Palmdale, California · field elev 2,543 ft
Density Altitude at Palmdale Usaf Plant 42 (KPMD)
From a field elevation of 2,543 ft, a typical August afternoon at Palmdale Usaf Plant 42 (98 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,537 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45.9 | 2,295 ft | 58.9 | 3,146 ft |
| February | 48.9 | 2,494 ft | 61.8 | 3,332 ft |
| March | 53.8 | 2,815 ft | 67.5 | 3,695 ft |
| April | 59.3 | 3,172 ft | 73.4 | 4,065 ft |
| May | 67.4 | 3,688 ft | 82.0 | 4,595 ft |
| June | 75.4 | 4,189 ft | 91.0 | 5,139 ft ▲ |
| July | 82.5 | 4,626 ft | 97.6 | 5,531 ft ▲ |
| August | 81.8 | 4,583 ft | 97.7 | 5,537 ft ▲ |
| September | 75.2 | 4,177 ft | 91.6 | 5,175 ft ▲ |
| October | 64.1 | 3,479 ft | 79.7 | 4,454 ft |
| November | 52.5 | 2,730 ft | 67.3 | 3,682 ft |
| December | 44.7 | 2,215 ft | 57.7 | 3,068 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 KPMD
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 2,543 ft — the air behaves like 5,555 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 2,545 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 California fields
- KWJF — General Wm J Fox Airfield
Lancaster · elev 2,351 ft
- L70 — Agua Dulce
Agua Dulce · elev 2,633 ft
- L00 — Rosamond Skypark
Rosamond · elev 2,415 ft
- KMHV — Mojave Air & Space Port/Rutan Field
Mojave · elev 2,801 ft
- KWHP — Whiteman
Los Angeles · elev 1,003 ft
- KBUR — Bob Hope
Burbank · elev 778 ft
- L71 — California City Municipal
California City · elev 2,454 ft
- KVNY — Van Nuys
Van Nuys · elev 802 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KPMD in summer?
On a typical August afternoon — around 98 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Palmdale Usaf Plant 42 reaches roughly 5,537 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 KPMD on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 2,215 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,626 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 2,543 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Palmdale Usaf Plant 42?
2,543 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KPMD (ICAO) / PMD (FAA), in Palmdale, California.