Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base

KCEF / CEF

Chicopee, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCEF 040100Z 0401/0507 35009KT 3200 -FZRA BR BKN004 OVC009 WS020/25030KT 690001 620706 QNH3014INS BECMG 0406/0407 VRB06KT 3200 BR OVC003 QNH3012INS TEMPO 0409/0413 0400 FG BECMG 0415/0416 VRB06KT 8000 BR SCT005 QNH3019INS BECMG 0417/0418 22009KT 9999 NSW FEW005 SCT012 QNH3017INS TX09/0419Z TNM02/0401Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 0404 NEXT 0413

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
10:00Z
+-1h
Wed
11:00Z
+0h
Wed
12:00Z
+1h
Wed
13:00Z
+2h
Wed
14:00Z
+3h
Wed
15:00Z
+4h
Wed
16:00Z
+5h
Wed
17:00Z
+6h
Wed
18:00Z
+7h
Wed
19:00Z
+8h
Wed
20:00Z
+9h
Wed
21:00Z
+10h
Wed
22:00Z
+11h
Wed
23:00Z
+12h
Thu
00:00Z
+13h
Thu
01:00Z
+14h
Thu
02:00Z
+15h
Thu
03:00Z
+16h
Thu
04:00Z
+17h
Thu
05:00Z
+18h
Wind Dir
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
350°
N
VRB
VRB
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
220°
SW
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
6 kt
6 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
3.2 km
8 km
8 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
0.413 km
Weather
Light Freezing Rain, Mist
-FZRA BR
Light Freezing Rain, Mist
-FZRA BR
Light Freezing Rain, Mist
-FZRA BR
Light Freezing Rain, Mist
-FZRA BR
Light Freezing Rain, Mist
-FZRA BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
BKN004
OVC009
BKN004
OVC009
BKN004
OVC009
BKN004
OVC009
BKN004
OVC009
SCT005
SCT005
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
FEW005
SCT012
Ceiling
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
400 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR MVFR MVFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR LIFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
☀️
Day
🌇 17:34Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌇 17:34Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
🌙
Night
🌅 06:24Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
LIFR
Wind
350° at 9 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Light Freezing Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN004 OVC009
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the North (350°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Light Freezing Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 400 feet, Overcast skies at 900 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 06:00Z - 07:00Z
LIFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
3.2 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC003
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be moderate at 3.2 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 300 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

TEMPO 09:00Z - 13:00Z
LIFR
Visibility
0.4 km
Weather
Fog
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Visibility will be poor at 0.4 km. Weather conditions: Fog. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

BECMG 15:00Z - 16:00Z
MVFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
8 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
SCT005
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 8 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Scattered clouds at 500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 17:00Z - 18:00Z
LIFR
Wind
220° at 9 kt
Visibility
0.413 km
Clouds
FEW005 SCT012
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be poor at 0.413 km. Few clouds at 500 feet, Scattered clouds at 1200 feet. Low IFR conditions - challenging even for instrument operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.