Westover Metropolitan Airport / Westover Air Reserve Base

KCEF / CEF

Chicopee, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KCEF 221200Z 2212/2318 17009KT 9999 VCSH SCT016 SCT020 BKN040 OVC060 620409 510105 QNH3006INS TEMPO 2212/2218 19010G18KT 6000 -RA BKN012 OVC020 620259 BECMG 2218/2219 18010G18KT 9999 NSW SCT012 OVC020 620504 510105 QNH3001INS BECMG 2300/2301 VRB06KT 9999 BKN008 OVC015 QNH3000INS BECMG 2304/2305 VRB06KT 6000 BR OVC008 QNH2996INS BECMG 2312/2313 30009KT 9999 NSW FEW008 BKN035 OVC050 510055 QNH2996INS BECMG 2314/2315 30010G20KT 9999 BKN040 OVC050 510006 QNH2990INS TEMPO 2316/2318 33015G25KT 520006 TX10/2221Z TN04/2310Z

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Wed
13:00Z
+-1h
Wed
14:00Z
+0h
Wed
15:00Z
+1h
Wed
16:00Z
+2h
Wed
17:00Z
+3h
Wed
18:00Z
+4h
Wed
19:00Z
+5h
Wed
20:00Z
+6h
Wed
21:00Z
+7h
Wed
22:00Z
+8h
Wed
23:00Z
+9h
Thu
00:00Z
+10h
Thu
01:00Z
+11h
Thu
02:00Z
+12h
Thu
03:00Z
+13h
Thu
04:00Z
+14h
Thu
05:00Z
+15h
Thu
06:00Z
+16h
Thu
07:00Z
+17h
Thu
08:00Z
+18h
Thu
09:00Z
+19h
Thu
10:00Z
+20h
Thu
11:00Z
+21h
Thu
12:00Z
+22h
Thu
13:00Z
+23h
Thu
14:00Z
+24h
Thu
15:00Z
+25h
Thu
16:00Z
+26h
Wind Dir
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
170°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
180°
S
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
VRB
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
300°
NW
330°
NW
Wind Speed
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
9 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
6 kt
G18 kt
9 kt
G18 kt
9 kt
G18 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
10 kt
G20 kt
15 kt
G25 kt
Visibility
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
6 km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
10+ km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
Mist
BR
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT016
SCT020
SCT016
SCT020
SCT016
SCT020
SCT016
SCT020
SCT016
SCT020
SCT012
OVC020
SCT012
OVC020
SCT012
OVC020
SCT012
OVC020
SCT012
OVC020
SCT012
OVC020
BKN008
OVC015
BKN008
OVC015
BKN008
OVC015
BKN008
OVC015
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
OVC008
FEW008
BKN035
FEW008
BKN035
BKN040
OVC050
BKN040
OVC050
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
2,000 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
800 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
4,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:39Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:39Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:19Z
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:19Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:40Z
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 occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
170° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT016 SCT020 BKN040 OVC060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South (170°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1600 feet, Scattered clouds at 2000 feet, Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 12:00Z - 18:00Z
IFR
Wind
190° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Light Rain
Clouds
BKN012 OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the South (190°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Light Rain. Broken clouds at 1200 feet, Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 18:00Z - 19:00Z
MVFR
Wind
180° at 10 kt
Gusts: 18 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
SCT012 OVC020
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the South (180°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 18 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Scattered clouds at 1200 feet, Overcast skies at 2000 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

BECMG 00:00Z - 01:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN008 OVC015
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 800 feet, Overcast skies at 1500 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 04:00Z - 05:00Z
IFR
Wind
VRB° at 6 kt
Visibility
6 km
Weather
Mist
Clouds
OVC008
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds will be variable in direction at 6 kt. Visibility will be good at 6 km. Weather conditions: Mist. Overcast skies at 800 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

BECMG 12:00Z - 13:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 9 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
FEW008 BKN035 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 9 kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Few clouds at 800 feet, Broken clouds at 3500 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 14:00Z - 15:00Z
VFR
Wind
300° at 10 kt
Gusts: 20 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN040 OVC050
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Northwest (300°) at 10 kt. Gusts up to 20 kt are expected. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 4000 feet, Overcast skies at 5000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 16:00Z - 18:00Z
VFR
Wind
330° at 15 kt
Gusts: 25 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the North-Northwest (330°) at 15 kt. Gusts up to 25 kt are expected. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) 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.