June 18: ORD

Today is June 18th. It's the 170th day of the year. 196 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 80 and the normal low is 59. The 29-year averages are 82 and 59.

On the hot side, in 1995 the high was 93 with a low of 71. A year earlier (1994) the high was 94 with a low of 68. Other 90s highs include 95 in 1987, 92 in 1988, 91 in 2001 and 90 in 2003. The high was 89 last year and in 1998. Other warm lows include 69 last year, 68 in 1996, 67 two years ago and 67 in 1984. The record high of 98 was set in 1954 and the record warmest low of 77 was set in 1921.

On the cool side, in 1982 the high was 64 with a low of 52. Another cool high was 66 in 1979. Cool lows include the record low of 45, set in 1999, 51 in 1986 and 52 in 1980. The record coolest high of 55 was set in 1950. 27 of the 29 lows so far have been in the 50s (15) and 60s (12).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:42 and sunrise is at 5:17. Sunset is at 20:33 and twilight ends at 21:07. There's a total of 15 hours, 16 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 25 minutes between twilights. The moon is full (the full Strawberry moon) with 100% visible at midnight and 100% visible at noon. Moonset is at 4:45 and moonrise is at 21:04. Moonlight time is 7 hours, 41 minutes today. The Summer Solstice is Friday at 18:59.

Independence day is in 16 days. -Bernie-