Clayton, New Mexico · field elev 4,970 ft
Density Altitude at Clayton Municipal Airpark (KCAO)
Clayton Municipal Airpark is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 4,970 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (90 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,018 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,048 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 | 35.5 | 4,606 ft | 49.5 | 5,525 ft ▲ |
| February | 37.5 | 4,739 ft | 52.0 | 5,686 ft ▲ |
| March | 44.9 | 5,227 ft | 60.0 | 6,194 ft ▲ |
| April | 52.0 | 5,686 ft | 67.3 | 6,650 ft ▲ |
| May | 61.5 | 6,289 ft | 76.4 | 7,207 ft ▲ |
| June | 71.2 | 6,890 ft | 86.4 | 7,806 ft ▲ |
| July | 75.4 | 7,146 ft | 90.0 | 8,018 ft ⚠ |
| August | 73.1 | 7,006 ft | 86.6 | 7,817 ft ▲ |
| September | 66.4 | 6,594 ft | 80.3 | 7,442 ft ▲ |
| October | 54.7 | 5,859 ft | 69.1 | 6,761 ft ▲ |
| November | 43.7 | 5,148 ft | 57.7 | 6,049 ft ▲ |
| December | 35.3 | 4,593 ft | 48.6 | 5,467 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 KCAO
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 4,970 ft — the air behaves like 8,018 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 4,972 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 New Mexico fields
- KRTN — Raton Municipal/Crews Field
Raton · elev 6,352 ft
- S42 — Springer Municipal
Springer · elev 5,894 ft
- KTCC — Tucumcari Municipal
Tucumcari · elev 4,065 ft
- E89 — Conchas Lake
Conchas Dam · elev 4,232 ft
- KAXX — Angel Fire
Angel Fire · elev 8,380 ft
- KLVS — Las Vegas Municipal
Las Vegas · elev 6,877 ft
- KSXU — Santa Rosa Route 66
Santa Rosa · elev 4,791 ft
- N24 — Questa Municipal Nr 2
Questa · elev 7,690 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KCAO in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 90 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Clayton Municipal Airpark reaches roughly 8,018 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 KCAO on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 4,593 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,146 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 4,970 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Clayton Municipal Airpark?
4,970 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KCAO (ICAO) / CAO (FAA), in Clayton, New Mexico.