February 10: ORD

Today is February 10th. It's the 41st day of the year. 324 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 32-year averages at 32 and 17.

On the warm side, two years ago, in 2009, the high was 61 with a low of 41. In 1996 the high was 53 with a low of 36. Three years later, in 1999, the high was 60 with a low of 28, a 32 degree spread. These two highs in the 60s are the only 60s highs O'Hare has seen in it's history on this date. A year earlier, in 1998, the high was 48 with a low of 30 (our most recent 30s low). Other warm highs were 46 in both 1987 and 2002 (our most recent 40s high). Other warm lows were 35 in 1984 and 33 in 1993. The record high of 63 was set way back in 1876. The record warmest low of 43 was set way back in 1886. 19 of the last 32 highs (59%) were in the: 20s (9) and 30s (10). On the warmer side, eight highs (25%) were in the: 40s (5), 50s (1) and 60s (2). On the cold side, five highs (16%) were in the: single digits (1) and 10s (a.k.a. teens) (4). Highs in the 50s or 60s have happened only six times in O'Hare's 52-year history on this date. This represents only 12% or about one every 8 and two-thirds years.

In looking back through the years to the first February at O'Hare in 1959, the following instances were notable: In 1978 the low was a cold 5 degrees. In 1977 the high was a warm 47 with a low of 28, a warm day. In 1976 the high was 58 with a low of 39, a warm day. In 1975 the high was 22 with a cold low of -2, a cold day. In 1972 the high was a cold 21. In 1968 the high was 15 with a low of 2, a cold day. In 1966 the high was 53 with a low of 31, a warm day. In 1965 the high was a warm 52 with a low of 25, yet another warm day. In 1962 the high was 24 with a low of 17, a seven degree spread.

More recently, there were small spreads of four degrees in 1983 (30/26), four degrees in 1984 (39/35), five degrees in 1993 (38/33) and six degrees in 1997 (30/24).

On the cold side, in 1982 the high was 5 with a low of -12. Three years ago, in 2008, the high was 16 with a low of -4. The year prior, 2007, saw a high of 13 with a low of -1. In 1979 the high was 12 with a low of 0. In 1994 the high was 21 with a low of -8. In 1986 the high was 18 with a low of -2. In 1980 the high was 21 with a low of 4. Another cold low was 6 in 1989. Other cold highs were 20 in both 1988 and 2001. The record low of -18 and record coldest high of -1 were set on the same day way back in 1899. 12 of the last 32 lows (37%) were in the 20s. Even colder, 15 lows (47%) were in the: negative 10s (1), negative single digits (4), single digits (5) and 10s (a.k.a. teens) (5). On the warmer side, five lows (16%) were in the: 30s (4) and 40s (1).

Today is a major day in Chicago's snow history. In 1981, 9.7 inches fell. This was the second day of a three day, 11.6 inch storm. This storm comprised 73% of the month's total. In 1988, 4.8 inches fell. This was the first 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 6:27 and sunrise is at 6:57. Sunset is at 17:19 and twilight ends at 17:48. There's a total of 10 hours, 22 minutes of daylight today and 11 hours, 21 minutes between twilights. We gained two minutes of daylight from yesterday. Tomorrow twilight begins at 6:26 and sunrise is at 6:55. The moon is waxing crescent, heading towards the first quarter tomorrow morning at 1:18. Illumination was 40% at midnight, will be 45% at noon and 50% at midnight tonight. Moonset was at six minutes past midnight. Moonrise is at 9:59 this morning. Moonset is at 1:07 tomorrow morning. Moonlight time is 14 hours, 7 minutes which is 25 minutes shorter than yesterday.

Lincoln's Birthday is in two days. Valentine's Day is in four days. Susan B. Anthony Day is in five days. -Bernie-