New York, New York · field elev 491 ft

Density Altitude at New York Stewart International (KSWF)

New York Stewart International sits at 491 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (85 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 2,285 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈2,285 ft station: WALDEN 1 ESE · 4 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at WALDEN 1 ESE (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 25.9 −1,636 ft 36.3 −906 ft
February 28.3 −1,466 ft 39.2 −706 ft
March 36.6 −885 ft 47.4 −147 ft
April 48.5 −73 ft 60.5 723 ft
May 59.3 644 ft 71.4 1,426 ft
June 68.1 1,215 ft 79.8 1,956 ft
July 73.0 1,527 ft 85.1 2,285 ft
August 71.0 1,400 ft 82.6 2,130 ft
September 63.5 918 ft 75.7 1,698 ft
October 51.8 148 ft 64.1 957 ft
November 41.4 −555 ft 52.2 175 ft
December 31.9 −1,213 ft 41.1 −575 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 KSWF

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 2,279 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 2,279 ft

Field elevation 491 ft — the air behaves like 2,279 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
492 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 New York fields

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at KSWF in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at New York Stewart International reaches roughly 2,285 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 KSWF on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,636 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 1,527 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 491 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of New York Stewart International?

491 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KSWF (ICAO) / SWF (FAA), in New York, New York.