Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base

KCEF / CEF

Chicopee, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:08Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 38 min ago
11:08Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 2°C
6 kt
180°
10 SM
Visibility
1,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1021 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KCEF 221108Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM BKN016 05/02 A3014 RMK AO2 RAE08 BKN V OVC SLP211

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 241 ft
BKN 1,600 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,841 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 1,600 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 6 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1600 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 2°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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 RASN, Mist, Light Rain, Light Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain, Mist between 11:00Z and 17:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1021 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1013 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (241 ft)
Pressure Alt
9 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -1,133 ft
ISA Deviation: -9.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KCEF 220000Z 2200/2306 19012KT 9999 SCT080 BKN120 BKN220 QNH3014INS BECMG 2207/2208 17009KT 6000 -RASN BR SCT007 BKN015 OVC050 620159 QNH3009INS BECMG 2210/2211 17009KT 9000 -RA SCT007 OVC012 620207 QNH3002INS TEMPO 2211/2217 6000 -RA BR OVC005 BECMG 2217/2218 17010G15KT 9999 NSW FEW007 BKN012 OVC020 620253 QNH2993INS BECMG 2221/2222 VRB06KT 9999 OVC010 QNH2989INS TX10/2220Z TN03/2205Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 2203 NEXT 2212
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR 190° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 12,000 ft
17:00Z BECMG
+6h
MVFR 170° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
21:00Z BECMG
+10h
IFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 2.212 km
Ceiling: 1,000 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
Active: 23
11,597 ft 301 ft ASP 34°
3.9 kt 4.6 kt
50° angle
15/33 7,082 ft 150 ft ASP 134°
4.2 kt 4.3 kt
46° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KCEF

6,614 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.1%
MVFR
17.6%
IFR
9.1%
LIFR
3.1%

Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base typically experiences VFR conditions 70.1% 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 26.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -26°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, February, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 26.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.1%
NE
7.5%
E
3%
SE
1.2%
S
15.9%
SW
9.4%
W
7.5%
NW
13.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 3.8°C
Range: -26°C to 32°C
-26°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.5%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

November February September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.9 kt

Statistics computed from 6,614 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.