Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 2100; Flight Crew Type 1600
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
This morning I checked AWOS for weather at CEC for a flight from ZZZ1. The report was VFR. In addition; a fellow pilot was at CEC and also advised via telephone that the airport was VFR. I departed ZZZ1 for the short flight to CEC. Immediately upon climbout; I could see that the sky was entirely clear. I made an initial report 5 miles out. When I advised a 1 mile final for 30; another pilot asked me to repeat; and I did so. As I was touching down; the other pilot advised that 'the AWOS showed IFR.' There were no aircraft in the pattern. I taxied off the runway and immediately pulled up the AWOS information for CEC; which showed the airport at VFR conditions. Because I was concerned with the unknown pilot's pronouncement; I took a screen shot of this information. I have subsequently learned that the AWOS service at CEC has recently been criticized by local pilots for showing IFR conditions when in fact completely clear and VFR. I do not know if this has been formally raised with the airport manager. While I do not believe that I was in violation of airspace rules; in an excess of caution I determined to file this report. In 25 years of aviating; I have never filed a report nor had any violations of any kind.
Reporter stated the AWOS is located on the beach and may be indicating false readings based on mist from high wave action or other phenomena associated with location.  He stated other pilots report that it may well report inaccurate during actual IFR causing serious issues.
Small aircraft pilot reported frequent erroneous weather AWOS reports at CEC airport.