Westcliffe, Colorado · field elev 8,290 ft
Density Altitude at Silver West (C08)
Silver West is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 8,290 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (81 °F) pushes density altitude to about 11,477 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,187 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.9 | 7,942 ft | 39.6 | 8,970 ft ⚠ |
| February | 26.9 | 8,142 ft | 41.7 | 9,105 ft ⚠ |
| March | 34.6 | 8,647 ft | 49.6 | 9,605 ft ⚠ |
| April | 41.0 | 9,060 ft | 56.4 | 10,027 ft ⚠ |
| May | 49.5 | 9,598 ft | 65.8 | 10,600 ft ⚠ |
| June | 58.7 | 10,168 ft | 76.9 | 11,260 ft ⚠ |
| July | 62.8 | 10,419 ft | 80.6 | 11,477 ft ⚠ |
| August | 61.1 | 10,315 ft | 78.0 | 11,325 ft ⚠ |
| September | 54.7 | 9,922 ft | 72.4 | 10,995 ft ⚠ |
| October | 43.7 | 9,232 ft | 61.3 | 10,327 ft ⚠ |
| November | 32.8 | 8,530 ft | 48.9 | 9,561 ft ⚠ |
| December | 23.9 | 7,942 ft | 39.8 | 8,983 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 C08
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 8,290 ft — the air behaves like 11,500 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 8,292 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 Colorado fields
- 1V6 — Fremont County
Canon City · elev 5,442 ft
- 4V1 — Spanish Peaks Airfield
Walsenburg · elev 6,055 ft
- 07V — Cuchara Valley At La Veta
La Veta · elev 7,153 ft
- 1V8 — Leach
Center · elev 7,598 ft
- 05V — Blanca
Blanca · elev 7,720 ft
- 04V — Saguache Municipal
Saguache · elev 7,850 ft
- KALS — San Luis Valley Regional/Bergman Field
Alamosa · elev 7,540 ft
- KMVI — Monte Vista Municipal
Monte Vista · elev 7,611 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at C08 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 81 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Silver West reaches roughly 11,477 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 C08 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 7,942 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 10,419 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 8,290 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Silver West?
8,290 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is C08 (FAA), in Westcliffe, Colorado.