Big Lake, Alaska · field elev 162 ft
Density Altitude at Big Lake (PAGQ)
Big Lake sits at 162 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (71 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 996 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 | 7.1 | −3,423 ft | 15.9 | −2,771 ft |
| February | 14.1 | −2,903 ft | 25.8 | −2,056 ft |
| March | 20.5 | −2,437 ft | 34.4 | −1,449 ft |
| April | 35.6 | −1,365 ft | 48.2 | −501 ft |
| May | 47.8 | −528 ft | 61.2 | 363 ft |
| June | 56.5 | 53 ft | 68.6 | 842 ft |
| July | 60.2 | 297 ft | 71.0 | 996 ft |
| August | 56.6 | 60 ft | 67.0 | 739 ft |
| September | 46.8 | −596 ft | 56.6 | 60 ft |
| October | 32.0 | −1,617 ft | 40.5 | −1,026 ft |
| November | 14.6 | −2,867 ft | 22.9 | −2,263 ft |
| December | 9.1 | −3,273 ft | 17.9 | −2,625 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 PAGQ
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 162 ft — the air behaves like 996 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 163 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 Alaska fields
- PAWS — Wasilla
Wasilla · elev 354 ft
- Z40 — Goose Bay
Goose Bay · elev 78 ft
- PABV — Birchwood
Birchwood · elev 83 ft
- PAUO — Willow
Willow · elev 215 ft
- PAMR — Merrill Field
Anchorage · elev 143 ft
- PAAQ — Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal
Palmer · elev 249 ft
- PALH — Lake Hood
Anchorage · elev 79 ft
- PANC — Ted Stevens Anchorage International
Anchorage · elev 151 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at PAGQ in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 71 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Big Lake reaches roughly 996 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 PAGQ on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −3,423 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 297 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 162 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Big Lake?
162 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is PAGQ (ICAO) / BGQ (FAA), in Big Lake, Alaska.