November 1: ORD

Today is November 1st. It's the 306th day of the year. 60 days remain. It's week 44 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 55 and the normal low is 36. The 30-year averages are 57 and 40.

On the warm side, in 2000 the high was 73 with a low of 53. A year later in 2001 the high was 66 with a low of 58. In 1990 the high was 73 with a low of 48. In 1982 the high was 67 with a low of 51. In 1999 the high was 73 with a low of 45. Another warm high was 67 in 1984. Other warm lows were 51 (1985, 1988), 49 (1981, 1995), 48 in 2004 and 47 in 1987. The record high of 81 was set in 1950. The record warmest low of 60 was set in 1933. 26 of the 30 highs have been 40s (7), 50s (11) and 60s (8). One high was in the 30s (38 in 1996) and three highs have reached into the 70s (see 2000 above for the most recent).

In looking back through the years to the first November at O'Hare in 1958, the following instances were notable. In 1977 the high was 61 with a low of 58 (a three degree spread). In 1975 the high was 59 with a low of 52 (a seven degree spread). In 1974 the high was 74 with a low of 54. In 1972 the high was 51 with a low of 45 (a six degree spread). In 1971 the high was 70 with a low of 35 (a 35 degree spread). In 1969 the high was 50 with a low of 44 (a six degree spread).

More recently, the large spread occurred in 1984 as the high was 67 with a low of 26 (a 41 degree spread). 1984 was also a dual day, meaning that both the high and low are worthy of mention as both a warmest and coolest temperature. In 2004 the spread was three degrees (51/48). In 2003 the spread was four degrees (49/45). In 1998 the spread was five degrees (56/51). In 1992 the spread was six degrees (48/42) and in 1985 the spread was seven degrees (58/51).

On the cool side, in 1996 the high was 38 with a low of 25. In 2002 the high was 40 with a low of 25. Two years ago the high was 42 with a low of 27. In 1993 the high was 46 with a low of 23. Other cool lows were 26 in 1984 and 29 in 1980 . The record low of 21 was set way back in 1879 and the record coolest high of 35 was set in 1954. Six lows have been in the 20s. Nine lows have been in the 30s. Ten lows have been in the 40s. Five lows have been in the 50s.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 6:58 and sunrise is at 7:27. Sunset is at 17:46 and twilight ends at 18:15. Twilight begins tomorrow at 5:59 and sunrise is at 6:28. There's a total of 10 hours, 19 minutes of daylight today and 11 hours, 17 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing crescent. Illumination was 10% at midnight, will be 13% at noon and 16% at midnight tonight. Moonrise is at 11:18 this morning. Moonset is at 19:52 tonight. Moonlight time is 8 hours, 34 minutes today.

Standard time resumes tomorrow. Election day is in three days. Veteran's Day is in ten days. My sister-in-law celebrates a birthday in 13 days. -Bernie-