September 11: ORD

Today is September 11th. It's the 255th day of the year. 111 days remain. It's week 37 of the year.

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 75 and the normal low is 56. The 29-year averages are 78 and 56.

On the hot side, in 2005 the high was 90 with a low of 69. In 1979 the high was 87 with a low of 65. In 1982 the high was 88 with a low of 64. In 2000 the high was 87 with a low of 63. The other hot highs were 87 in both 1988 and 1994. The record high of 95 was set in 1952 and the record warmest low of 73 was set in 1961. 24 of the 29 highs have been in the 70s (12) and 80s (12). In 1999 there was a 35 degree difference between the high of 81 and low of 46.

On the cool side, in 1993 the high was 69 with the record low of 42. In 1992 the high was 68 with a low of 47. In 1985 the high was 67 with a low of 49. The other cool high was 67 two years ago. The other cool lows were 45 in 1995 and 46 in 1999. The record coolest high of 61 was set in 1940. 24 of the 29 lows have been 50s (14) and 60s (10).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 6:01 and sunrise is at 6:30. Sunset is at 19:09 and twilight ends at 19:37. Twilight begins tomorrow at 6:02 and sunrise is at 6:31. There's a total of 12 hours, 39 minutes of daylight today and 13 hours, 36 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing gibbous. Illumination was 82% at midnight, will be 86% at noon and 89% at midnight tonight. Moonrise is at 17:25 and moonset is at 3:22 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 8 hours, 50 minutes today.

Patriot Day is today. The day is designated in memory of the nearly three thousand who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. A moment of silence beginning at 7:46 AM Central Time is observed marking the first plane crash into the World Trade Center complex.

My eldest sister Mary Ann, and her husband, William, will be celebrating their sixth wedding annniversary in two days. Another sister, Maria, and her huband Buddy will be celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary in three days. Both couples currently reside in Tampa, home to those amazing Rays.

Constitution Day, also known as Citizenship day, is in six days. This is a newer holiday, having been enacted by Congress just four years ago. The website "www.patriotism.org" says that Constitution Day is "a birthday for our country and it serves as a means for American citizens to express their pride in their citizenship. Constitution Day also designates a time to honor the Constitution of America and learn more about the famous piece of legislation." -Bernie-