May 24: ORD

Today is May 24th. It's the 145th day of the year. 221 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 73 and the normal low is 50.
The 29-year averages are 70 and 50.

On the warm side, in 1991 the high was 85 with the record warmest low of 68 (former record was 67 in 1933). In 1989 the high was 86 with a low of 65. Last year the high was 88 with a low of 63. Other 80s highs were 84 in 1997, 80 in 2000 and 80 two years ago. The record high of 93 was originally set in 1921 and tied in 1950.

On the cool side, in 1992 the only 40s high of 46 was coupled with the only 30s low (and record low) of 34. There were slightly warmer lows of 40 in 1979 and 42 in 2001. The record coolest high of 44 was set in 1925. 25 of the last 29 lows have been in the 40s (16) and 50s (9).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:51 and sunrise is at 5:24. Sunset is at 20:17 and twilight ends at 20:50. There's a total of 14 hours, 53 minutes of sunlight and 15 hours, 59 minutes between twilights. The moon is waning gibbous with 85% visible at midnight and 81% visible at noon. Moonset is at 8:48 and moonrise is at 0:20 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 8 hours, 48 minutes today. The moon is waning gibbous and will reach the last quarter on Tuesday at 21:57.

Memorial Day is in two days.
My Dad turns 68 in 18 days. Happy Birthday Dad!

- Bernie -