September 13: ORD

Today is September 13th. It's the 257th day of the year. 109 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 55. The 29-year averages are 77 and 57.

On the hot side, in 2005 the high was 94 with a low of 71. In 1994 the high was 88 with a low of 66. Another hot high was 90 in 1998. Other warm lows were 70 in 1982, 68 (1993,2003) and 67 in 1980. The record high of 98 was set in 1939 and the record warmest low of 75 was set in 1927. 27 of the 29 highs have been 60s (7), 70s (10) and 80s (10).

Big differences between the high and low were 33 degrees in 1998 (90/57) and 32 degrees in 2000 (79/47). A small difference between the high and low occurred two years ago (65/60).

On the cool side, in 1985 the high was 64 with a low of 42. In 1996 the high was 64 with a low of 48. In 1989 the high was 60 with a low of 53. In 1983 the high was 67 with a low of 48. The other cool highs were 65 two years ago, 66 in 1999 and 68 in 2001. The other cool lows were 47 in 2000 and 48 in 1987. The record low of 39 was set way back in 1890 and the record coolest high of 55 was set way back in 1880. 22 of the 29 lows have been 50s (11) and 60s (11).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 6:03 and sunrise is at 6:32. Sunset is at 19:06 and twilight ends at 19:34. Twilight begins tomorrow at 6:05 and sunrise is at 6:33. There's a total of 12 hours, 34 minutes of daylight today and 13 hours, 31 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing gibbous and will reach full Harvest moon stage Monday at 4:13. Illumination was 95% at midnight, will be 97% at noon and 98% at midnight tonight. Moonset is at 4:31 this morning. Moonrise is at 18:14 and moonset is at 5:40 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 10 hours, 17 minutes today.

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

Constitution Day, also known as Citizenship day, is in four 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-