June 24: ORD

Today is June 24th. It's the 176th day of the year. 190 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 November 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 81 and the normal low is 60. The 29-year averages are 83 and 60.

On the hot side, in 2005 the high was a near-record 96 degrees (record is 97, set in 1953). The low was a near-record warmest low of 76 (record is 77, set in 1923). In 1997 the high was 93 with a low of 75. In 1998 the high was 94 with a low of 71. Other hot highs were 94 in 1995, 92 in 1988, 92 in 2002, 92 in 2003, 91 in 1983 and 91 in 1987. Another warm low was 69 in 1993. 26 of the past 29 highs have been 70s (8), 80s (9) and 90s (9).

On the cool side, in 1986 the high was 61 with the record low of 46. In 1979 the high was 69 with a low of 49. Other cool highs include 69 in 1994 and 70 in 2004. Other cool lows include 49 in 1990, 50 in 2001, 51 in 1992 and 51 two years ago. The record coolest high stands at 59 degrees, set in 1917. 23 of the 29 lows have been in the 50s (11) and 60s (12).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:43 and sunrise is at 5:18. Sunset is at 20:34 and twilight ends at 21:08. There's a total of 15 hours, 16 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 25 minutes between twilights. The moon is waning gibbous with 73% visible at midnight and 68% visible at noon. Moonset is at 11:06 and moonrise is at a minute past midnight tomorrow. Moonlight time is 11 hours, 6 minutes today. The last quarter moon is Thursday at 7:10.

Independence day is in 10 days and my mother will celebrate her 67th birthday in 16 days. Happy birthday mom! -Bernie-