Mineta San Jose International to Waukegan Ntl Airport SJC → UGN
1,587 nautical miles (1,826 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 055° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 23 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 49-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:47 pm CDT (20:47 UTC). Right now SJC is VFR, wind calm; UGN is VFR, wind from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 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
- SIGMET W22W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the south at 35 knots, until 5:55 am PDT (12:55 UTC). Near the route, 419 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 121055 MKCW WST 121055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 22W VALID UNTIL 1255Z AZ UT NV FROM 40W DTA-40WNW HVE-20SSE BCE-50NE LAS-70ENE BTY-40W DTA AREA TS MOV FROM 20035KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 180 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 130 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 240 to 769 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 250 to 739 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 329 to 689 nm out.
- 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 499 to 868 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 649 to 938 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 699 to 838 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 739 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 938 to 1078 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 1048 to 1437 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 SJC.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A35K at 32,000 ft, 47 nm northwest, 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: fdcs zoa. At the departure end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
OAK UA /OV OAK348024/TM 0839/FL320/TP A35K/TB MOD CHOP/RM FDCS ZOA
- Report
- a routine report filed through OAK
- Where
- 24 nm north (348°) of OAK
- Time
- 08:39 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A35K
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Remarks
- fdcs zoa
- B739 at 34,000 ft, 42 nm north, 3:58 am PDT (10:58 UTC): no turbulence. At the destination end, 42 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
UES UA /OV BAE/TM 1058/FL340/TP B739/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through UES
- Where
- over BAE
- Time
- 10:58 UTC
- Height
- at 34,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B739
- Turbulence
- none
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 14 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, BIH, ELY, SLC, RKS, DEN, BFF, ONL, OMA, DSM, MCW, 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 | 250° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 22 °C | 139 kt | 11 h 25 min | 5:49 pm CDT (22:49 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 11 °C | 138 kt | 11 h 30 min | 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −19 kt | 6 °C | 139 kt | 11 h 25 min | 5:49 pm CDT (22:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −21 kt | 2 °C | 141 kt | 11 h 15 min | 5:39 pm CDT (22:39 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −22 kt | -2 °C | 142 kt | 11 h 11 min | 5:35 pm CDT (22:35 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −23 kt | -7 °C | 143 kt | 11 h 06 min | 5:30 pm CDT (22:30 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −24 kt | -11 °C | 144 kt | 11 h 01 min | 5:25 pm CDT (22:25 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 27 kt | −24 kt | -12 °C | 144 kt | 11 h 01 min | 5:25 pm CDT (22:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 36 kt | −33 kt | -22 °C | 153 kt | 10 h 22 min | 4:46 pm CDT (21:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 45 kt | −43 kt | -32 °C | 163 kt | 9 h 44 min | 4:08 pm CDT (21:08 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 49 kt | −48 kt | -37 °C | 168 kt | 9 h 27 min | 3:51 pm CDT (20:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 48 kt | −49 kt | -45 °C | 169 kt | 9 h 23 min | 3:47 pm CDT (20:47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 090/9 | 050/12 4° | 010/17 -2° | 350/34 -3° | 360/70 -11° | 360/75 -22° | 350/57 -38° | 330/37 -42° | 280/25 -44° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 64 nm from the line | L/V | L/V 4° | 340/9 -4° | 340/22 -8° | 360/71 -12° | 360/82 -23° | 350/58 -37° | 310/30 -40° | 270/25 -44° |
| BIH | used from 100 nm out; 69 nm from the line | L/V | 020/6 0° | 140/7 -7° | 210/31 -16° | 230/34 -26° | 220/43 -30° | 220/52 -36° | 220/46 -43° | |
| ELY | used from 250 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 210/34 1° | 220/40 -4° | 220/39 -17° | 210/51 -24° | 220/65 -30° | 220/60 -37° | 220/56 -44° | ||
| SLC | used from 449 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 200/16 | 210/23 4° | 220/34 -3° | 210/40 -16° | 220/66 -23° | 220/64 -31° | 220/57 -36° | 220/50 -43° | |
| RKS | used from 599 nm out; 63 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| DEN | used from 749 nm out; 95 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° | ||
| BFF | used from 799 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| ONL | used from 998 nm out; 91 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 1198 nm out; 53 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 1298 nm out; 47 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° |
| MCW | used from 1348 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 250/36 | 250/24 19° | 240/26 11° | 250/30 5° | 270/22 -9° | 260/30 -21° | 260/31 -36° | 280/53 -38° | 280/66 -48° |
| DBQ | used from 1397 nm out; 39 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 1547 nm out; 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJC San Jose, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 62 ft | 3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC) |
| MOD Modesto, CA | 50 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 99 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| HTH Hawthorne, NV | 170 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 8,500 feet | from the north-northwest (340°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 4,230 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| ELY Ely, NV | 349 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 9 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 6,259 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| PVU Provo, UT | 509 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 6 mi | 6,000 ft | 4,496 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| LAR Laramie, WY | 789 nm out, 10 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 7,283 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| CYS Cheyenne, WY | 828 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (260°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,159 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| BUB Burwell, NE | 1088 nm out, 11 nm south of the line | no report just now | 2,183 ft | ||||
| SUX Sioux City, IA | 1208 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,098 ft | 10:52 UTC |
| ALO Waterloo, IA | 1387 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 873 ft | 10:54 UTC |
| DBQ Dubuque, IA | 1457 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,076 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | destination | VFR | from the west-southwest (240°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 5:51 am CDT (10:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,283 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At UGN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:47 pm CDT (20:47 UTC)
UGN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
The forecast for SJC, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet, a few clouds at 10,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm PDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 18 nm from the route, 100 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at SJC 6:33 pm PDT (01:33 UTC), at UGN 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







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: Mineta San Jose International, Waukegan Ntl Airport.
