Detroit Lakes, Minnesota · field elev 1,396 ft
Density Altitude at Detroit Lakes/Wething Field (KDTL)
Detroit Lakes/Wething Field sits at 1,396 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (79 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,024 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.8 | −1,885 ft | 17.2 | −1,124 ft |
| February | 11.5 | −1,538 ft | 22.7 | −730 ft |
| March | 25.4 | −538 ft | 35.5 | 167 ft |
| April | 40.6 | 516 ft | 52.0 | 1,281 ft |
| May | 54.4 | 1,439 ft | 66.4 | 2,218 ft |
| June | 64.3 | 2,083 ft | 75.5 | 2,793 ft |
| July | 68.3 | 2,339 ft | 79.2 | 3,024 ft |
| August | 66.5 | 2,224 ft | 77.7 | 2,931 ft |
| September | 57.9 | 1,669 ft | 69.5 | 2,415 ft |
| October | 43.3 | 699 ft | 53.1 | 1,354 ft |
| November | 27.9 | −362 ft | 36.7 | 249 ft |
| December | 14.0 | −1,356 ft | 22.4 | −751 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 KDTL
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 1,396 ft — the air behaves like 3,012 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 1,397 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 Minnesota fields
- 47Y — Pelican Rapids Municipal-Lyon'S Field
Pelican Rapids · elev 1,389 ft
- 16D — Perham Municipal
Perham · elev 1,376 ft
- 04Y — Hawley Municipal
Hawley · elev 1,210 ft
- 3N8 — Mahnomen County
Mahnomen · elev 1,246 ft
- KJKJ — Moorhead Municipal/Florence Klingensmith Field
Moorhead · elev 918 ft
- KPKD — Park Rapids Municipal/Konshok Field
Park Rapids · elev 1,445 ft
- D00 — Norman County Ada/Twin Valley
Ada/Twin Valley · elev 954 ft
- KFFM — Fergus Falls Regional
Fergus Falls · elev 1,182 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KDTL in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 79 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Detroit Lakes/Wething Field reaches roughly 3,024 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 KDTL on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,885 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,339 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,396 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Detroit Lakes/Wething Field?
1,396 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KDTL (ICAO) / DTL (FAA), in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.