Plan a flight · Mon 3:59 am PDT (10:59 UTC)

John Wayne/Orange County to General Mitchell International SNA → MKE

1,508 nautical miles (1,735 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 060°, about 048° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 69-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC). Right now SNA is marginal VFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots; MKE is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 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 SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 60 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 30 to 479 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 220 to 549 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 230 to 330 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 300 to 769 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 489 to 719 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 689 to 789 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 919 to 1358 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 SNA.

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

B744 at 1,700 ft, 31 nm northwest, 2:24 am PDT (09:24 UTC): a few clouds above 1,700 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 25L lax. At the departure end, 31 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LAX UA /OV KLAX/TM 0924/FL017/TP B744/SK FEW017/RM DURD RY25L LAX
```
Report
a routine report filed through LAX
Where
over KLAX
Time
09:24 UTC
Height
at 1,700 ft
Aircraft
B744
Sky
a few clouds from 1,700 ft
Remarks
during the descent runway 25L lax
A359 at 38,000 ft, 2 nm northwest, 3:13 am PDT (10:13 UTC): light chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-37. 589 nm along the route, 2 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
GUC UA /OV HBU185015/TM 1013/FL380/TP A359/TB CONS LGT CHOP/RM ZDVWC-37
```
Report
a routine report filed through GUC
Where
15 nm south (185°) of HBU
Time
10:13 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
A359
Turbulence
continuous light chop
Remarks
ZDVWC-37
B38M at 22,000 ft, 21 nm northwest, 1:14 am PDT (08:14 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: zdvwc. 679 nm along the route, 21 nm northwest 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
B737 descending, 44 nm north, 1:10 am PDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. 729 nm along the route, 44 nm north 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

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 17 forecast points nearest it (ONT, BLH, LAS, PRC, BCE, FMN, GJT, ALS, PUB, DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, DBQ, JOT, MKG). 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	−27 kt	17 °C	147 kt	10 h 16 min	4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC)
7,500 ft	240° at 24 kt	−24 kt	11 °C	144 kt	10 h 28 min	4:27 pm CDT (21:27 UTC)
9,500 ft	230° at 24 kt	−24 kt	8 °C	144 kt	10 h 28 min	4:27 pm CDT (21:27 UTC)
11,500 ft	230° at 27 kt	−26 kt	4 °C	146 kt	10 h 20 min	4:19 pm CDT (21:19 UTC)
13,500 ft	230° at 31 kt	−29 kt	0 °C	149 kt	10 h 07 min	4:06 pm CDT (21:06 UTC)
15,500 ft	230° at 34 kt	−33 kt	-5 °C	153 kt	9 h 51 min	3:50 pm CDT (20:50 UTC)
17,500 ft	230° at 38 kt	−37 kt	-9 °C	157 kt	9 h 36 min	3:35 pm CDT (20:35 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	230° at 39 kt	−38 kt	-10 °C	158 kt	9 h 33 min	3:32 pm CDT (20:32 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	230° at 49 kt	−49 kt	-21 °C	169 kt	8 h 55 min	2:54 pm CDT (19:54 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	240° at 62 kt	−62 kt	-31 °C	182 kt	8 h 17 min	2:16 pm CDT (19:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	240° at 67 kt	−69 kt	-37 °C	189 kt	7 h 59 min	1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 64 kt	−66 kt	-47 °C	186 kt	8 h 06 min	2:05 pm CDT (19:05 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
ONT	used from 0 nm out; 13 nm from the line	250/11	200/20 4°	210/27 3°	220/26 -4°	240/32 -13°	220/52 -21°	220/67 -30°	220/72 -37°	220/65 -46°
BLH	used from 100 nm out; 81 nm from the line	240/19	210/20 10°	200/27 4°	210/34 -2°	220/59 -10°	220/67 -20°	220/75 -29°	230/78 -38°	220/90 -47°
LAS	used from 150 nm out; 60 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°
PRC	used from 250 nm out; 80 nm from the line			200/37 6°	200/35 0°	220/60 -11°	220/71 -20°	220/88 -29°	220/98 -35°	220/94 -45°
BCE	used from 300 nm out; 85 nm from the line				200/32 -2°	210/57 -15°	220/71 -22°	220/69 -30°	220/64 -38°	220/67 -44°
FMN	used from 399 nm out; 98 nm from the line			220/16 6°	220/39 1°	220/50 -10°	230/67 -23°	230/94 -29°	230/102 -35°	230/90 -46°
GJT	used from 549 nm out; 82 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°
ALS	used from 599 nm out; 65 nm from the line				240/35 3°	230/54 -9°	240/66 -19°	230/85 -26°	240/87 -34°	240/70 -47°
PUB	used from 649 nm out; 53 nm from the line			260/45 11°	240/38 6°	230/47 -8°	230/51 -19°	240/74 -29°	240/82 -35°	250/72 -48°
DEN	used from 699 nm out; 48 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 799 nm out; 41 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 949 nm out; 55 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 1098 nm out; 17 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 1198 nm out; 27 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 1298 nm out; 57 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 1448 nm out; 82 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°
MKG	used from 1498 nm out; 79 nm from the line	260/28	260/18 15°	250/16 9°	260/22 4°	280/31 -9°	270/35 -21°	270/44 -35°	270/42 -45°	290/61 -51°

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
SNA Santa Ana, CA	departure	marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, overcast at 2,800 feet Weather: light rain	from the northwest (320°) at 3 knots	8 mi	2,800 ft	55 ft	3:53 am PDT (10:53 UTC)
RIV Riverside, CA	30 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,300 feet, scattered clouds at 2,200 feet, a broken layer at 2,800 feet, overcast at 3,400 feet Weather: light rain	from the east-southeast (110°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	2,800 ft	1,536 ft	10:29 UTC
IFP Bullhead City, AZ	190 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 feet, scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,500 feet Weather: light rain	from the south (190°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	6,500 ft	707 ft	10:50 UTC
GCN Grand Canyon, AZ	310 nm out, 17 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 7,500 feet, overcast at 9,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	7,500 ft	6,608 ft	10:54 UTC
TEX Telluride, CO	549 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet Weather: light drizzle	from the east (100°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	5,000 ft	9,069 ft	10:35 UTC
COS Colorado Springs, CO	709 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots, gusting to 22	10+ mi	none	6,187 ft	10:54 UTC
LIC Limon, CO	759 nm out, 5 nm east of the line	VFR	from the southwest (230°) at 12 knots, gusting to 19	10+ mi	none	5,374 ft	09:55 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	1028 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	10:53 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	1138 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	10:52 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	1238 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet, a broken layer at 19,000 feet	from the south (190°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	11,000 ft	957 ft	10:54 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	1378 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	10:53 UTC
MKE Milwaukee, WI	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a broken layer at 24,000 feet	from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	24,000 ft	728 ft	5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At MKE when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC)

Wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for MKE

From Mon 5:00 am CDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet
From Tue 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for SNA, the departure

From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am PDT (09:00 UTC) and 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): a broken layer at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From Mon 7:00 pm PDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet

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

4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 5 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, 180 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 679 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at SNA 6:20 pm PDT (01:20 UTC), at MKE 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: John Wayne/Orange County, General Mitchell International.