August 31: ORD

Today is August 31st. It's the 244th day of the year. 122 days remain. Week 36 begins.

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 Thursday, January 17, 1980.

According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the normal high is 78 and the normal low is 59. The 29-year averages are 80 and 59.

On the hot side, in 2000 the high was the only 90s high for the date of 92 with a low of 68. In 1980 the high was 85 with the only 70s low of 71. In 1995 the high was 87 with a low of 68. For 15 straight years (1980-1994) there were no upper 80s highs (or warmer). Another warm low was 68 in 1981. The record high of 99 was set in 1953 and the record warmest low of 76 was set in 1941. 28 of the 29 highs have been in the 70s (13) and 80s (15).

On the cool side, in 1994 the high was 71 with a low of 52. In 1987 the high was 72 with a low of 52. Another cool high was 70 degrees in 2003. Other cool lows were 51 in 1984 and 52 (1985, 1992, 1999). The record low of 47 was set way back in 1872 and the record coolest high of 62 was set way back in 1892. 28 of the 29 lows have been 50s (14) and 60s (14).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 5:49 and sunrise is at 6:18. Sunset is at 19:28 and twilight ends at 19:57. Twilight begins tomorrow at 5:50 and sunrise is at 6:19. There's a total of 13 hours, 10 minutes of daylight today and 14 hours, 8 minutes between twilights. The moon was new yesterday at 14:58. Illumination was 0% at midnight, will be 1% at noon and 2% at midnight tonight. Although you won't see it, moonrise is at 7:12 and moonset is at 19:42. Moonrise is at 8:20 tomorrow morning. Moonlight time is 12 hours, 30 minutes today.

Labor Day is in tomorrow. Grandparent's Day is in seven days and Patriot's Day is in 11 days. -Bernie-