Somerset, Kentucky · field elev 927 ft

Density Altitude at Lake Cumberland Regional (KSME)

Lake Cumberland Regional sits at 927 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (87 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,902 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,902 ft station: SOMERSET 2 N · 4 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at SOMERSET 2 N (4 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 37.2 −300 ft 45.4 259 ft
February 40.6 −67 ft 49.7 548 ft
March 48.5 467 ft 58.5 1,130 ft
April 58.9 1,156 ft 69.8 1,859 ft
May 66.7 1,661 ft 76.7 2,295 ft
June 74.2 2,138 ft 83.7 2,730 ft
July 77.7 2,357 ft 86.5 2,902 ft
August 76.5 2,282 ft 86.0 2,872 ft
September 70.3 1,891 ft 80.7 2,544 ft
October 59.4 1,188 ft 70.9 1,929 ft
November 48.4 461 ft 58.5 1,130 ft
December 40.9 −47 ft 48.8 488 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 KSME

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,933 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,933 ft

Field elevation 927 ft — the air behaves like 2,933 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
928 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

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KSME in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 87 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Lake Cumberland Regional reaches roughly 2,902 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 KSME on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −300 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,357 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 927 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Lake Cumberland Regional?

927 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSME (ICAO) / SME (FAA), in Somerset, Kentucky.