Waukegan Ntl Airport to Los Angeles International UGN → LAX
1,519 nautical miles (1,748 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 261°, about 264° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 15 h 49 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 24-knot headwind), arriving about 9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now UGN is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots; LAX is VFR, wind from the north (360°) 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: 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 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 150 to 590 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 709 to 809 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 739 to 1199 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 789 to 1009 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 939 to 1269 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1019 to 1479 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 1179 to 1259 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 90 nm of the route.
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 UGN.
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 15 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, PUB, ALS, GJT, FMN, BCE, PRC, LAS, ONT). 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 | 240° at 28 kt | +28 kt | 16 °C | 92 kt | 16 h 31 min | 9:51 pm PDT (04:51 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 26 kt | +26 kt | 14 °C | 94 kt | 16 h 10 min | 9:30 pm PDT (04:30 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +24 kt | 9 °C | 96 kt | 15 h 49 min | 9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +25 kt | 5 °C | 95 kt | 15 h 59 min | 9:19 pm PDT (04:19 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 2 °C | 93 kt | 16 h 20 min | 9:40 pm PDT (04:40 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -3 °C | 90 kt | 16 h 53 min | 10:13 pm PDT (05:13 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +34 kt | -7 °C | 86 kt | 17 h 40 min | 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | +36 kt | -10 °C | 84 kt | 18 h 05 min | 11:25 pm PDT (06:25 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 49 kt | +48 kt | -21 °C | 72 kt | 21 h 06 min | 2:26 am PDT (09:26 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 61 kt | +61 kt | -31 °C | 59 kt | 25 h 45 min | 7:05 am PDT (14:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 66 kt | +67 kt | -37 °C | 53 kt | 28 h 40 min | 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 62 kt | +64 kt | -46 °C | 56 kt | 27 h 08 min | 8:28 am PDT (15:28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOT | used from 0 nm out; 51 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° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 54 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° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 39 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° |
| OMA | used from 300 nm out; 41 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° |
| GRI | used from 400 nm out; 54 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° | |
| GLD | used from 550 nm out; 82 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° | |
| DEN | used from 699 nm out; 68 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° | ||
| PUB | used from 799 nm out; 51 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° | ||
| ALS | used from 849 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| GJT | used from 899 nm out; 79 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° | ||
| FMN | used from 949 nm out; 68 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 1049 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 200/32 -2° | 210/57 -15° | 220/71 -22° | 220/69 -30° | 220/64 -38° | 220/67 -44° | |||
| PRC | used from 1199 nm out; 97 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° | ||
| LAS | used from 1249 nm out; 59 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° | |
| ONT | used from 1399 nm out; 58 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UGN Chicago/Waukegan, IL | departure | VFR | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 6:51 am CDT (11:51 UTC) |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 60 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| DSM Des Moines, IA | 260 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 957 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 410 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 480 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| LIC Limon, CO | 739 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the west-northwest (290°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,374 ft | 11:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 799 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 11:54 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 959 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 9,069 ft | 12:15 UTC |
| PGA Page, AZ | 1139 nm out, 9 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 4,316 ft | 11:53 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 1319 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, overcast at 7,500 feet Weather: light drizzle | from the south (170°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 7,500 ft | 707 ft | 12:10 UTC |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 1499 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 295 ft | 02:45 UTC |
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 feet, scattered clouds at 2,200 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet | from the north (360°) at 5 knots | 9 mi | 3,500 ft | 127 ft | 4:53 am PDT (11:53 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 LAX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:09 pm PDT (04:09 UTC)
Wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for LAX
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,500 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC) and 9:00 am PDT (16:00 UTC): visibility 5 miles, light rain showers
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am PDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, 819 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 1319 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 11 nm from the route, 1319 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 16 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at UGN 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at LAX 6:22 pm PDT (01:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:47 pm PDT (01:47 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at LAX is after sunset there (6:23 pm PDT (01:23 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: Waukegan Ntl Airport, Los Angeles International.