October 17: ORD

Today is October 17th. It's the 291st day of the year. 75 days remain. It's week 42 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 62 and the normal low is 42. The 29-year averages are 62 and 42.

On the warm side, in 1994 the high was 78 with a low of 61. In 1998 the high was 70 with the record warmest low of 63 (only 7 degrees between the high and low). In 1990 the high was 78 with a low of 51. Other warm highs were 75 in 2005 and 74 in both 1991 and 1995. Other pre-1979 warm days at O'Hare were in 1965 (82/62), 1964 (80/43), 1963 (76/57) and 1961 (78/53). The record high of 86 was set in 1950. An unusual pattern comprises the tally of high temperatures over the last 29 years. There were three highs in the 40s, 11 highs in the 50s, five highs in the 60s and ten highs in the 70s. Usually the two middle groups of highs (50s and 60s) would comprise most of the highs. So in this case the 60s are lagging behind.

The large spreads were 34 degrees in 2005 (75/41) and 30 degrees in 1985 (72/42). The small spreads were eight degrees in 1979 (60/52), 1989 (47/39) and two years ago (58/50).

On the cool side, in 1992 the high was 49 with a low of 28. In 2002 the high was 45 with a low of 36 (a 9 degree spread). In 2001 the high was 51 with a low of 33. In 1982 the high was 52 with a low of 32. Other cool highs were 47 in 1989 and 52 in both 1986 and 1999. Other cool lows were 31 degrees in both 2003 and 2004. The record low of 26 was set in 1948. The record coolest high of 40 was set way back in 1880. 23 of the 29 lows have been 30s (9) and 40s (14).

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 6:41 and sunrise is at 7:09. Sunset is at 18:08 and twilight ends at 18:36. Twilight begins tomorrow at 6:42 and sunrise is at 7:10. There's a total of 10 hours, 59 minutes of daylight today and 11 hours, 55 minutes between twilights. Chicago's sunrise and sunset times are three minutes earlier. The moon is waning gibbous and was full three days ago at 15:02 (the full Hunter's moon). Illumination was 92% at midnight, will be 88% at noon and 84% at midnight tonight. Moonset is at 10:50 this morning. Moonrise is at 19:45 tonight. Moonset is at 12:03 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 15 hours, 5 minutes today.

United Nations Day is in a week. My oldest sister, Mary Ann, will celebrate a birthday in nine days. Halloween is in two weeks. -Bernie-