Pierre, South Dakota · field elev 1,744 ft

Density Altitude at Pierre Regional (KPIR)

Pierre Regional sits at 1,744 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (88 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 4,006 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈4,006 ft station: PIERRE RGNL AP · 0 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at PIERRE RGNL 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 19.1 −550 ft 29.0 150 ft
February 23.2 −258 ft 33.7 476 ft
March 34.3 518 ft 45.7 1,292 ft
April 45.9 1,306 ft 58.5 2,137 ft
May 57.2 2,052 ft 69.5 2,842 ft
June 67.8 2,734 ft 80.0 3,498 ft
July 74.9 3,182 ft 88.3 4,006 ft
August 73.0 3,063 ft 86.6 3,903 ft
September 63.6 2,466 ft 77.5 3,344 ft
October 48.5 1,479 ft 60.7 2,279 ft
November 34.1 504 ft 44.9 1,239 ft
December 22.8 −286 ft 32.4 386 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 KPIR

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 3,988 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 3,988 ft

Field elevation 1,744 ft — the air behaves like 3,988 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
1,745 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

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KPIR in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 88 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Pierre Regional reaches roughly 4,006 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 KPIR on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −550 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 3,182 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,744 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Pierre Regional?

1,744 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KPIR (ICAO) / PIR (FAA), in Pierre, South Dakota.