Gladwin, Michigan · field elev 774 ft

Density Altitude at Gladwin Zettel Meml (KGDW)

Gladwin Zettel Meml sits at 774 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (82 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,438 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,438 ft station: GLADWIN · 1 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at GLADWIN (1 mi from the field) · standard pressure, dry air
Month Avg temp °F DA at avg temp Afternoon high °F DA on a typical afternoon
January 20.9 −1,639 ft 29.2 −1,048 ft
February 22.2 −1,545 ft 32.0 −852 ft
March 31.5 −887 ft 42.6 −121 ft
April 43.3 −73 ft 55.5 744 ft
May 55.5 744 ft 68.4 1,582 ft
June 65.5 1,395 ft 78.1 2,195 ft
July 69.6 1,658 ft 82.0 2,438 ft
August 67.6 1,530 ft 79.9 2,308 ft
September 60.1 1,045 ft 72.7 1,855 ft
October 48.3 264 ft 59.5 1,006 ft
November 36.9 −512 ft 45.6 83 ft
December 27.1 −1,197 ft 34.3 −692 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 KGDW

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,438 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,438 ft

Field elevation 774 ft — the air behaves like 2,438 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
775 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

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KGDW in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 82 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Gladwin Zettel Meml reaches roughly 2,438 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 KGDW on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,639 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,658 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 774 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Gladwin Zettel Meml?

774 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KGDW (ICAO) / GDW (FAA), in Gladwin, Michigan.