May 25: ORD

Today is May 25th. It's the 146th day of the year. 220 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 51.
The 29-year averages are 68 and 48.

On the warm side, two years ago the high was 75 with the only 60s low of 64. In 1989 the high was 76 with a low of 58. In 1991 the high was 77 with a low of 55. In 1994 the high was 75 with a low of 57. What's interesting about the highs today is that all of the 80s highs of the last 29 years happened between 1980 to 1985. It was 82 in 1980, 80 in 1981 and 84 in 1985. The high in 1986 was 73 and in 2000 it was 76. Other warmer lows include 56 in 1984 and last year; 53 in 1990. 26 of the 29 highs have been in the 50s (7), 60s (10) and 70s (9). The record high of 94 was set in 1911 and the record warmest low of 72 was set in 1914. 1979 was the most tragic day in O'Hare's history. 273 people lost their lives when an American Airlines DC-10-10 crashed shortly after taking off. The engine which was attached to the left wing separated and fell onto the runway as the aircraft was gaining speed for takeoff. The aircraft landed adjacent to a mobile home park. It was a miracle that loss of life on the ground was not extensive. This year is the 29th anniversary of the crash.

On the cool side, the high in 1992 was 51 with the record low of 32. The high in 1988 was 59 with a low of 37. In 1983 the high was 59 with a low of 38. In 2002, the high was 57 with a low of 41. In 1997, the high was 54 with a low of 45. In 1996, the high was 56 with a low of 45. In 2001, the high was 59 with a low of 43. The low in 1979 was 43 and 44 in 1999. The record coolest high of 44 was set way back in 1893. 25 of the 29 lows have been in the 40s (12) and 50s (13).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:50 and sunrise is at 5:23. Sunset is at 20:18 and twilight ends at 20:51. There's a total of 14 hours, 55 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 1 minute between twilights. The moon is waning gibbous with 78% visible at midnight and 73% visible at noon. Moonrise is at 0:20 and moonset is at 9:54. Moonlight time is 9 hours, 34 minutes today. The moon is waning gibbous and will reach the last quarter on Tuesday at 21:57.

Memorial Day is tomorrow. Happy Memorial Day to everyone and especially to those who gave their lives, who are currently serving our country and those who have served. We enjoy our freedoms because of these brave souls. I can't thank you enough! My Dad turns 68 in 17 days. Happy Birthday Dad!

- Bernie -