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 32-year averages at 32 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. That high of 70 is the earliest 70s high ever in Chicago record-keeping. A decade later (two years ago), the high was 50 with a low of 36. 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. 23 of the last 32 highs (72%) were: 20s (12) and 30s (11). On the warmer side, six highs were in the: 40s (3), 50s (2), 60s (0) and 70s (1). On the cold side, three highs were in the 10s (a.k.a. teens). In the 52 year history of O'Hare, only four highs were 50 degrees or higher. This is only 8% of the years which is on average once every 13 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 4 degrees. In 1977 the high was 52 with a low of 34, a warm day. In 1976 the low was a warm 32. In 1974 the high was 36 with a cold low of 3, a 33 degree spread. In 1972 the high was 33 with a cold low of 3, a 30 degree spread. In 1971 the low was a warm 31 degrees. In 1968 the high was 20 with a low of 3, a cold day. In 1967 the high was 17 with a low of -1, another cold day. In 1964 the high was 39 with a low of 9, a 30 degree spread. In 1963 the high was 23 with a cold low of 5, a cold day.

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. Three years ago, in 2008, 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. In 1994 the high was 25 with a low of -1. Other cold lows were 5 in both 2003 and 2007. 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 occurred back in 1899. 20 of the last 32 lows (62%) were in the: 10s (a.k.a. teens) (10) and 20s (10). Even colder, nine lows were in the: negative 10s (1), negative single digits (4) and single digits (4). On the warmer side, three 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 17:20 and twilight ends at 17:49. There's a total of 10 hours, 25 minutes of daylight today and 11 hours, 23 minutes between twilights. We gained three minutes of daylight from yesterday. Tomorrow twilight begins at 6:25 and sunrise is at 6:54. The moon reaches first quarter this morning at 1:18. Illumination was 50% at midnight, will be 55% at noon and 60% at midnight tonight. Moonset is at 1:07 this morning. Moonrise is at 10:37 this morning. Moonset is at 2:08 tomorrow morning. Moonlight time is 14 hours, 30 minutes which is 23 minutes longer than yesterday.

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