Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, Illinois · field elev 645 ft
Density Altitude at Chicago Exec (KPWK)
Chicago Exec sits at 645 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (84 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,405 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 | 25.1 | −1,500 ft | 31.9 | −1,020 ft |
| February | 28.5 | −1,259 ft | 35.8 | −749 ft |
| March | 38.4 | −569 ft | 46.7 | −3 ft |
| April | 48.7 | 131 ft | 58.1 | 755 ft |
| May | 59.6 | 854 ft | 69.5 | 1,494 ft |
| June | 69.8 | 1,513 ft | 79.5 | 2,125 ft |
| July | 74.9 | 1,836 ft | 84.0 | 2,405 ft |
| August | 73.4 | 1,742 ft | 82.0 | 2,281 ft |
| September | 65.8 | 1,256 ft | 75.3 | 1,862 ft |
| October | 53.5 | 452 ft | 62.5 | 1,043 ft |
| November | 40.9 | −397 ft | 48.5 | 118 ft |
| December | 30.4 | −1,125 ft | 36.9 | −672 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 KPWK
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 645 ft — the air behaves like 2,405 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 646 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
- 06C — Schaumburg Regional
Chicago/Schaumburg · elev 801 ft
- C81 — Campbell
Grayslake · elev 788 ft
- KUGN — Waukegan Ntl
Chicago/Waukegan · elev 728 ft
- 3CK — Lake In The Hills
Chicago/Lake In The Hills · elev 887 ft
- KDPA — Dupage
Chicago/West Chicago · elev 759 ft
- KMDW — Chicago Midway International
Chicago · elev 620 ft
- 1C5 — Bolingbrook'S Clow International
Bolingbrook · elev 675 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KPWK in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 84 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Chicago Exec reaches roughly 2,405 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 KPWK on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,500 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,836 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 645 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Chicago Exec?
645 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KPWK (ICAO) / PWK (FAA), in Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, Illinois.