June 26: ORD

Today is June 26th. It's the 178th day of the year. 188 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 82 and the normal low is 60. The 29-year averages are 84 and 61.

On the hot side, in 1983 the high was the record of 99 degrees with a low of 72. In 2005 the high was 93 with a low of 70. Last year the high was 92 with a low of 70. Other 90s highs include 92 in 1991, 92 in 1989, 91 in 1980 and 90 in 1986. Other warm lows include 70 in both 1998 and 2002. The record warmest low of 77 was set in 1931. 21 of the past 29 highs have been 70s (9) and 80s (12).

On the cool side, in 1982 the high was 69 with a low of 52. The other cool high was 71 two years ago. The record low of 50 was set in 1992. Another cool low was 52 in 2004. The record coolest high is 60 degrees, set way back in 1884. 24 of the 29 lows have been in the 50s (10) and 60s (14).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:44 and sunrise is at 5:19. Sunset is at 20:34 and twilight ends at 21:08. There's a total of 15 hours, 15 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 24 minutes between twilights. The moon is waning gibbous with 53% visible at midnight and 47% visible at noon. Moonrise was at 21 minutes past midnight and moonset is at 13:24. Moonrise will be at 44 minutes past midnight tonight. Moonlight time is 13 hours, 3 minutes today. The last quarter moon is today at 7:10.

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