Sylva, North Carolina · field elev 2,857 ft

Density Altitude at Jackson County (24A)

From a field elevation of 2,857 ft, a typical July afternoon at Jackson County (85 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,177 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.

worst typical month: July · ≈5,177 ft station: CULLOWHEE · 2 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at CULLOWHEE (2 mi from the field) · standard pressure, dry air
Month Avg temp °F DA at avg temp Afternoon high °F DA on a typical afternoon
January 37.1 2,093 ft 48.5 2,855 ft
February 40.5 2,323 ft 52.8 3,137 ft
March 47.4 2,783 ft 60.8 3,654 ft
April 55.9 3,339 ft 70.3 4,255 ft
May 63.8 3,845 ft 77.0 4,671 ft
June 70.5 4,267 ft 82.4 5,002 ft ▲
July 74.0 4,485 ft 85.3 5,177 ft ▲
August 73.0 4,423 ft 84.3 5,117 ft ▲
September 67.5 4,079 ft 79.1 4,800 ft
October 56.9 3,403 ft 70.0 4,236 ft
November 46.4 2,716 ft 59.9 3,596 ft
December 39.9 2,282 ft 51.1 3,026 ft

▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.

Run today’s numbers for 24A

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 5,159 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 5,159 ft caution

Field elevation 2,857 ft — the air behaves like 5,159 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
2,859 ft
ISA DEVIATION
RULE-OF-THUMB DA
AIR DENSITY INDEX
AIR DENSITY
WATER · GRAINS/LB

For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at 24A in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Jackson County reaches roughly 5,177 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.

What is the density altitude at 24A on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly 2,093 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,485 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 2,857 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Jackson County?

2,857 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is 24A (FAA), in Sylva, North Carolina.