Bedford, Iowa · field elev 1,201 ft

Density Altitude at Bedford Municipal (Y46)

Bedford Municipal sits at 1,201 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (86 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 3,181 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.

worst typical month: July · ≈3,181 ft station: BEDFORD · 3 mi away normals vintage 1991–2020

Typical density altitude by month

From NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals at BEDFORD (3 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 22.2 −1,010 ft 31.9 −326 ft
February 26.7 −690 ft 37.1 34 ft
March 38.7 144 ft 49.9 900 ft
April 50.1 914 ft 62.0 1,695 ft
May 61.3 1,650 ft 72.0 2,335 ft
June 71.3 2,290 ft 81.6 2,935 ft
July 75.5 2,555 ft 85.6 3,181 ft
August 73.6 2,435 ft 84.0 3,083 ft
September 65.4 1,914 ft 77.1 2,655 ft
October 52.8 1,093 ft 64.7 1,869 ft
November 38.9 158 ft 49.4 867 ft
December 27.6 −627 ft 36.8 13 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 Y46

Altimeter-style gauge: field elevation and density altitude needles 03691215 DENSITY ALT ×1,000 FT 3,205 DENSITY ALTITUDE · FEET
field elevation density altitude

DENSITY ALTITUDE 3,205 ft

Field elevation 1,201 ft — the air behaves like 3,205 ft.

PRESSURE ALT
1,202 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 Y46 in summer?

On a typical July afternoon — around 86 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Bedford Municipal reaches roughly 3,181 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 Y46 on an average day?

It swings with the seasons: from roughly −1,010 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 2,555 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 1,201 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.

What is the field elevation of Bedford Municipal?

1,201 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is Y46 (FAA), in Bedford, Iowa.