Winifred, Montana · field elev 3,300 ft

Density Altitude at Cow Creek (CW0)

From a field elevation of 3,300 ft, a typical July afternoon at Cow Creek (80 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,419 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.

worst typical month: July · ≈5,419 ft station: CHINOOK 35SE · 16 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at CHINOOK 35SE (16 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 23.1 1,681 ft 34.1 2,440 ft
February 24.1 1,751 ft 35.4 2,528 ft
March 32.3 2,317 ft 44.3 3,125 ft
April 42.0 2,972 ft 54.6 3,800 ft
May 50.0 3,500 ft 62.7 4,319 ft
June 58.8 4,070 ft 70.9 4,834 ft
July 66.3 4,546 ft 80.4 5,419 ft ▲
August 65.0 4,464 ft 79.9 5,388 ft ▲
September 55.1 3,832 ft 68.7 4,697 ft
October 44.1 3,112 ft 56.7 3,935 ft
November 32.5 2,331 ft 43.4 3,065 ft
December 24.6 1,786 ft 35.3 2,521 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 CW0

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 5,394 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 5,394 ft caution

Field elevation 3,300 ft — the air behaves like 5,394 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
3,302 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 CW0 in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 80 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Cow Creek reaches roughly 5,419 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 CW0 on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly 1,681 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,546 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,300 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Cow Creek?

3,300 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is CW0 (FAA), in Winifred, Montana.