Chicago, Illinois · field elev 620 ft
Density Altitude at Chicago Midway International (KMDW)
Chicago Midway International sits at 620 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (85 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,436 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 | 26.0 | −1,467 ft | 32.7 | −995 ft |
| February | 29.7 | −1,206 ft | 36.8 | −710 ft |
| March | 39.6 | −518 ft | 47.6 | 26 ft |
| April | 50.6 | 228 ft | 59.9 | 842 ft |
| May | 61.5 | 947 ft | 71.1 | 1,565 ft |
| June | 71.6 | 1,597 ft | 80.9 | 2,182 ft |
| July | 76.3 | 1,894 ft | 85.0 | 2,436 ft |
| August | 74.5 | 1,781 ft | 82.7 | 2,294 ft |
| September | 67.5 | 1,335 ft | 76.3 | 1,894 ft |
| October | 54.9 | 514 ft | 63.4 | 1,070 ft |
| November | 42.0 | −353 ft | 49.1 | 127 ft |
| December | 31.3 | −1,093 ft | 37.6 | −655 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 KMDW
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 620 ft — the air behaves like 2,436 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 621 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 Illinois fields
- KORD — Chicago O'Hare International
Chicago · elev 680 ft
- 1C5 — Bolingbrook'S Clow International
Bolingbrook · elev 675 ft
- KIGQ — Lansing Municipal
Chicago · elev 620 ft
- KLOT — Lewis University
Chicago/Romeoville · elev 679 ft
- 06C — Schaumburg Regional
Chicago/Schaumburg · elev 801 ft
- KPWK — Chicago Exec
Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling · elev 645 ft
- KDPA — Dupage
Chicago/West Chicago · elev 759 ft
- C56 — Bult Field
Monee · elev 790 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KMDW in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Chicago Midway International reaches roughly 2,436 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 KMDW on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,467 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,894 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 620 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Chicago Midway International?
620 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KMDW (ICAO) / MDW (FAA), in Chicago, Illinois.