August 7: ORD

Today is August 7th. It's the 220th day of the year. 146 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 Thursday, January 17, 1980.

According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the normal high is 83 and the normal low is 64. The 29-year averages are 84 and 64.

On the hot side, in 2001 the high was 95 with a low of 75. In 1979 the high was 93 with a low of 75. In 1996 the high was 91 with a low of 74. Other 90s highs were 94 in 1988, 92 in 1983, 91 (1980, 1987, last year) and 90 in 1984. Another warm low was 73 in 1995. The record high and record warmest low were both set back in 1918: 99 and 79 degrees. 11 highs have been in the 80s, nine in the 70s and nine in the 90s.

On the cool side, in 1989, the high was the only lower 70s high of 72 with a low of 52. In 1990 the high was 79 with the co-record low of 50. In 1993 the high was 76 with a low of 53. The other co-record low of 50 occurred in 1994. The record coolest high of 65 was set back in 1903. 11 lows have been in the 60s, nine have been in the 50s and nine have been in the 70s.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 5:22 and sunrise is at 5:53. Sunset is at 20:05 and twilight ends at 20:35. Twilight tomorrow is at 5:23 and sunrise is at 5:54. There's a total of 14 hours, 12 minutes of daylight today and 15 hours, 13 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent and will reach first quarter tomorrow at 15:20. Illumination was 35% at midnight, will be 40% at noon and 44% at midnight tonight. Moonrise is at 12:50 today and sets at 22:28. There's 9 hours, 58 minutes of moonlight today.

In 12 days, my tennis coach, Bob Finder, will be 76 years old. He is a testament that age has nothing to do with ability and performance. He is a master of the sport and is a shining example of the wealth of knowledge our elders can give us, provided we just take the time to listen. -Bernie-