May 31: ORD

Today is May 31st. It's the 152nd day of the year. 214 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 75 and the normal low is 53. The 29-year averages are 76 and 54.

On the hot side, in 1991 the high was 89 with a low of 67. In 1988 we had our only 90s high of 92 with a low of 61. In 2002 the high was 86 with a low of 67. In 1987 the high was 88 with a low of 64. In 1989 the high was 84 with low of 67. In 1986 the high was 87 with a low of 63. Note that 5 of the 6 hot days of the past 29 years have been from 1986 to 1991. Other warm highs include 86 in 1994 and 84 in 1995. Other warm lows include 64 in 1999 and 65 the past two years. There have been 13 highs in the 70s (the largest category over the last 29 years)

On the cool side, in 2003 the high was 58 with a low of 38. In 1993 the high was 65 with a low of 39 (only 30s low). Other cool highs include 59 in 1983 and 62 in 2001. Other cool lows include 40 in 1990, 41 in 1981 and 41 in 1996. 27 of the 29 lows so far have been in the 40s (8), 50s (8) and 60s (11).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:46 and sunrise is at 5:20. Sunset is at 20:23 and twilight ends at 20:57. There's a total of 15 hours, 3 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 11 minutes between twilights. The moon is waning crescent with 18% visible at midnight and 14% visible at noon. Moonrise was at 2:43 and moonset is at 16:57. Moonrise is at 3:13 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 14 hours, 14 minutes today. The moon will reach new next Tuesday at 14:23.

My father turns 68 in 11 days. Happy Birthday Dad! Flag day is in 14 days and Father's Day is in 15 days. - Bernie -