Birmingham, Alabama · field elev 650 ft

Density Altitude at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (KBHM)

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International sits at 650 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (91 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,840 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,840 ft station: BIRMINGHAM AP · 0 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at BIRMINGHAM AP (0 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 44.7 −132 ft 54.5 524 ft
February 48.8 144 ft 59.1 827 ft
March 56.0 623 ft 67.1 1,346 ft
April 63.6 1,120 ft 75.0 1,849 ft
May 71.5 1,627 ft 82.0 2,287 ft
June 78.3 2,056 ft 88.1 2,663 ft
July 81.5 2,256 ft 91.0 2,840 ft
August 80.9 2,219 ft 90.6 2,816 ft
September 75.6 1,887 ft 85.9 2,528 ft
October 64.9 1,204 ft 76.0 1,912 ft
November 54.0 491 ft 65.0 1,211 ft
December 47.4 50 ft 56.9 683 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 KBHM

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,840 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,840 ft

Field elevation 650 ft — the air behaves like 2,840 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
651 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 Alabama fields

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KBHM in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 91 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International reaches roughly 2,840 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 KBHM on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −132 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,256 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 650 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International?

650 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KBHM (ICAO) / BHM (FAA), in Birmingham, Alabama.