Sandusky, Michigan · field elev 770 ft

Density Altitude at Cowley Field (96G)

Cowley Field sits at 770 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (80 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,315 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,315 ft station: SANDUSKY · 3 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at SANDUSKY (3 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 21.5 −1,601 ft 28.4 −1,110 ft
February 22.5 −1,529 ft 30.9 −934 ft
March 32.1 −850 ft 40.7 −255 ft
April 43.5 −65 ft 53.8 626 ft
May 55.9 765 ft 66.5 1,455 ft
June 66.2 1,436 ft 76.5 2,090 ft
July 70.1 1,685 ft 80.1 2,315 ft
August 68.2 1,564 ft 78.2 2,197 ft
September 61.4 1,125 ft 72.0 1,806 ft
October 49.4 333 ft 58.6 942 ft
November 37.6 −468 ft 45.2 51 ft
December 28.3 −1,117 ft 34.2 −704 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 96G

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,309 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,309 ft

Field elevation 770 ft — the air behaves like 2,309 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
771 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 Michigan fields

All Michigan airports →

Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at 96G in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 80 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Cowley Field reaches roughly 2,315 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 96G on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,601 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,685 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 770 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Cowley Field?

770 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is 96G (FAA), in Sandusky, Michigan.