May 14: ORD

Today is May 14th. It's the 135th day of the year. 231 days remain.

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 69 and the normal low is 47.
The 29-year averages are 69 and 47.

On the warm side, in 1982 the record high of 92 was established with a low of 60. In 1991 the high was 87 with a low of 60. Last year the high was 90 with a low of 56. In 1985 the high was 86 with a low of 54. In 1987 the high was 84 with a low of 54. Other 80s highs were 84 in 1998, 81 in 1988 and 80 in 1993. Other mid 50s lows were 55 in 1986 and 54 in 1995. The record warmest low is 68 which was set in 1962.

On the cool side, in 1981 we had a high of 50 with a low of 45. In 1996 the high was 57 with a low of 38. Other highs in the mid 50s include 55 in 1997 and 56 in 2006. Other 30s lows include 36 in 1984 and 39 in 1988. The record low of 32 was set way back in 1895 and the record coolest high was 40 the same year (1895).

1988 was quite a day. The high was 81 and low was 39 (a 42-degree difference between the high and low!).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 5:01 and sunrise is at 5:33. Sunset is at 20:07 and twilight ends at 20:39. There's a total of 14 hours, 34 minutes of sunlight and 15 hours, 38 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing gibbous with 71% visible at midnight, 76% visible at noon and 80% visible at midnight tonight. Moonset is at 2:49 and moonrise is at 15:07. The moon will set at 3:08 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 11 hours, 42 minutes today. The moon passed first quarter two days ago at 8:47.

Memorial Day is in 12 days. One of my sisters, Maria, will be celebrating her 29th birthday in 2 days. I wish her happy birthday!

- Bernie -