Plains, Montana · field elev 2,467 ft
Density Altitude at Plains (S34)
Plains sits at 2,467 ft, and even a typical August afternoon (87 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 4,788 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 | 28.3 | 1,004 ft | 35.0 | 1,466 ft |
| February | 31.2 | 1,205 ft | 41.0 | 1,873 ft |
| March | 38.4 | 1,697 ft | 50.6 | 2,512 ft |
| April | 45.2 | 2,154 ft | 59.0 | 3,059 ft |
| May | 53.6 | 2,708 ft | 69.0 | 3,696 ft |
| June | 60.3 | 3,143 ft | 76.5 | 4,164 ft |
| July | 66.8 | 3,557 ft | 86.4 | 4,770 ft |
| August | 66.0 | 3,507 ft | 86.7 | 4,788 ft |
| September | 57.7 | 2,975 ft | 76.0 | 4,133 ft |
| October | 45.3 | 2,161 ft | 58.5 | 3,027 ft |
| November | 34.1 | 1,404 ft | 41.8 | 1,927 ft |
| December | 27.1 | 920 ft | 33.3 | 1,349 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 S34
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 2,467 ft — the air behaves like 4,806 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 2,469 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
- S09 — Hot Springs
Hot Springs · elev 2,763 ft
- KTHM — Thompson Falls
Thompson Falls · elev 2,467 ft
- 9S4 — Mineral County
Superior · elev 2,787 ft
- 8S1 — Polson
Polson · elev 2,941 ft
- 7S0 — Ronan
Ronan · elev 3,086 ft
- 52S — St Ignatius
St Ignatius · elev 3,006 ft
- KMSO — Missoula Montana
Missoula · elev 3,206 ft
- S04 — Condon Usfs
Condon · elev 3,686 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at S34 in summer?
On a typical August afternoon — around 87 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Plains reaches roughly 4,788 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 S34 on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 920 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 3,557 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 2,467 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Plains?
2,467 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is S34 (FAA), in Plains, Montana.