New Orleans, Louisiana · field elev 3 ft

Density Altitude at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (KMSY)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International sits at 3 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (91 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,077 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,077 ft station: NEW ORLEANS INTL AP · 0 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at NEW ORLEANS INTL AP (0 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 54.3 −289 ft 62.5 251 ft
February 58.0 −44 ft 66.4 505 ft
March 63.8 336 ft 72.3 884 ft
April 70.1 743 ft 78.5 1,277 ft
May 77.1 1,189 ft 85.3 1,702 ft
June 82.4 1,521 ft 90.0 1,991 ft
July 83.9 1,615 ft 91.4 2,077 ft
August 84.0 1,621 ft 91.3 2,071 ft
September 80.8 1,421 ft 88.1 1,874 ft
October 72.5 897 ft 80.6 1,409 ft
November 62.4 245 ft 71.2 814 ft
December 56.6 −137 ft 64.8 401 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 KMSY

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,052 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,052 ft

Field elevation 3 ft — the air behaves like 2,052 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
4 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 Louisiana fields

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KMSY in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 91 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International reaches roughly 2,077 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 KMSY on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −289 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,621 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International?

3 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KMSY (ICAO) / MSY (FAA), in New Orleans, Louisiana.