February 3: ORD

Today is February 3rd. It's the 34th day of the year. 331 days remain. It's week 5 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 31 and the normal low is 16. The 31-year averages are 32 and 16.

On the warm side, in 1992 the high was the record high of 59 with a low of 27, a 32 degree spread. A year earlier, in 1991, the high was 50 with a low of 34. Eight years later, in 1999, the high was 46 with a low of 35. Four years after that, in 2003, the high was 45 with a low of 32. Three years after that, in 2006, the high was 44 with a low of 32. Other warm highs were 46 in 1993 and 44 in 2005. Other warm lows were 30 (1984, 1986) and 29 (1990, 2000). The record warmest low of 37 was set way back in 1890. 24 of the last 31 highs were: 20s (7), 30s (10) and 40s (7). On the warmer side, two highs were 50s. On the colder side, four highs were 10s (a.k.a. teens) and one was in the negative single digits. There have been no highs in the single digits.

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 31 with a low of 28, a three degree spread. In 1976 the high was 31 with a low of -5, a 36 degree spread. In 1973 the high was 42 with a low of 31, a warm day. In 1970 the high was 2 with a low of -6, a cold day. In 1967 the high was 26 with a low of 20, a six degree spread. In 1965 the high was 6 with a low of -9, a cold one. In 1963 the high was 15 with a low of -8, another cold one. In 1962 the high was 36 with a warm low of 29, a seven degree spread.

More recently, there were small spreads of four degrees in 1986 (34/30), six degrees in 1984 (36/30), six degrees in 1990 (35/29) and seven degrees two years ago (32/25).

On the cold side, in 1996 the high was the record coldest high of -5 with the record low of -19. In 1985 the high was 15 with a low of -12. Three years ago the high was 11 with a low of -6. In 1981 the high was 10 with a low of -5. In 1994 the high was 19 with a low of 1. Last year the high was 20 with a low of 1. Other cold lows were 2 in 1980 and 4 in 1989. 27 of the last 31 lows have been: single digits (6), 10s (a.k.a. teens)(6), 20s (9) and 30s (6). On the colder side, two lows were in the very cold negative 10s and two lows were in the negative single digits.

Today is a major day in Chicago's snow history. These happened just five years apart from each other a long time ago and both at the Auditorium Tower. In 1896, 11.0 inches fell and in 1901, 10.8 inches fell. Nearly identical amounts.

The following astronomical data is provided by the United States Naval Observatory. In Crystal Lake, twilight begins at 6:35 and sunrise is at 7:04. Sunset is at 17:10 and twilight ends at 17:40. Chicago's sunset/end of twilight times are 17:09 and 17:38. There's a total of 10 hours, 6 minutes of daylight today and 11 hours, 5 minutes between twilights. Tomorrow twilight begins at 6:34 and sunrise is at 7:03. The moon is waning gibbous and will reach last quarter in two days. Illumination was 78% at midnight, will be 73% at noon and 68% at midnight tonight. Moonset was at 9:05. Moonrise is at 23:07. Moonset is at 9:34 tomorrow. Moonlight time is 9 hours, 58 minutes which is 47 minutes shorter than yesterday.

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday is in nine days. Valentine's Day is in a 11 days. Susan B. Anthony Day is in 12 days. President's Day is in 13 days. -Bernie-