May 29: ORD

Today is May 29th. It's the 150th day of the year. 216 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 is 75 and the normal low is 52. The 29-year averages are 75 and 53.

On the warm side, two years ago the high was 91 degrees with a low of 68. In 1991 the high was 87 with the only 70s low and record warmest low of 71. In 1987 the high was 89 with a low of 66. In 1999 the high was 86 with a low of 65. In 1998 the high was 83 with a low of 64. In 1981 the high was 83 with a low of 63. Other 80s highs include 89 in 1988, 88 last year, 84 in 1994 and 83 in 2002. Another warm low was 63 in 1980. The record high of 95 was set in 1942. 21 of the past 29 highs have been in the 60s (10) and 80s (11).

On the cool side, 1984 saw the only 50s high of 57 with the record-tying low of 37 (it was also 37 in 1965). The high in 1996 was 60 with a low of 40. In 1993 the high was 61 with a low of 41. Other cool highs were 62 in both 1997 and 2001. Another cool low was 39 in 1992. The record coolest high was set way back in 1889 at 46 degrees. 26 of the 29 lows so far have been in the 40s (11), 50s (7) and 60s (8).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:47 and sunrise is at 5:21. Sunset is at 20:21 and twilight ends at 20:55. There's a total of 15 hours of sunlight and 16 hours, 8 minutes between twilights. The moon is waning crescent with 38% visible at midnight and 33% visible at noon. Moonrise was at 1:56 and moonset is at 14:26. Moonrise is at 2:18 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 12 hours, 30 minutes today. The moon reached the last quarter last Tuesday at 21:57.

My father turns 68 in 13 days. Happy Birthday Dad! Flag day is in 16 days and Father's Day is in 17 days. - Bernie -