Sioux Falls, South Dakota · field elev 1,430 ft
Density Altitude at Joe Foss Field (KFSD)
Joe Foss Field sits at 1,430 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (85 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,411 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 | 16.4 | −1,139 ft | 25.3 | −503 ft |
| February | 20.7 | −830 ft | 30.0 | −172 ft |
| March | 33.4 | 64 ft | 43.3 | 741 ft |
| April | 46.3 | 943 ft | 57.0 | 1,652 ft |
| May | 59.2 | 1,795 ft | 69.9 | 2,482 ft |
| June | 69.9 | 2,482 ft | 80.4 | 3,140 ft |
| July | 74.3 | 2,760 ft | 84.8 | 3,411 ft |
| August | 71.5 | 2,584 ft | 81.7 | 3,220 ft |
| September | 63.3 | 2,061 ft | 74.8 | 2,791 ft |
| October | 49.2 | 1,137 ft | 60.6 | 1,886 ft |
| November | 33.9 | 99 ft | 43.6 | 762 ft |
| December | 21.5 | −772 ft | 30.4 | −144 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 KFSD
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 1,430 ft — the air behaves like 3,423 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 1,431 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
- Y14 — Marv Skie-Lincoln County
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- 7G9 — Canton Municipal
Canton · elev 1,290 ft
- 4P3 — Flandreau Municipal
Flandreau · elev 1,645 ft
- KMDS — Madison Municipal
Madison · elev 1,718 ft
- KBKX — Brookings Regional
Brookings · elev 1,648 ft
- 8D9 — Howard Municipal
Howard · elev 1,586 ft
- KYKN — Chan Gurney Municipal
Yankton · elev 1,306 ft
- KVMR — Harold Davidson Field
Vermillion · elev 1,147 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KFSD in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Joe Foss Field reaches roughly 3,411 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 KFSD on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,139 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,760 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,430 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Joe Foss Field?
1,430 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KFSD (ICAO) / FSD (FAA), in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.