May 11: ORD

Today is May 11th. It's the 132nd day of the year. 234 days left.

Unless noted, the following data is based upon observations collected by the National Weather Service, Chicago, at O'Hare International Airport (ORD) between 1979 and 2007. Observations have been official at O'Hare since Jan. 17, 1980.

Before this, Midway International Airport (MDW) was the official station of record from Wed. July 1, 1942 to Thu. Jan. 17, 1980. Before July 1, 1942, records were official at various locations in the city going all the way back to Mon. Oct. 16, 1871. Records before this (back to Sat. Oct. 15, 1870) were lost during the Great Chicago Fire which began on the evening of Sun. Oct. 8, 1871.

According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the normal high for today is 68 and the normal low is 46.
The 29-year averages are 71 and 48.

On the warm side, in 1982 the high was a record 89 degrees with a low of 58. In 1985, the high was 87 with a low of 60. In 1992, the high was 84 with a low of 61. In 1987, the high was 88 with a low of 53. In 1991, the high was 85 with a low of 56. Other 80s highs were 82 in 2004 and 80 in 1986. The other upper 50s low was 58 in 2000. The record warmest low of 70 occurred way back in 1881. Six of the seven 80s highs occurred between 1982 and 1992 (2004 was the lone exception).

On the cool side, in 1981 the high was 45 with the record low of 33. In 1996, the high was 52 with a low of 38. The other 30s lows were 38 in 2006, 37 in 1990 and 36 in 1989. The record coldest high of 41 was set in 1907. 22 of the 29 lows for the date have been in the 40s and 50s.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 5:04 and sunrise is at 5:36. Sunset is at 20:04 and twilight ends at 20:36. There's a total of 14 hours, 28 minutes of sunlight and 15 hours, 32 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent with 40% visible at midnight and 46% visible at noon. Moonset is at 1:38 and moonrise is at 11:45. The moon will set at 2:05 on the 12th. Moonlight time is 13 hours, 53 minutes today. First quarter moon is Monday, May 12th at 8:47.

Mother's Day is in today and Memorial Day is in 15 days. One of my sisters, Maria, will be celebrating her 29th birthday in 5 days. I wish her happy birthday!

- Bernie-