JULY PRECIPITATION, ALTHOUGH SCATTERED, UP IN MANY AREAS

July precipitation is above normal in some portions of the area, but forecasters say that is not abnormal.

A National Weather Service forecaster in St. Louis said the weather has been fairly typical for July. "Normally we get about 3 inches in July," said meteorologist Todd Shay. "With the exception of the heat, we've been getting scattered thunderstorms."

Some areas have received more rain than others, but scattered rain in July is typical, Shay said.

Since July 1, more than 4 inches have fallen at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Monday's and Tuesday's rainfalls added 1.18 inches to the 3.67 already recorded in July there.

It is more than last year's July total, said local climatologist Al Robertson. In 1994 only 1.71 inches were reported.

"It's unusual," he said. "We get a little here and there and then we get a rush."

July amounts from both 1994 and 1993 were well below the normal amounts in July. Typical July rain is 3.13 inches.

Even the 1993 figure -- 2.93 inches -- was below the average.

"Toward the end of July it gets dry," Robertson said. "We had that a few weeks ago with the heat."