Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base

KCEF / CEF

Chicopee, US

Last Updated
May 14, 16:12Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
16:12Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
14°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
3 kt
240°
5 SM
Visibility
900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1007 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KCEF 141612Z 24003KT 5SM -RA BR BKN009 OVC014 14/13 A2973 RMK AO2A SLP071

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 241 ft
BKN 900 ft AGL
OVC 1,400 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,141 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,641 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,400 feet and 5 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 5 SM. The ceiling is 900 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 14°C (57°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain, Mist between 17:00Z and 19:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain, Mist between 19:00Z and 23:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1007 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
999 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (241 ft)
Pressure Alt
429 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 367 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCEF 141705Z 1417/1523 16009KT 6000 -RA BR FEW007 SCT015 OVC025 620804 QNH2971INS TEMPO 1417/1419 4000 -RA BR BKN015 BECMG 1418/1419 33009KT 8000 -RA BR SCT015 OVC025 620804 QNH2969INS TEMPO 1419/1423 4000 -RA BR BKN015 OVC025 BECMG 1502/1503 VRB06KT 9999 NSW OVC005 QNH2971INS BECMG 1513/1514 03012KT 9000 -RA BR FEW005 BKN012 OVC025 QNH2981INS BECMG 1519/1520 03009KT 9999 NSW SCT015 OVC030 QNH2987INS TX15/1420Z TN10/1504Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:58Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 160° 9 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Rain, Mist
18:00Z BECMG
+1h
MVFR 330° 9 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Rain, Mist
19:00Z TEMPO
+2h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Light Rain, Mist
02:00Z BECMG
+9h
IFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 500 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
CEF
05
23 ✈️
15
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
11,597 ft 301 ft ASP 34°
3.0 kt 0.5 kt
10° angle
15/33 7,082 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
0.8 kt 2.9 kt
106° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCEF

7,311 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.7%
MVFR
17.1%
IFR
9.3%
LIFR
2.9%

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base typically experiences VFR conditions 70.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -26°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, November, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 26.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
14.6%
NE
7.1%
E
3.3%
SE
1.7%
S
16.7%
SW
9.3%
W
7.4%
NW
13.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 4.5°C
Range: -26°C to 32°C
-26°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.3%
Fog Frequency: 2.2%

Best Months for VFR

May November February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 7,311 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KCEF
IATA Code: CEF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 241 ft MSL

Location

City: Chicopee
Country: US
Latitude: 42.194000°
Longitude: -72.534798°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 11,597 ft
Width: 301 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 7,082 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base

Overview

Westover Metropolitan Airport, located in Chicopee, serves as both a civilian airport and an Air Reserve Base. The airport features two substantial asphalt runways, with the primary runway 05/23 measuring an impressive 11,597 feet in length. Its strategic location and extensive runway infrastructure make it a significant aviation facility in the western Massachusetts region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Westover demonstrate high predictability, with 71.4% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Wind patterns are predominantly southerly at an average of 8.1 knots, with temperature ranges from -20°C to 30°C. Pilots can expect favorable flying conditions, particularly during November, September, and December, which statistically offer the best VFR environments.

Notable Features

Situated at 241 feet mean sea level, Westover Metropolitan Airport offers relatively flat terrain with minimal elevation challenges. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind conditions of 5-5.3 knots. The airport's dual-purpose military and civilian designation provides unique operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

Runway selection is highly predictable given the consistent wind patterns. Runway 05/23, being the longer of the two at 11,597 feet, provides substantial landing and takeoff options for various aircraft types. With an average visibility of 9.2 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence (1%), approaches are typically straightforward, though pilots should always monitor current METAR conditions.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.