Cortez, Colorado · field elev 5,918 ft
Density Altitude at Cortez Municipal (KCEZ)
Cortez Municipal is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,918 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (91 °F) pushes density altitude to about 9,192 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,274 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 | 27.7 | 5,257 ft | 41.5 | 6,174 ft ▲ |
| February | 32.8 | 5,600 ft | 46.9 | 6,524 ft ▲ |
| March | 40.4 | 6,102 ft | 56.7 | 7,147 ft ▲ |
| April | 46.9 | 6,524 ft | 64.2 | 7,615 ft ▲ |
| May | 55.9 | 7,097 ft | 74.5 | 8,244 ft ⚠ |
| June | 65.5 | 7,695 ft | 86.4 | 8,952 ft ⚠ |
| July | 72.2 | 8,105 ft | 90.5 | 9,192 ft ⚠ |
| August | 69.9 | 7,965 ft | 87.3 | 9,005 ft ⚠ |
| September | 61.4 | 7,441 ft | 79.6 | 8,550 ft ⚠ |
| October | 49.0 | 6,659 ft | 66.6 | 7,763 ft ▲ |
| November | 37.5 | 5,911 ft | 53.0 | 6,914 ft ▲ |
| December | 28.6 | 5,318 ft | 42.0 | 6,206 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 KCEZ
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,918 ft — the air behaves like 9,221 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,920 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
- 00C — Animas Air Park
Durango · elev 6,684 ft
- KDRO — Durango-La Plata County
Durango · elev 6,689 ft
- KTEX — Telluride Regional
Telluride · elev 9,070 ft
- KAIB — Hopkins Field
Nucla · elev 5,945 ft
- KPSO — Stevens Field
Pagosa Springs · elev 7,663 ft
- KMTJ — Montrose Regional
Montrose · elev 5,759 ft
- C24 — Mineral County Meml
Creede · elev 8,680 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KCEZ in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 91 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Cortez Municipal reaches roughly 9,192 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 KCEZ on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,257 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 8,105 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,918 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Cortez Municipal?
5,918 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KCEZ (ICAO) / CEZ (FAA), in Cortez, Colorado.