June 6: ORD

Today is June 6th. It's the 158th day of the year. 208 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 77 and the normal low is 55. The 29-year averages are 78 and 54.

On the hot side, 1999 had a high of 91 with a low of 69. In 1988 the high was 91 with a low of 64. In 1984 the high was 89 with a low of 66. In 2005 the high was 89 with a low of 66. Other hot highs include 90 in 1979, 90 in 1994 and 88 in 1995. Another warm low was 64 degrees in 1980. The record high of 97 was set in 1971 and the record warmest low of 77 was set in 1925. 25 of the 29 highs so far have been in the 60s (6), 70s (8) and 80s (11).

On the cool side, in 1998 the high was 64 with a low of 43. In 1985 the high was 69 with the record low (and only 30s low) of 39. Another cool high was 62 in 2001. Other cool lows include 40 in 1982, 45 in 2000 and 44 last year. The record coolest high of 50 was set way back in 1894. Thus far 14 lows have been in the 50s.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:43 and sunrise is at 5:17. Sunset is at 20:27 and twilight ends at 21:01. There's a total of 15 hours, 10 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 18 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent with 9% visible at midnight and 12% visible at noon. Moonrise is at 8:09 and moonset is at 22:35. Moonlight time is 15 hours, 26 minutes today. The moon reached New three days ago @ 14:23.

My father turns 68 in five days. Happy Birthday Dad! Flag day is in eight days and Father's Day is in nine days. - Bernie -