Sheldon, Iowa · field elev 1,419 ft

Density Altitude at Sheldon Regional (KSHL)

Sheldon Regional sits at 1,419 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (83 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,269 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈3,269 ft station: SHELDON · 2 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at SHELDON (2 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 14.9 −1,261 ft 24.6 −566 ft
February 19.3 −944 ft 29.5 −221 ft
March 31.9 −54 ft 42.5 674 ft
April 44.7 822 ft 57.0 1,638 ft
May 57.6 1,677 ft 69.0 2,412 ft
June 68.2 2,361 ft 79.2 3,052 ft
July 71.5 2,570 ft 82.7 3,269 ft
August 68.9 2,405 ft 80.3 3,120 ft
September 60.9 1,892 ft 74.0 2,728 ft
October 47.5 1,010 ft 60.5 1,866 ft
November 32.8 9 ft 43.9 768 ft
December 20.3 −872 ft 29.6 −214 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 KSHL

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 3,287 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 3,287 ft

Field elevation 1,419 ft — the air behaves like 3,287 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
1,420 ft
ISA DEVIATION
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RULE-OF-THUMB DA
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AIR DENSITY INDEX
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AIR DENSITY
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WATER · GRAINS/LB
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For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KSHL in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 83 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Sheldon Regional reaches roughly 3,269 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 KSHL on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,261 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,570 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,419 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Sheldon Regional?

1,419 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSHL (ICAO) / SHL (FAA), in Sheldon, Iowa.