June 4: ORD

Today is June 4th. It's the 156th day of the year. 210 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 76 and the normal low is 53. The 29-year averages are 72 and 50.

On the warm side, 1979 had a high of 87 with a low of 63. In 2005 the high was 86 with a low of 57. Other 80s highs include 84 in 1984, 82 in 1986 and 80 in 1994. Other warm lows include 60 in 1992 and 59 in 2002. The record high of 97 was set in 1977 and the record warmest low of 75 was set in 1925. 14 of the 29 highs so far have been in the 70s.

On the cool side, in 1993 the high was 53 with a low of 44. In 2001 the high was 55 with a low of 46. In 1982 the high was 61 with a low of 43. In 1990 the high was 61 with a low of 44. Other cool highs include 62 in 1996 and 61 in 2000. Other cool lows include 43 in 1994, 44 in 1985, 44 in 2004, 45 in 1988 and 45 in 1997. The record low of 35 was set in 1945 and the record coolest high of 47 was set way back in 1891. 27 of the 29 lows thus far have been in the 40s (12) and 50s (15).

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 20:26 and twilight ends at 21:00. There's a total of 15 hours, 8 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 16 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent with 0% visible at midnight and 2% visible at noon. Moonrise is at 5:38 and moonset is at 22:03. Moonlight time is 16 hours, 25 minutes today. The moon reached New yesterday at 14:23.

My father turns 68 in seven days. Happy Birthday Dad! Flag day is in ten days and Father's Day is in 11 days. - Bernie -