Sturgis, South Dakota · field elev 3,255 ft
Density Altitude at Sturgis Municipal (49B)
From a field elevation of 3,255 ft, a typical July afternoon at Sturgis Municipal (86 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,727 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.4 | 1,855 ft | 37.7 | 2,628 ft |
| February | 27.8 | 1,952 ft | 39.2 | 2,729 ft |
| March | 36.6 | 2,554 ft | 48.7 | 3,360 ft |
| April | 45.6 | 3,155 ft | 57.8 | 3,951 ft |
| May | 55.3 | 3,790 ft | 67.0 | 4,535 ft |
| June | 65.7 | 4,453 ft | 78.2 | 5,230 ft ▲ |
| July | 73.2 | 4,922 ft | 86.4 | 5,727 ft ▲ |
| August | 71.8 | 4,835 ft | 85.6 | 5,679 ft ▲ |
| September | 62.8 | 4,270 ft | 77.0 | 5,156 ft ▲ |
| October | 48.5 | 3,347 ft | 60.7 | 4,136 ft |
| November | 36.4 | 2,540 ft | 47.8 | 3,301 ft |
| December | 28.2 | 1,979 ft | 39.1 | 2,722 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 49B
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 3,255 ft — the air behaves like 5,703 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 3,257 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
Nearby South Dakota fields
- KSPF — Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field
Spearfish · elev 3,933 ft
- KRAP — Rapid City Regional
Rapid City · elev 3,204 ft
- KEFC — Belle Fourche Municipal
Belle Fourche · elev 3,191 ft
- KCUT — Custer County
Custer · elev 5,620 ft
- 6V4 — Wall Municipal
Wall · elev 2,813 ft
- KHSR — Hot Springs Municipal
Hot Springs · elev 3,150 ft
- D07 — Faith Municipal
Faith · elev 2,584 ft
- 9D2 — Harding County
Buffalo · elev 2,891 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at 49B in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 86 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Sturgis Municipal reaches roughly 5,727 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 49B on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 1,855 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,922 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,255 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Sturgis Municipal?
3,255 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is 49B (FAA), in Sturgis, South Dakota.