Kernville, California · field elev 2,614 ft
Density Altitude at Kern Valley (L05)
From a field elevation of 2,614 ft, a typical July afternoon at Kern Valley (99 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,676 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46.1 | 2,396 ft | 60.6 | 3,343 ft |
| February | 48.0 | 2,522 ft | 62.8 | 3,483 ft |
| March | 51.6 | 2,759 ft | 67.0 | 3,750 ft |
| April | 56.3 | 3,065 ft | 72.1 | 4,070 ft |
| May | 64.1 | 3,566 ft | 80.2 | 4,571 ft |
| June | 73.4 | 4,151 ft | 90.6 | 5,201 ft ▲ |
| July | 80.6 | 4,596 ft | 98.6 | 5,676 ft ▲ |
| August | 79.8 | 4,547 ft | 97.8 | 5,629 ft ▲ |
| September | 73.8 | 4,176 ft | 91.8 | 5,273 ft ▲ |
| October | 63.5 | 3,528 ft | 80.7 | 4,602 ft |
| November | 52.3 | 2,805 ft | 68.7 | 3,857 ft |
| December | 45.8 | 2,376 ft | 60.4 | 3,330 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 L05
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 2,614 ft — the air behaves like 5,699 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 2,616 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 California fields
- KIYK — Inyokern
Inyokern · elev 2,457 ft
- L80 — Monache Meadows
Lone Pine · elev 7,874 ft
- L73 — Poso-Kern County
Famoso · elev 635 ft
- KTSP — Tehachapi Municipal
Tehachapi · elev 4,001 ft
- KBFL — Meadows Field
Bakersfield · elev 510 ft
- KPTV — Porterville Municipal
Porterville · elev 443 ft
- L45 — Bakersfield Municipal
Bakersfield · elev 378 ft
- L94 — Mountain Valley
Tehachapi · elev 4,220 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at L05 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 99 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Kern Valley reaches roughly 5,676 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 L05 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 2,376 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 4,596 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 2,614 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Kern Valley?
2,614 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is L05 (FAA), in Kernville, California.