Plan a flight · Sun 6:56 pm CDT (23:56 UTC)

Sioux Gateway/Brig General Bud Day Field to Chicago O'Hare International SUX → ORD

378 nautical miles (435 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 091°, about 088° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 2 h 07 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 58-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SUX is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots; ORD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 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: 704 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

No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.

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 SUX.

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

C182 at 4,500 ft, 7 nm southeast, 4:02 pm CDT (21:02 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 7 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SUX UA /OV SUX170003/TM 2102/FL045/TP C182/TB CONS MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through SUX
Where
3 nm south (170°) of SUX
Time
21:02 UTC
Height
at 4,500 ft
Aircraft
C182
Turbulence
continuous moderate
B739 at 30,000 ft, 2 nm northwest, 4:38 pm CDT (21:38 UTC): light turbulence. 80 nm along the route, 2 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FOD UA /OV FOD220020/TM 2138/FL300/TP B739/TB CONS LGT/ OCNL MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through FOD
Where
20 nm southwest (220°) of FOD
Time
21:38 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
A21N at 31,000 ft, 9 nm north, 4:07 pm CDT (21:07 UTC): light turbulence. 139 nm along the route, 9 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IFA UA /OV IFA/TM 2107/FL310/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT/ INTMT MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through IFA
Where
over IFA
Time
21:07 UTC
Height
at 31,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light intermittent moderate
A21N at 33,000 ft, 32 nm south, 4:29 pm CDT (21:29 UTC): light chop turbulence. 149 nm along the route, 32 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TNU UA /OV TNU/TM 2129/FL330/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through TNU
Where
over TNU
Time
21:29 UTC
Height
at 33,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
A21N at 34,000 ft, 4 nm southwest, 5:01 pm CDT (22:01 UTC): light chop turbulence. 179 nm along the route, 4 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ALO UA /OV ALO180020/TM 2201/FL340/TP A21N/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ALO
Where
20 nm south (180°) of ALO
Time
22:01 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
A21N
Turbulence
continuous light chop
CRJ7 at 37,000 ft, 43 nm south, 4:06 pm CDT (21:06 UTC): no turbulence. 219 nm along the route, 43 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IOW UA /OV IOW/TM 2106/FL370/TP CRJ7/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through IOW
Where
over IOW
Time
21:06 UTC
Height
at 37,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ7
Turbulence
none
C17 at 500 ft, 16 nm south, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. 358 nm along the route, 16 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
```
Report
a routine report filed through KADW
Where
1L arrival
Time
21:15 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C17
Sky
overcast from 500 ft
B39M at 34,000 ft, 29 nm north, 4:00 pm CDT (21:00 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination end, 29 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ORD UA /OV OBK360015/TM 2100/FL340/TP B39M/TB CONS LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through ORD
Where
15 nm north (360°) of OBK
Time
21:00 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B39M
Turbulence
continuous light chop

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 5 forecast points nearest it (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
3,500 ft	210° at 24 kt	−11 kt		131 kt	2 h 53 min	9:49 pm CDT (02:49 UTC)
5,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−18 kt		138 kt	2 h 44 min	9:40 pm CDT (02:40 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	−20 kt	14 °C	140 kt	2 h 42 min	9:38 pm CDT (02:38 UTC)
9,500 ft	260° at 19 kt	−19 kt	9 °C	139 kt	2 h 43 min	9:39 pm CDT (02:39 UTC)
11,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−16 kt	6 °C	136 kt	2 h 47 min	9:43 pm CDT (02:43 UTC)
13,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−16 kt	2 °C	136 kt	2 h 47 min	9:43 pm CDT (02:43 UTC)
15,500 ft	270° at 16 kt	−16 kt	-3 °C	136 kt	2 h 47 min	9:43 pm CDT (02:43 UTC)
17,500 ft	270° at 17 kt	−17 kt	-7 °C	137 kt	2 h 46 min	9:42 pm CDT (02:42 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	270° at 17 kt	−17 kt	-8 °C	137 kt	2 h 46 min	9:42 pm CDT (02:42 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 22 kt	−23 kt	-19 °C	143 kt	2 h 39 min	9:35 pm CDT (02:35 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	300° at 32 kt	−30 kt	-34 °C	150 kt	2 h 31 min	9:27 pm CDT (02:27 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 43 kt	−39 kt	-43 °C	159 kt	2 h 23 min	9:19 pm CDT (02:19 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	300° at 63 kt	−58 kt	-52 °C	178 kt	2 h 07 min	9:03 pm CDT (02:03 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
OMA	used from 0 nm out; 65 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 50 nm out; 68 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°
MCW	used from 149 nm out; 65 nm from the line	200/35	240/33 18°	250/20 10°	260/10 6°	270/18 -8°	260/28 -19°	280/30 -34°	290/49 -43°	280/70 -54°
DBQ	used from 199 nm out; 30 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 298 nm out; 54 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
SUX Sioux City, IA	departure	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	6:52 pm CDT (23:52 UTC)
IDG Ida Grove, IA	40 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				1,245 ft
SKI Sac City, IA	60 nm out, 3 nm east of the line	no report just now				1,249 ft
EBS Webster City, IA	109 nm out, 6 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,121 ft	23:35 UTC
IFA Iowa Falls, IA	139 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	1,137 ft	23:35 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	179 nm out, 17 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	22:54 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	249 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	23:53 UTC
SFY Savanna, IL	278 nm out, 6 nm south of the line	VFR	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	616 ft	23:35 UTC
RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL	328 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	742 ft	22:54 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	358 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	23:52 UTC
ORD Chicago, IL	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	680 ft	6:51 pm CDT (23:51 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 1,249 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, 9:03 pm CDT (02:03 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 SUX, the departure

From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
From Sun 11:00 pm CDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, low-level wind shear, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

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

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at SUX 6:50 pm CDT (23:50 UTC), at ORD 6:16 pm CDT (23:16 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at ORD is after sunset there (6:16 pm CDT (23:16 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 upper Mississippi valley · 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: Sioux Gateway/Brig General Bud Day Field, Chicago O'Hare International.