Waukegan Ntl Airport to Santa Barbara Municipal UGN → SBA
1,568 nautical miles (1,804 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 263°, about 266° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 16 h 10 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 23-knot headwind), arriving about 4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC). Right now UGN is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots; SBA is VFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 3 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 3W: 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 110 to 689 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 679 to 1149 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 709 to 1328 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 799 to 959 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 959 to 1258 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 1079 to 1328 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). Near the route, 1159 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1338 to 1508 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 1408 nm along 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 02:00–09:00 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 12 forecast points nearest it (JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT, BCE, LAS, WJF, SBA). 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 | 230° at 32 kt | +29 kt | 12 °C | 91 kt | 17 h 14 min | 5:04 pm PDT (00:04 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +27 kt | 13 °C | 93 kt | 16 h 52 min | 4:42 pm PDT (23:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +23 kt | 10 °C | 97 kt | 16 h 10 min | 4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +23 kt | 6 °C | 97 kt | 16 h 10 min | 4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | +24 kt | 2 °C | 96 kt | 16 h 20 min | 4:10 pm PDT (23:10 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +26 kt | -3 °C | 94 kt | 16 h 41 min | 4:31 pm PDT (23:31 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 31 kt | +28 kt | -7 °C | 92 kt | 17 h 03 min | 4:53 pm PDT (23:53 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 32 kt | +30 kt | -10 °C | 90 kt | 17 h 25 min | 5:15 pm PDT (00:15 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 41 kt | +39 kt | -21 °C | 81 kt | 19 h 21 min | 7:11 pm PDT (02:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 50 kt | +49 kt | -31 °C | 71 kt | 22 h 05 min | 9:55 pm PDT (04:55 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 53 kt | +53 kt | -37 °C | 67 kt | 23 h 24 min | 11:14 pm PDT (06:14 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 51 kt | +52 kt | -47 °C | 68 kt | 23 h 04 min | 10:54 pm PDT (05:54 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 52 nm from the line | 250/23 | 270/22 15° | 250/16 10° | 240/9 4° | 280/22 -7° | 280/29 -19° | 300/29 -34° | 290/50 -43° | 300/64 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 50 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| DSM | used from 200 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 230/40 | 250/33 17° | 250/18 12° | 240/17 5° | 260/28 -8° | 270/34 -19° | 260/41 -33° | 260/55 -41° | 270/62 -51° |
| OMA | used from 300 nm out; 41 nm from the line | 220/47 | 240/33 19° | 250/18 11° | 230/17 6° | 260/29 -8° | 250/33 -19° | 250/51 -33° | 260/61 -40° | 270/62 -49° |
| GRI | used from 399 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 230/35 21° | 230/23 13° | 220/20 7° | 240/25 -8° | 240/37 -20° | 250/49 -33° | 260/57 -38° | 260/58 -47° | |
| GLD | used from 549 nm out; 92 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| DEN | used from 699 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GJT | used from 849 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 210/43 7° | 230/45 1° | 220/49 -12° | 220/62 -22° | 220/59 -28° | 230/60 -33° | 220/55 -45° | ||
| BCE | used from 1049 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| LAS | used from 1248 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -44° | |
| WJF | used from 1398 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| SBA | used from 1548 nm out; 10 nm from the line | L/V | 190/13 5° | 210/20 2° | 220/22 -3° | 260/19 -13° | 230/35 -22° | 220/43 -28° | 220/46 -36° | 220/45 -44° |
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 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 728 ft | 12:51 am CDT (05:51 UTC) |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | 60 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CID Cedar Rapids, IA | 170 nm out, 8 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 869 ft | 02:52 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 370 nm out, 7 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 984 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 479 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| CFO Denver, CO | 769 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 19 knots, gusting to 25 | 10+ mi | none | 5,515 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| APA Denver, CO | 789 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,884 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| AIB Nucla, CO | 979 nm out, 14 nm southeast of the line | IFR Sky: scattered clouds at 7,000 feet Weather: haze | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 1.5 mi | none | 5,945 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| AZC Colorado City, AZ | 1198 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | VFR Sky: overcast at 9,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 9,000 ft | 4,873 ft | 06:35 UTC |
| VGT Las Vegas, NV | 1318 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: overcast at 10,000 feet Weather: light rain | from the southeast (140°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 2,205 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| MHV Mojave, CA | 1478 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,300 feet | from the west-southwest (250°) at 15 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | none | 2,801 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| SBA Santa Barbara, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the northeast (050°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 13 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,945 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SBA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:00 pm PDT (23:00 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SBA
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
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 20 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
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 1298 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 1318 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at UGN 6:14 pm CDT (23:14 UTC), at SBA 6:28 pm PDT (01:28 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:54 pm PDT (01:54 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, Santa Barbara Municipal.