Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base

KCEF / CEF

Chicopee, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 02:55Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 59 min ago
02:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
0 kt
10 SM
Visibility
17,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KCEF 050255Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW130 BKN170 23/22 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP117 60003 T02320218 52024

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 241 ft
FEW 13,000 ft AGL
BKN 17,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
13,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,241 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
17,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
17,241 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 17,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 17000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 22°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 28 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 Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 02:00Z and 04:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 19:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1004 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (241 ft)
Pressure Alt
279 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,297 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KCEF 040205Z 0402/0506 29010G18KT 9999 VCTS BKN060CB SCT120 BKN200 QNH2980INS TEMPO 0402/0404 32015G30KT 3200 -TSRA SCT025 BKN050CB OVC090 BECMG 0404/0405 VRB06KT 9999 NSW SCT060 SCT200 QNH2982INS BECMG 0412/0413 30012KT 9999 SCT060 SCT200 QNH2978INS BECMG 0417/0418 30010G18KT 9999 VCTS BKN060CB BKN120 BKN200 QNH2975INS TEMPO 0419/0424 31015G30KT 3200 -TSRA SCT025 BKN050CB OVC090 BECMG 0500/0501 33009KT 9999 NSW SCT090 BKN250 QNH2976INS TX36/0420Z TN22/0409Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 0403 NEXT 0517
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
03:54Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 290° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 6,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
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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 11,597 ft 301 ft ASP 34°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
34° angle
15/33 7,082 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
134° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCEF

8,775 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.7%
MVFR
15.7%
IFR
8.5%
LIFR
3.1%

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base typically experiences VFR conditions 72.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -26°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 26.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
3%
N
14.5%
S
16.3%
W
7.5%
NE
7.6%
NW
13.5%
SE
1.6%
SW
9.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 7°C
Range: -26°C to 36°C
-26°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.1%
Fog Frequency: 2%

Best Months for VFR

July June November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 8,775 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.