Nelson Lagoon, Alaska · field elev 14 ft

Density Altitude at Nelson Lagoon (PAOU)

Nelson Lagoon sits at 14 ft, and even its warmest typical afternoon (August, 57 °F) leaves density altitude around −97 ft — below the field elevation itself. Cold, dense air is the norm here; watch for the opposite altimetry problem on cold days instead.

worst typical month: August · ≈−97 ft station: SAND POINT 1 ENE · 53 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at SAND POINT 1 ENE (53 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 30.9 −1,879 ft 35.2 −1,578 ft
February 31.4 −1,844 ft 34.9 −1,599 ft
March 30.8 −1,886 ft 34.7 −1,613 ft
April 35.3 −1,571 ft 39.5 −1,279 ft
May 40.9 −1,183 ft 45.5 −868 ft
June 47.2 −753 ft 51.9 −436 ft
July 51.4 −470 ft 56.1 −156 ft
August 52.5 −396 ft 57.0 −97 ft
September 48.7 −651 ft 53.4 −336 ft
October 41.2 −1,162 ft 45.5 −868 ft
November 36.4 −1,494 ft 40.1 −1,238 ft
December 32.7 −1,753 ft 36.5 −1,487 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 PAOU

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT −97 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE −97 ft

Field elevation 14 ft — the air behaves like −97 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
15 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

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Frequently asked questions

How high does density altitude get at PAOU in summer?

On a typical August afternoon — around 57 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Nelson Lagoon reaches roughly −97 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 PAOU on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,886 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about −396 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 14 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Nelson Lagoon?

14 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is PAOU (ICAO) / OUL (FAA), in Nelson Lagoon, Alaska.