June 8: ORD

Today is June 8th. It's the 160th day of the year. 206 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 78 and the normal low is 55. The 29-year averages are 79 and 56.

On the hot side, in 2004 the high was 91 with a low of 74. In 1999 the high was 92 with a low of 68. In 1984 the high was 86 with a low of 71. In 1985 the high was 95 with a low of 62. In 2000 the high was 89 with a low of 66. In 2005 the high was 89 with a low of 66. Other 90s highs were 93 in 1979 and 91 in 1987. Other warm lows were 63 in both 1989 and 1993. Both records occurred in 1933: the record high of 97 along with the record warmest low of 77.

On the cool side, in 1996 the high was 61 with a low of 45. In 1995 we had our only 50s high of 58 with a low of 49. Other cool highs were 63 in 1994 and 66 in 1980. Other cool lows were 43 in both 1983 and 1998. 27 of the 29 lows so far have been in the 40s (9), 50s (9) and 60s (9). The only exceptions were in 1984 and 2004 (see 'On the hot side'). The record low of 42 was set way back in 1885 and the record coolest high of 51 was set in 1913.

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 20:28 and twilight ends at 21:03. There's a total of 15 hours, 11 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 20 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent with 26% visible at midnight and 31% visible at noon. Moonset is at 0:06 and moonrise is at 10:41. Moonlight time is 13 hours, 25 minutes today. The moon will reach first quarter on Tuesday at 10:04.

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