Tampa International to Chicago Midway International TPA → MDW
868 nautical miles (998 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 344°, about 349° magnetic at the departure end (variation 5W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 11 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC). Right now TPA is VFR, wind from the north (360°) at 5 knots; MDW is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 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: 3,094 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 TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 70 to 70 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 399 to 409 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 419 nm along the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 429 to 718 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 449 to 459 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 TPA.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
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 westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 9 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, ATL, TYS, BNA, LOU, IND, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 320° at 20 kt | +18 kt | 102 kt | 8 h 31 min | 2:41 pm CDT (19:41 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 330° at 21 kt | +20 kt | 15 °C | 100 kt | 8 h 41 min | 2:51 pm CDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 330° at 19 kt | +18 kt | 11 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 31 min | 2:41 pm CDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 320° at 17 kt | +15 kt | 7 °C | 105 kt | 8 h 16 min | 2:26 pm CDT (19:26 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +14 kt | 4 °C | 106 kt | 8 h 11 min | 2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 19 kt | +16 kt | 1 °C | 104 kt | 8 h 21 min | 2:31 pm CDT (19:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 22 kt | +18 kt | -3 °C | 102 kt | 8 h 31 min | 2:41 pm CDT (19:41 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 24 kt | +19 kt | -6 °C | 101 kt | 8 h 36 min | 2:46 pm CDT (19:46 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 27 kt | +23 kt | -18 °C | 97 kt | 8 h 57 min | 3:07 pm CDT (20:07 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 32 kt | +28 kt | -33 °C | 92 kt | 9 h 26 min | 3:36 pm CDT (20:36 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 320° at 41 kt | +38 kt | -42 °C | 82 kt | 10 h 35 min | 4:45 pm CDT (21:45 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 320° at 38 kt | +33 kt | -51 °C | 87 kt | 9 h 59 min | 4:09 pm CDT (21:09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIE | used from 0 nm out; 28 nm from the line | 360/10 | 340/12 18° | 330/9 13° | 290/12 8° | 260/21 -7° | 280/18 -18° | 250/20 -33° | 250/26 -41° | 250/20 -51° |
| TLH | used from 100 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 340/23 | 350/26 17° | 350/21 11° | 300/13 6° | 320/25 -6° | 340/35 -16° | 350/44 -32° | 360/51 -42° | 350/33 -52° |
| CSG | used from 249 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 330/27 | 340/28 16° | 350/28 11° | 330/17 6° | 340/25 -6° | 350/33 -18° | 330/46 -32° | 340/45 -41° | 350/31 -52° |
| ATL | used from 299 nm out; 30 nm from the line | 330/32 | 340/36 17° | 350/34 10° | 340/25 6° | 330/27 -6° | 350/35 -18° | 330/49 -32° | 340/47 -41° | 340/27 -51° |
| TYS | used from 449 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 330/16 | 350/32 14° | 350/37 9° | 340/30 5° | 330/28 -6° | 340/36 -19° | 330/40 -33° | 330/51 -41° | 330/36 -51° |
| BNA | used from 499 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 300/20 | 300/14 15° | 300/14 10° | 300/13 4° | 310/22 -5° | 280/24 -18° | 310/37 -33° | 310/50 -41° | 320/49 -51° |
| LOU | used from 549 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| IND | used from 698 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| JOT | used from 798 nm out; 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPA Tampa, FL | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) |
| BKV Brooksville, FL | 30 nm out, 12 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (350°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | none | 76 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| VLD Valdosta, GA | 170 nm out, 9 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Weather: mist | calm | 6 mi | none | 203 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| ABY Albany, GA | 229 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower | VFR | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 196 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| MCN Macon, GA | 289 nm out, 23 nm east of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 354 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| RYY Atlanta, GA | 379 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,040 ft | 10:50 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 449 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.13 mi | 200 ft | 682 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| TZV Tompkinsville, KY | 549 nm out, 2 nm west of the line | no report just now | 1,036 ft | ||||
| SDF Louisville, KY | 628 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | none | 500 ft | 10:56 UTC |
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 698 nm out, 3 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 7 mi | none | 845 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| IGQ Chicago, IL | 848 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 619 ft | 10:55 UTC |
| MDW Chicago, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 619 ft | 5:53 am CDT (10:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,040 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, 2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 24, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MDW
- From Mon 4:00 am CDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 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 southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for TPA, the departure
- From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the north at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 14 nm from the route, 279 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
Daylight
Sunset at TPA 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 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
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: Tampa International, Chicago Midway International.