Custer, South Dakota · field elev 5,620 ft
Density Altitude at Custer County (KCUT)
Custer County is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,620 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (79 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,165 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,545 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 | 25.1 | 4,711 ft | 35.2 | 5,391 ft ▲ |
| February | 25.1 | 4,711 ft | 35.2 | 5,391 ft ▲ |
| March | 32.9 | 5,237 ft | 43.5 | 5,937 ft ▲ |
| April | 39.3 | 5,662 ft | 50.1 | 6,363 ft ▲ |
| May | 48.6 | 6,267 ft | 59.6 | 6,965 ft ▲ |
| June | 58.9 | 6,921 ft | 71.1 | 7,675 ft ▲ |
| July | 66.5 | 7,393 ft | 79.2 | 8,165 ft ⚠ |
| August | 64.7 | 7,282 ft | 77.8 | 8,081 ft ⚠ |
| September | 55.9 | 6,732 ft | 69.0 | 7,547 ft ▲ |
| October | 43.0 | 5,904 ft | 54.1 | 6,618 ft ▲ |
| November | 32.6 | 5,217 ft | 42.9 | 5,897 ft ▲ |
| December | 25.2 | 4,717 ft | 34.9 | 5,371 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 KCUT
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,620 ft — the air behaves like 8,153 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,622 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 South Dakota fields
- KHSR — Hot Springs Municipal
Hot Springs · elev 3,150 ft
- 6V0 — Edgemont Municipal
Edgemont · elev 3,594 ft
- KRAP — Rapid City Regional
Rapid City · elev 3,204 ft
- 49B — Sturgis Municipal
Sturgis · elev 3,255 ft
- KSPF — Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field
Spearfish · elev 3,933 ft
- KEFC — Belle Fourche Municipal
Belle Fourche · elev 3,191 ft
- 6V4 — Wall Municipal
Wall · elev 2,813 ft
- KIEN — Pine Ridge
Pine Ridge · elev 3,333 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KCUT in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 79 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Custer County reaches roughly 8,165 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 KCUT on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 4,711 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,393 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,620 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Custer County?
5,620 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KCUT (ICAO) / CUT (FAA), in Custer, South Dakota.