Spencer, Iowa · field elev 1,339 ft
Density Altitude at Spencer Municipal (KSPW)
Spencer Municipal sits at 1,339 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (85 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,282 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 | 16.9 | −1,217 ft | 25.8 | −581 ft |
| February | 21.4 | −894 ft | 30.3 | −265 ft |
| March | 34.2 | 6 ft | 43.6 | 649 ft |
| April | 47.2 | 891 ft | 58.9 | 1,664 ft |
| May | 59.4 | 1,696 ft | 70.9 | 2,434 ft |
| June | 69.8 | 2,364 ft | 80.9 | 3,060 ft |
| July | 73.4 | 2,592 ft | 84.5 | 3,282 ft |
| August | 70.6 | 2,415 ft | 81.9 | 3,122 ft |
| September | 63.0 | 1,929 ft | 75.8 | 2,743 ft |
| October | 49.4 | 1,038 ft | 61.3 | 1,819 ft |
| November | 34.6 | 34 ft | 44.6 | 716 ft |
| December | 22.2 | −837 ft | 30.7 | −237 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 KSPW
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 1,339 ft — the air behaves like 3,312 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 1,340 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 Iowa fields
- 4D8 — Fuller
Milford · elev 1,439 ft
- 0F3 — Spirit Lake Municipal
Spirit Lake · elev 1,434 ft
- KEGQ — Emmetsburg Municipal
Emmetsburg · elev 1,206 ft
- 1Y9 — Paullina Municipal
Paullina · elev 1,385 ft
- KEST — Estherville Municipal
Estherville · elev 1,319 ft
- KISB — Sibley Municipal
Sibley · elev 1,538 ft
- KSHL — Sheldon Regional
Sheldon · elev 1,419 ft
- 8Y8 — Peltz Field
Ringsted · elev 1,280 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KSPW in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Spencer Municipal reaches roughly 3,282 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 KSPW on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,217 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,592 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,339 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Spencer Municipal?
1,339 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSPW (ICAO) / SPW (FAA), in Spencer, Iowa.