Your Flight
We analysed more than 2,000 data points along your route from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington to Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago.
Southwest Airlines
DCA
MDW
WN3321
Southwest Airlines · Live forecast
DCA
→
MDW
80
Calm Score
"A smooth ride ahead — sit back and enjoy."
1h 5m
Duration
521 nm
Distance
30,000 ft
Cruise Altitude
HIGH
Confidence
Turbulence comfort along route
Comfort score combines turbulence probability with intensity — higher means rougher
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Notifications not available
Your flight departs in less than 6 hours. The forecast is unlikely to change significantly at this point.
We know turbulence can feel scary — especially on long flights.
This report is built for you: what bumps feel like, when they happen, and why you'll be completely safe. 1 in 3 passengers feel exactly like you.
Right now on your route
Live pilot reports from aircraft flying DCA → MDW
4 pilot reports along this route
3 / 4
Reporting smooth
1 / 4
Light turbulence
0
Moderate or worse
Latest pilot reports
Smooth
MDW UA /OV MDW/TM 1139/FLDURD/TP B737/RM +10 KTS DURD
7m ago
Smooth
IGQ UA /OV CGT/TM 1136/FL300/TP B39M/TB NEG
10m ago
Smooth
GRR UA /OV GRR170001/TM 1132/FL011/TP A320/SK TOP011
14m ago
Light
TIP UA /OV RBS/TM 1126/FL360/TP B737/TB CONS LGT CHOP OCNL MOD CHOP
20m ago
AI-powered flight briefing
2,000 data points analyzed
· HIGH confidence
Your Journey Beta
19 minutes into the flight: Some moderate bumps expected.
The crew may adjust altitude or ask you to stay seated during these sections.
The rest of the flight should be smooth.
Your route takes you over the Appalachian Mountains – conditions there can sometimes cause light turbulence.
Mostly Smooth
Overall conditions look mostly smooth with occasional light bumps. Nothing to worry about.
Takeoff
Takeoff should feel a bit bumpy initially, with calm conditions around the airport.
Winds Aloft
Winds at cruising altitude are about 37 knots.
Landing
Landing should feel smooth with typical approach conditions.
You're in Safe Hands
If you feel nervous at any point, remember that turbulence is expected, safe, and part of normal flying. The crew is monitoring everything, and the aircraft is built to handle far more than anything you will feel. Have a safe and calm flight.
Relaxation Exercises
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI): Powered by our turbulence prediction algorithm combining atmospheric Richardson Number, wind shear analysis, temperature gradients, and geomagnetic activity. Learn more
Flight Timeline 1h 05min
Maximum turbulence expected per segment
Takeoff
Moderate
0:15-0:33
Moderate
0:33-0:50
Light
Landing
Light
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Severe
Longer bars indicate higher turbulence intensity. Values shown are the maximum for each time segment.
Airport conditions
Live weather at departure and arrival
DCA
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — Departure
Wind
5 kt (330°)
Sky
Broken
Temperature
21°C
Conditions
VFR — Clear conditions, no delays expected
MDW
Chicago Midway International Airport — Arrival
Visibility
2 mi
Wind
5 kt (140°)
Sky
Scattered
Temperature
9°C
Conditions
IFR — Low visibility, delays likely
Your flight details
Departure timing and aircraft information
Afternoon Flight Departure
Time of day
Afternoon Flight
Tip
Afternoon flights may encounter more turbulence due to thermal activity as the sun heats the ground, creating rising air currents.
When
Today
boeing 737-7h4
Category
Narrow-Body Aircraft
Size
Medium
Comfort
Single-aisle mainline jets like this offer a comfortable ride. While you may feel turbulence more than on wide-body aircraft, they are engineered to handle it smoothly.
Data sources & our approach
ZeroTurb's Custom Algorithm: Our proprietary
ZeroTurb Index (ZTI) combines three meteorological indices weighted by their
predictive accuracy — giving you transparent, passenger-focused turbulence probability instead
of vague categories.
This forecast integrates data from:
- ECMWF Open Data — Global atmospheric model (wind/temperature at 13 flight levels)
- NOAA Aviation Weather Center — Pilot Reports (PIREPs), SIGMETs/AIRMETs, TAFs
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center — Aurora forecasts for polar routes
- AviationStack API — Flight schedules and airline operational data
Disclaimer: This forecast is for informational purposes only. Always consult official aviation weather sources and follow ATC guidance.