February 11: ORD

Today is February 11th. It's the 42nd day of the year. 323 days remain. It's week 6 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 33 and the normal low is 18. I've calculated the 30-year averages at 31 and 15.

On the warm side, in 1999 the high was the record high of 70 with a low of 28, a 42 degree spread. A year earlier, in 1998, the high was 45 with a low of 37. In 1984 the high was 45 with a low of 35. Three years later, in 1987, the high was 53 with a low of 26. The record warmest low of 43 was set back in 1915. 22 of the last 30 highs were: 20s (12) and 30s (10). On the warmer side, five highs were: 40s (3), 50s (1), 60s (0) and 70s (1). On the colder side, three highs were 10s (a.k.a. teens).

In looking back through the years to the first February at O'Hare in 1959, the following instances were notable: In 1977 the high was 52 with a low of 34, a bonus 50s day. In 1974 the high was 36 with a low of 3, a 33 degree spread. In 1972 the high was 33 with a low of 3, a 30 degree spread. In 1967 the high was 17 with a low of -1, a cold day. In 1964 the high was 39 with a low of 9, a 30 degree spread.

More recently, there were small spreads of four degrees in 1985 (27/23) and five degrees in 1997 (26/21).

On the cold side, in 1981 the high was 10 with a low of -11. Last year the high was 15 with a low of -3. In 1995 the high was 14 with a low of -1. In 1986 the high was 20 with a low of -1. Four years earlier, in 1982, the high was 20 with a low of 1. A dozen years later, in 1994, the high was 25 with a low of -1. Other cold lows were 5 in both 2003 and 2007 (two years ago). Other cold highs were 20 in 1979 and 21 in 1980. The record low of -14 was set way back in 1885 and record coldest high of 1 was set way back in 1899. 19 of the last 30 lows have been: 10s (a.k.a. teens) (9) and 20s (10). Even colder, nine lows have been: negative 10s (1), negative single digits (4) and single digits (4). On the warmer side, two lows were in the 30s.

Today is a major day in Chicago's snow history. In 1981, 1.5 inches fell. This was the third day of a three day, 11.6 inch storm. This storm comprised 73% of the month's total. In 1988, 4.3 inches fell. This was the second day of a two day, 9.1 inch storm.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 6:26 and sunrise is at 6:55. Sunset is at 17:21 and twilight ends at 17:50. Chicago's sunset/end of twilight times are 17:19 and 17:48. There's a total of 10 hours, 26 minutes of daylight today and 11 hours, 24 minutes between twilights. Tomorrow twilight begins at 6:24 and sunrise is at 6:53. The moon is waning gibbous. Illumination was 96% at midnight, will be 94% at noon and 91% at midnight tonight. Moonset is at 7:44. Moonrise is at 20:13. Moonset is at 8:07 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 11 hours, 31 minutes which is 49 minutes shorter than yesterday.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday is tomorrow. Valentine's Day is in three days. The Daytona 500 is in four days. President's Day is in five days. -Bernie-