2013 goes down as eighth-coolest year

SIKESTON, Mo. -- This summer marked the eighth-coolest on record for Southeast Missouri, according to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

"As far as temperatures, we were below the normal average," said Mike York, a forecaster with the Weather Service.

The average high temperature for the region in June, July and August was 86.2, compared to summer's normal average high of 88.2, according to the Weather Service's seasonal climate report. The average low during the summer was 65.3 compared to the normal average of 65.8.

"That gave a seasonal average temperature of 75.7, and the normal average is 77.0," York said, adding that's 1.3 degrees below normal, which made it the fifth coolest average.

The record for the coolest seasonal average temperature is 74.1, which occurred in the summer of 2004, York said.

Throughout June, July and August, 29 days reached 90 degrees or higher -- eight fewer than the normal summer average of 37 days.

"Our highest temperature of 97 occurred on June 27, and the lowest was 51 on Aug. 15," York said of Southeast Missouri, adding the highest summer temperature recorded since 1960 is 107, which occurred in June 2012. "There's a stark contrast between this summer and last for sure," York said.

Rainfall was sporadic this summer, but when it did occur, measurable amounts were above normal this summer.

During the three months, a total of 12.06 inches of rain fell in Southeast Missouri, compared to the normal amount of 9.95 inches, York said. This made the wettest summer since 2009, when 10.20 inches of rain was measured, he said.

Although summer rainfall totals are well above the normal, it's been a while since the area has experienced a good rain.

"No measurable rainfall has been recorded yet in September [for the region]," York said. "There is a low chance -- about 20 percent -- of rain throughout the week."

Normally, about one-tenth of an inch of rain a day is the average for September, the forecaster said.

"On Friday or so, a front is expected to come through with a higher chance of rain, which right now is at 50 percent," York said. "That's the best shot at rain we've had in a while."