May 17: ORD

Today is May 17th. It's the 138th day of the year. 228 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 70 and the normal low is 48.
The 29-year averages are 71 and 48.

On the warm side, in 2001 the high was 85 with a low of 62. In 1982 the high was 87 with a low of 56. Other mid and upper 80s highs include 89 in 1987, 88 in 1996, 86 in 1998 and 85 in 1984. Other mid 50s to lower 60s include 62 in 1999, 59 in 2004 and 56 in 1979. The record high of 94 was set in 1962 and the record warmest low of 70 was set in 1977.

On the cool side, in 2002 the record coolest high of 45 was established (broke former record of 46 in 1945), along with the record low of 36 (tied record set in 1973). In 1983 the high was 58 with a low of 37. In 1994 the high was 59 with a low of 39. Other cool highs were 56 in 1980 and 55 in 1981.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:57 and sunrise is at 5:30. Sunset is at 20:10 and twilight ends at 20:43. There's a total of 14 hours, 40 minutes of sunlight and 15 hours, 46 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing gibbous with 93% visible at midnight, 95% visible at noon and 97% visible at midnight tonight. Moonset is at 3:50 and moonrise is at 18:17. The moon will set at 4:14 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 9 hours, 33 minutes today. The moon will reach full (the full Flower moon) on Monday, May 19 at 21:11.

Memorial Day is in nine days.

- Bernie -