/TP B737/TA 8/TB NEG/IC LT RIME 130-170/RM DURC
```
Report
a routine report filed through SLC
Where
20 nm southwest (230°) of TCH
Time
00:45 UTC
Height
at 16,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Temperature
8 °C
Turbulence
none
Icing
lt rime from 13,000 ft to 17,000 ft
Remarks
during the climb
GLF6 at 45,000 ft, 39 nm south, 7:24 pm PDT (02:24 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-03. 559 nm along the route, 39 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PUC UA /OV PUC1130028/TM 0224/FL450/TP GLF6/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-03
```
Report
a routine report filed through PUC
Where
28 nm southeast (130°) of PUC1
Time
02:24 UTC
Height
at 45,000 ft
Aircraft
GLF6
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-03
C56X at 13,000 ft, 20 nm north, 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 799 nm along the route, 20 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAR UA /OV LAR/TM 0133/FL130/TP C56X/SK BASE160/TB OCNL CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAR
Where
over LAR
Time
01:33 UTC
Height
at 13,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
BASE160
Turbulence
occasional continuous light chop
Remarks
zdvwc
UAL2499 at 28,000 ft, 14 nm south, 7:15 pm PDT (02:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. 1438 nm along the route, 14 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ARP UAL2499 4138N 09137W 0215 F280 TB INTMT LGT CHOP IC
```
Report
a routine report filed through ARP
A321 at 32,000 ft, 8 nm north, 6:56 pm PDT (01:56 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: pocket continuous light turbulence. 1528 nm along the route, 8 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RPJ UA /OV PLL/TM 0156/FL320/TP A321/TB CONS LGT/RM POCKET CONS LGT TB
```
Report
a routine report filed through RPJ
Where
over PLL
Time
01:56 UTC
Height
at 32,000 ft
Aircraft
A321
Turbulence
continuous light
Remarks
pocket continuous light turbulence

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 16 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, RNO, BIH, BAM, ELY, SLC, RKS, DEN, BFF, ONL, 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	230° at 18 kt	−14 kt	20 °C	134 kt	12 h	10:34 am CDT (15:34 UTC)
7,500 ft	220° at 19 kt	−15 kt	11 °C	135 kt	11 h 55 min	10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 18 kt	−15 kt	6 °C	135 kt	11 h 55 min	10:29 am CDT (15:29 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 21 kt	−17 kt	3 °C	137 kt	11 h 44 min	10:18 am CDT (15:18 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 23 kt	−19 kt	-2 °C	139 kt	11 h 34 min	10:08 am CDT (15:08 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 25 kt	−21 kt	-6 °C	141 kt	11 h 24 min	9:58 am CDT (14:58 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−23 kt	-10 °C	143 kt	11 h 15 min	9:49 am CDT (14:49 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 27 kt	−24 kt	-11 °C	144 kt	11 h 10 min	9:44 am CDT (14:44 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 32 kt	−28 kt	-22 °C	148 kt	10 h 52 min	9:26 am CDT (14:26 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	230° at 42 kt	−37 kt	-31 °C	157 kt	10 h 15 min	8:49 am CDT (13:49 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 49 kt	−47 kt	-37 °C	167 kt	9 h 38 min	8:12 am CDT (13:12 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 50 kt	−51 kt	-46 °C	171 kt	9 h 24 min	7:58 am CDT (12:58 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
SFO	used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line	120/13	090/14 5°	040/14 -1°	350/17 -5°	360/42 -14°	360/64 -23°	350/38 -32°	300/19 -37°	250/18 -44°
SAC	used from 50 nm out; 41 nm from the line	110/6	L/V 4°	010/11 -2°	350/11 -7°	340/24 -16°	360/44 -23°	330/24 -30°	270/21 -35°	230/23 -43°
RNO	used from 100 nm out; 72 nm from the line		010/9	320/10 -2°	210/23 -9°	210/34 -19°	220/36 -25°	230/31 -29°	230/41 -33°	230/38 -42°
BIH	used from 200 nm out; 89 nm from the line		L/V	240/7 1°	190/13 -3°	200/26 -16°	210/43 -26°	220/54 -28°	220/51 -35°	220/47 -43°
BAM	used from 250 nm out; 93 nm from the line			310/7 0°	270/19 -7°	200/38 -17°	190/49 -28°	220/69 -29°	220/63 -33°	230/48 -41°
ELY	used from 300 nm out; 45 nm from the line			200/39 3°	210/27 -2°	210/45 -15°	220/56 -24°	210/60 -28°	210/63 -34°	220/61 -43°
SLC	used from 449 nm out; 61 nm from the line		200/5	230/8 2°	220/20 -2°	210/40 -12°	190/53 -25°	210/62 -30°	220/69 -34°	220/64 -43°
RKS	used from 599 nm out; 70 nm from the line			200/41	220/44 1°	220/35 -11°	220/46 -24°	210/53 -27°	220/62 -35°	230/61 -44°
DEN	used from 749 nm out; 97 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°
BFF	used from 849 nm out; 47 nm from the line		180/28	220/33 15°	210/31 7°	230/32 -9°	220/41 -21°	220/40 -33°	240/47 -36°	250/54 -46°
ONL	used from 999 nm out; 110 nm from the line		210/31 20°	230/27 13°	230/18 7°	220/19 -8°	240/26 -20°	250/44 -35°	270/52 -39°	260/57 -47°
GRI	used from 1098 nm out; 43 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 1198 nm out; 34 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 1298 nm out; 27 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°
DBQ	used from 1398 nm out; 62 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 1548 nm out; 24 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
SFO San Francisco, CA	departure	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	13 ft	7:56 pm PDT (02:56 UTC)
SCK Stockton, CA	60 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 9,000 feet	from the west (270°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	9,000 ft	32 ft	02:55 UTC
HTH Hawthorne, NV	190 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots, gusting to 14	10+ mi	none	4,230 ft	03:15 UTC
ELY Ely, NV	369 nm out, 11 nm south of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,100 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	6,259 ft	02:53 UTC
PVU Provo, UT	519 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 900 feet, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the east (100°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	4,496 ft	03:18 UTC
CAG Craig, CO	709 nm out, 16 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 13 knots, gusting to 21	10+ mi	none	6,197 ft	02:53 UTC
CYS Cheyenne, WY	839 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the east (090°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	6,159 ft	02:53 UTC
ODX Ord, NE	1108 nm out, 2 nm west of the line	VFR	from the northeast (050°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	2,070 ft	02:53 UTC
TQE Tekamah, NE	1228 nm out, 2 nm east of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,026 ft	02:54 UTC
CID Cedar Rapids, IA	1428 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	869 ft	02:52 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	1578 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	712 ft	02:52 UTC
MDW Chicago, IL	destination	VFR	from the south (190°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	619 ft	9:53 pm CDT (02:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 6,259 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, 7:58 am CDT (12:58 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MDW

From Sun 10:00 pm CDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 30,000 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 south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet

The forecast for SFO, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the east-northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

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

6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA

Daylight

Sunset at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 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 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: San Francisco International, Chicago Midway International.