Thursday, May 7, 2009

May 7: ORD

Today is May 7th. It's the 127th day of the year. 238 days remain. It's week 19 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. ORD has been the official site of record for Chicago since Thursday, January 17, 1980.


According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the normal high is 67 and the normal low is 44. I've calculated the 30-year averages at 67 and 46.


On the warm side, in 2000 the high was 77 with a low of 64. In 1979 the high was 81 with a low of 57. In 1993 the high was 78 with a low of 55. Other 80s highs were 84 in 1988 and 83 two years ago. Other mid 70s highs were 75 in 1990, 75 in 1995 and 73 in 1985. There were three other lows in the mid 50s: 55 in 1998, 53 in 1999 and 53 in 2001. The record high of 87 was set in 1964 and the record warmest low of 68 was set way back in 1880.
27 of the last 30 highs were: 50s (9), 60s (8) and 70s (10). On the warmer side, three highs were 80s.

In looking back through the years to the first May at O'Hare in 1959, the following instances were notable: In 1976 the high was 52 with a low of 33, a cool day. In 1974 the high was 54 with a low of 32, a cool day. In 1973 the high was 60 with a low of 53, a seven degree spread. In 1972 the high was 47 with a low of 42, a five degree spread. In 1970 the high was 78 with a low of 38, a 40 degree spread. In 1969 the high was 76 with a low of 58, a warm day. In 1966 the high was 73 with a low of 35, a 38 degree spread. In 1965 the high was 83 with a low of 61, a warm day. In 1964 the high was 85 with a low of 61, the year of the current record high (87 at Midway) and a warm day. In 1963 the high was 81 with a low of 49, a 32 degree spread and warm day. In 1960 the high was 51 with a low of 36, a cool day.

More recently, we had small spreads of four degrees in 1998 (59/55) and five degrees in 1999 (58/53). The large spreads were 44 degrees in 1988 (84/40), 37 degrees in 1992 (71/34), 36 degrees two years ago (83/47), 35 degrees in 1985 (73/38) and 34 degrees three years ago (71/37).

On the cool side, in 1989 the high was 57 with the record low of 29. Another cold low was 32 in 1981. Other cool highs were 53 in 1994 and 55 in 2004. The record coolest high of 43 occurred in 1931. 14 of the last 30 lows were 40s. Seven lows were in the colder: 20s (1) and 30s (6). Nine lows were in the warmer: 50s (8) and 60s (1).

Today is not a major day in Chicago's snow history. Stay tuned, for in four days we had what was our last snow event for the Spring.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 5:10 and sunrise is at 5:41. Sunset is at 20:00 and twilight ends at 20:31. Tomorrow twilight begins at 5:08 and sunrise is at 5:40. There's a total of 14 hours, 19 minutes of daylight today and 15 hours, 21 minutes between twilights. The moon is waxing gibbous, heading towards the full Flower moon tomorrow at 23:01. Illumination was 96% at midnight, will be 98% at noon and 99% at midnight tonight. Moon set was at 4:25. Moon rise is at 18:56 and moon set is at 4:53 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 9 hours, 29 minutes which is 43 minutes shorter than yesterday.

Mother's Day is in three days. Armed Forces Day is in nine days. A sister of mine, Maria, will celebrate a birthday in nine days. National Maritime Day is in 15 days. Memorial Day is in 18 days. -Bernie-

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