July 9: ORD

Today is July 9th. It's the 191st day of the year. 175 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 83 and the normal low is 63. The 29-year averages are 85 and 64.

On the hot side, in 1989 the high was 97 with a low of 71. In 1988 the high was 97 with a low of 68. Last year the high was 94 with a low of 70. In 1990 the high was 90 with a low of 72. In 1993 the high was 90 with a low of 72. Other hot highs include 95 in 1984, 93 in 1987, 91 in 1985 and 91 in 2001. Other warm lows include 72 in 2000 and 71 two years ago. The record high of 98 was set in 1974 and the record warmest low of 79 was set way back in 1897. 22 of the past 29 highs have been 80s (13) and 90s (9).

On the cool side, in 1997 the high was 69 with a low of 53. In 1996 the high was 69 (only 60s highs) with a low of 56. Other cool lows include 56 in 2005, 57 (1982 and 1986) and 59 in 1991. The record low of 50 and the record coolest high of 63 were both set way back in 1895. 17 of the 29 lows have been in the 60s.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 4:52 and sunrise is at 5:26. Sunset is at 20:31 and twilight ends at 21:05. There's a total of 15 hours, 5 minutes of sunlight and 16 hours, 13 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent with 41% visible at midnight and 46% visible at noon. Moonrise is at 12:55 and moonset is at 23:58. Moonlight time is 11 hours, 3 minutes today. The moon is approaching it's first quarter which will occur today at 23:35.

My mother will celebrate her 67th birthday tomorrow and my niece, Katy, will celebrate her 14th in nine days. Happy birthday to both of you! -Bernie-