JUNE: FIRST HALF WETTER, COOLER

The first half of June was wetter and cooler than normal, but the National Weather Service says temperatures and precipitation for the 30 days through mid-July should average near normal for early summer.

Al Robertson, climatologist at Southeast Missouri State University, said the average temperature here the first 15 days of June was 72.4 degrees, 2.2 degrees below the long-term average of 74.6.

Precipitation at the airport the first half of June was 2.7 inches, compared to the long-term average of 1.95 inches.

The first half of June continued a pattern of unseasonably cool temperatures and wet weather that started in early spring. But the weather service says more typical summer weather may be in store as the first day of summer approaches on June 21.

In its 30-day outlook through mid-July for Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, the weather service predicts temperatures and precipitation will average at or slightly above seasonal normals.

The somewhat drier weather expected during the next 30 days will be welcome news to farmers who are either waiting for wet fields to dry or have planted crops in wet fields and now need lots of sunshine for crops to grow.

The drier weather also would allow the flood-swollen Mississippi River to drop below flood stage so the East Cape Girardeau-Clear Creek Levee District can reopen its drain gates under the levee.

The gates had to be closed last week when the Mississippi rose again. They had been closed for nearly two months.

The river here crested on Saturday at 33.6 feet. By Tuesday the river had fallen to 33.4 feet. It was at 32.2 feet on Wednesday, and was forecast to drop to 32.8 today before rising to 33.5 on Friday, then falling back to 32.3 feet on Saturday.

The weather service's 30-day outlook for the Mississippi here calls for the river to drop below flood stage, to 30.5 feet, by June 23; to 24.7 feet on June 30; 20.1 feet on July 7; and 17.3 feet on July 14. The predictions are based on the assumption that no additional significant precipitation will occur north of St. Louis.

Some who farm the land inside the East Cape Girardeau levee district have planted soybeans on high ground, but much of the area south of Route 146 remains underwater due to seep water and surface water.

The high water on the river has also prevented farmers from planting crops along the north side of the Diversion Channel and along the unprotected river bottoms on both sides of the river north and south of Cape Girardeau.

For many of these farmers, time is running out to get a crop in. It's already too late to plant corn, and the deadline to get soybeans in without a decrease in yield is getting close, agricultural officials say.