Essex County Airport (KCDW) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Essex County Airport in Caldwell, NJ, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Essex County Airport (KCDW) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Caldwell, NJ at 173 ft. KCDW reports its own METAR — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 4 runways (04, 10, 22, 28) — longest 4,552 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page. Track KCDW in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.
Wind calm, visibility 10+ statute miles, broken clouds at 1,400 ft, overcast at 2,300 ft, temperature 21°C (69°F), altimeter 29.58 inHg. Conditions are Marginal VFR (MVFR), ceiling 1,400 ft.
SPECI KCDW 290337Z 00000KT 10SM VCTS BKN014 OVC023 21/20 A2958 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT N AND NE AND S RAE24 P0028 T02060200
What changed at KCDW?
Since the 0313Z (11:13 PM EDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- A thunderstorm began (VCTS).
- Visibility improved from 3 SM to 10 SM.
- Rain ended (RA).
- Mist ended (BR).
The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI) — issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KCDW's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KCDW
KCDW is currently MVFR with calm winds, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 1,400 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately 1,300 ft (field elevation 173 ft). KCDW does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is KTEB, about 10 nm away.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
Get KCDW weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track KCDW in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture — a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track KCDW free on TelegramRunway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at KCDW. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
Current wind is calm — calm wind is not a factor for runway selection, and with no wind there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | 4,552 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 10 | 3,719 ft | ASPH-G | — | — |
| 22 | 4,552 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 28 | 3,719 ft | ASPH-G | — | — |
Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 24 h: wind 0→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → 1,400 ft.
KCDW weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Essex County Airport in Caldwell, NJ: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around KCDW is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of KCDW
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
PTW UA /OV PTW/TM 0326/FL290/TP C56X/TA M17/IC TRACE-LGT CLR
PTW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PTWLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0326Reported at 03:26 UTC.FL290Altitude: 29,000 ft MSL.TP C56XAircraft type reporting.TA M17Outside air temperature, °C.IC TRACE-LGT CLRIcing: trace - light clear.Show raw report
BDL UA /OV BDL/TM 0313/FL025/TP A320/SK BKN025/RM DURD RY 24
BDL UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BDLLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0313Reported at 03:13 UTC.FL025Altitude: 2,500 ft MSL.TP A320Aircraft type reporting.SK BKN025Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM DURD RY 24Remarks.Show raw report
BDL UA /OV BDL/TM 0305/FL020/TP C25B/SK BKN020/RM DURD RY 15
BDL UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV BDLLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0305Reported at 03:05 UTC.FL020Altitude: 2,000 ft MSL.TP C25BAircraft type reporting.SK BKN020Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM DURD RY 15Remarks.Show raw report
PTW UA /OV MXE/TM 0200/FL120/TP B752/TB LGT-MOD CAT 070-120
PTW UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV MXELocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0200Reported at 02:00 UTC.FL120Altitude: 12,000 ft MSL.TP B752Aircraft type reporting.TB LGT-MOD CAT 070-120Turbulence: light to moderate clear-air turbulence 7,000–12,000 ft.Show raw report
LGA UA /OV KLGA090005/TM 0158/FL050/TP B738/WX -RA/TB LGT CHOP/RM DURC
LGA UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV KLGA090005Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0158Reported at 01:58 UTC.FL050Altitude: 5,000 ft MSL.TP B738Aircraft type reporting.WX -RAWeather and flight visibility observed.TB LGT CHOPTurbulence: light chop.RM DURCRemarks.Show raw report
TEB UA /OV KTEB010005/TM 0150/FL015/TP GL5T/SK OVC015/RM ON APPROACH RWY 19
TEB UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV KTEB010005Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0150Reported at 01:50 UTC.FL015Altitude: 1,500 ft MSL.TP GL5TAircraft type reporting.SK OVC015Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM ON APPROACH RWY 19Remarks.Show raw report
ARP UAL2834 4128N 07318W 0139 F300 189/038KT TB OCNL LGT CHOP IC
ARP UAL2834 4128N 07318W 013…Header — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.Show raw report
TEB UA /OV TEB180005/TM 0108/FL190/TP C25B/TA M10/IC LGT RIME
TEB UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV TEB180005Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0108Reported at 01:08 UTC.FL190Altitude: 19,000 ft MSL.TP C25BAircraft type reporting.TA M10Outside air temperature, °C.IC LGT RIMEIcing: light rime.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KCDW
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KCDW reported a mix of conditions, most often marginal VFR across 58 observations, with 20 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 27 kt, the lowest ceiling was 600 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: IFR → MVFR
Most recent change: MVFR → LIFR
- 28
- 45%
- 10
- 26%
- 22
- 19%
- 04
- 10%
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We'll message you on Telegram the moment a new METAR changes the picture at KCDW (Essex County Airport) — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your minimums.
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Nearby TFRs
Active FAA TFRs near KCDW
FAA TFR data shows an active temporary flight restriction near KCDW.
View all active US TFRs → · Official FAA TFR ↗
Verify with official FAA TFR sources before flight.
Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KCDW
- IATA
- CDW
- FAA LID
- CDW
- City
- Caldwell
- State
- New Jersey
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 173 ft
- Coordinates
- 40.8752, -74.2814
- Runways
- 4
- Longest runway
- 4,552 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Nearest KTEB
- ATIS
- 135.5 MHz
- CTAF
- 119.8 MHz
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Next sunset
- 20h 28m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KCDW's live status on your website — free →
Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
9 airports+3 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Garden State Circle Burners - Lurker Park — E. Hanover, NJ · 4 mi
- Garden State Circle Burners - Lanes Field Athletic Complex — Lincoln Park, NJ · 4 mi
- Wayne Modelers - Barbour Pond Park — Wayne, NJ · 7 mi
Historical Flying Weather
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KCDW reported VFR conditions during about 80.5% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 276 VFR flying days a year. July had the most VFR weather; December had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 4.1 kt, calm 35.3% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79.5 | 9.7 | 6.5 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 79.7 | 8.5 | 7.6 | 4.2 |
| Mar | 80.1 | 10.3 | 6.6 | 3.1 |
| Apr | 80.7 | 11.2 | 6.0 | 2.1 |
| May | 76.3 | 11.9 | 8.5 | 3.2 |
| Jun | 80.6 | 11.8 | 5.7 | 1.9 |
| Jul | 84.2 | 11.2 | 3.8 | 0.8 |
| Aug | 84.2 | 11.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 |
| Sep | 81.5 | 12.3 | 5.0 | 1.3 |
| Oct | 78.0 | 13.4 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Nov | 83.0 | 10.9 | 4.6 | 1.5 |
| Dec | 74.1 | 12.7 | 8.2 | 5.0 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 4.8 kt |
| Feb | 5.0 kt |
| Mar | 5.5 kt |
| Apr | 5.4 kt |
| May | 4.2 kt |
| Jun | 3.6 kt |
| Jul | 3.0 kt |
| Aug | 2.9 kt |
| Sep | 3.0 kt |
| Oct | 3.5 kt |
| Nov | 3.9 kt |
| Dec | 4.4 kt |
Historical summary of past observations — not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KCDW airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
The FAA airport diagram for Essex County Airport in Caldwell, NJ shows the runway and taxiway layout across 4 runways, ramp areas, and hold-short positions — review it before taxiing at an unfamiliar field.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2608 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
KCDW weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KCDW?+
KCDW has 4 runways — 04, 10, 22, 28; the longest is 4,552 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KCDW report its own weather?+
Yes — Essex County Airport has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KCDW have a TAF?+
No — KCDW does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is KTEB, about 10 nm away.
Does KCDW broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KCDW does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KCDW from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Where can I find the KCDW airport diagram?+
The official FAA airport diagram for Essex County Airport (KCDW) is shown on this page — it maps the runway and taxiway layout, ramps, and hold-short lines. Tap it to zoom, or download the official FAA PDF free from the link under the diagram (updated every 28-day FAA charting cycle).
Pilot PIREPs for Essex County Airport (KCDW)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Essex County Airport, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for KCDW yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only — not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
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- Get pinged the moment KCDW drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
No D-ATIS at this airport — showing METAR.
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