Colstrip, Montana · field elev 3,428 ft
Density Altitude at Colstrip (M46)
From a field elevation of 3,428 ft, a typical July afternoon at Colstrip (85 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,853 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 | 24.7 | 1,953 ft | 35.8 | 2,714 ft |
| February | 26.1 | 2,050 ft | 37.1 | 2,802 ft |
| March | 35.5 | 2,694 ft | 47.1 | 3,468 ft |
| April | 43.7 | 3,244 ft | 55.4 | 4,009 ft |
| May | 53.4 | 3,880 ft | 64.9 | 4,615 ft |
| June | 62.9 | 4,488 ft | 74.9 | 5,238 ft ▲ |
| July | 71.1 | 5,003 ft | 85.0 | 5,853 ft ▲ |
| August | 69.6 | 4,909 ft | 84.0 | 5,793 ft ▲ |
| September | 59.6 | 4,278 ft | 73.4 | 5,145 ft ▲ |
| October | 45.9 | 3,389 ft | 58.1 | 4,182 ft |
| November | 34.8 | 2,646 ft | 45.9 | 3,389 ft |
| December | 26.0 | 2,043 ft | 36.6 | 2,768 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 M46
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 3,428 ft — the air behaves like 5,853 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 3,430 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 Montana fields
- 3U4 — St Labre Mission
Ashland · elev 2,909 ft
- 1S3 — Tillitt Field
Forsyth · elev 2,729 ft
- 6U7 — Hysham
Hysham · elev 2,624 ft
- 00U — Big Horn County
Hardin · elev 3,025 ft
- 1M6 — Stevens Ranch
Ashland · elev 3,300 ft
- KMLS — Frank Wiley Field
Miles City · elev 2,634 ft
- 00F — Broadus
Broadus · elev 3,282 ft
- 5U7 — Fort Smith Landing Strip
Fort Smith · elev 3,242 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at M46 in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 85 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Colstrip reaches roughly 5,853 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 M46 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 1,953 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 5,003 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,428 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Colstrip?
3,428 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is M46 (FAA), in Colstrip, Montana.