June 25: ORD

Today is June 25th. It's the 177th day of the year. 189 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 1978 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 85 and 59.

On the hot side, in 1988 the high was the record high of 103 degrees with a low of 66. In 1998 the high was 95 with a low of 70. In 2003 the high was 92 with a low of 72. In 2002 the high was 88 with a low of 73. In 2005 the high was 91 with a low of 69. Other 90s highs were 94 in 1983 and 91 in 1989. Another warm low was 70 in 1997. The record warmest low is 76, set way back in 1890. 18 of the past 29 highs have been 80s.

On the cool side, in 1986 the high was 77 with the record low of 41. In 2004 the high was 72 with a low of 49. Other cool highs include 73 two years ago and 75 in 1996. Other cool lows include 44 in 1979 and 47 in 1992. The record coolest high is 56 degrees, set in 1928. 21 of the 29 lows have been in the 50s (9) and 60s (12).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:44 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, 24 minutes between twilights. The moon is waning gibbous with 64% visible at midnight and 58% visible at noon. Moonrise was at a minute past midnight and moonset is at 12:14. Moonrise will be at 21 minutes past midnight tonight. Moonlight time is 12 hours, 13 minutes today. The last quarter moon is Thursday at 7:10.

Independence day is in 9 days and my mother will celebrate her 67th birthday in 15 days. Happy birthday mom! -Bernie-