Nucla, Colorado · field elev 5,945 ft
Density Altitude at Hopkins Field (KAIB)
Hopkins Field is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,945 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (94 °F) pushes density altitude to about 9,404 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,459 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 | 26.8 | 5,230 ft | 40.3 | 6,128 ft ▲ |
| February | 33.5 | 5,680 ft | 47.4 | 6,589 ft ▲ |
| March | 41.8 | 6,226 ft | 58.6 | 7,300 ft ▲ |
| April | 48.0 | 6,628 ft | 66.2 | 7,771 ft ▲ |
| May | 58.3 | 7,281 ft | 76.5 | 8,397 ft ⚠ |
| June | 68.5 | 7,912 ft | 88.4 | 9,102 ft ⚠ |
| July | 75.1 | 8,313 ft | 93.6 | 9,404 ft ⚠ |
| August | 72.9 | 8,180 ft | 90.6 | 9,230 ft ⚠ |
| September | 64.6 | 7,673 ft | 83.0 | 8,784 ft ⚠ |
| October | 51.4 | 6,845 ft | 68.8 | 7,931 ft ▲ |
| November | 38.1 | 5,984 ft | 54.4 | 7,035 ft ▲ |
| December | 28.2 | 5,324 ft | 41.6 | 6,213 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 KAIB
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,945 ft — the air behaves like 9,427 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,947 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
- 8V6 — Dove Creek
Dove Creek · elev 6,975 ft
- KTEX — Telluride Regional
Telluride · elev 9,070 ft
- KMTJ — Montrose Regional
Montrose · elev 5,759 ft
- D17 — Westwinds
Delta · elev 5,000 ft
- KAJZ — Blake Field
Delta · elev 5,193 ft
- 99V — Crawford
Crawford · elev 6,470 ft
- KGJT — Grand Junction Regional
Grand Junction · elev 4,861 ft
- 7V2 — North Fork Valley
Paonia · elev 5,788 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KAIB in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 94 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Hopkins Field reaches roughly 9,404 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 KAIB on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,230 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 8,313 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,945 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Hopkins Field?
5,945 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KAIB (ICAO) / AIB (FAA), in Nucla, Colorado.