July 15: ORD

Today is July 15th. It's the 197th day of the year. 169 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 last year. Observations have been official at O'Hare since Thu. 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 84 and the normal low is 63. The 29-year averages are 86 and 65.

On the hot side, in 1980 the high was 98 with the record warmest low of 82. In 1995 the high was 98 with a low of 75. In 1988 the high was the record high of 102 with a low of 70. Two years ago the high was 97 with a low of 74. In 1983 the high was 92 with a low of 74. In 1979 the high was 92 with a low of 70. Other 90s highs include 91 (1986, 2002) and 90 in 1997. Other 70s lows include 70 in both 1998 and 2005. 16 of the past 29 highs have been 80s.

On the cool side, in 1987 the high was 70 with a low of 54. Other 70s highs include 72 in 1990, 75 in 1981 and 77 in 1992. Other 50s lows were 54 in 1991, 57 in 1985 and 59 (1993, 2001 and 2004). The record coolest high is 65, set back in 1903 and the record low of 52 occurred in 1967. 15 of the 29 lows so far have been 60s.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:57 and sunrise is at 5:31. Sunset is at 20:28 and twilight ends at 21:01. There's a total of 14 hours, 57 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 4 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing gibbous with 91% visible as I post this, 94% visible at noon and 96% visible at midnight tonight. The moon will set at 2:39 this morning. Moonrise is at 19:00 and moonset is at 3:33 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 7 hours, 39 minutes today. The moon will reach full (the full Buck moon) on Friday at 2:59.

My niece will celebrate her 14th in three days. Happy birthday Katy! Parent's Day is in 12 days. -Bernie-