JUNE WAS THE FIFTH WARMEST IN 46 YEARS; JULY OUTLOOK: `COOLER' BUT CONTINUED DRY

The average monthly temperature during June was above the 46-year, long-term average for Cape Girardeau. It marked the fifth consecutive month that the average temperature was above the long-term average.

But the weather service says some relief may be in store this month, during what is normally the hottest period of the summer.

Al Robertson of the earth science department at Southeast Missouri State University reported the average temperature for June was 78.6 degrees, up 2.6 degrees from the long-term average of 76 degrees.

"That is the fifth warmest June in Cape in 46 years," said Robertson. "The warmest June ever was in 1952, with an average of 82.9 degrees. The second warmest June on record was in 1953, with an average of 81.7 degrees."

Robertson noted that every month this year, except January, has recorded above average monthly temperatures.

Robertson said daily highs in the upper 80s and low 90s, and overnight lows in the mid-to-upper 70s, with high humidities in June, helped make it a warmer-than-normal month.

"There were 10 days when the high was 90 or above, and on at least 15 days of the month, the overnight low was 70 or above. That, combined with the high humidity, made it feel very uncomfortable," he said.

Last month's high temperature, 99 degrees, came on the last day of June, and tied the record high for the date.

The coolest temperature last month was 57 degrees, on June 7.

Robertson said there was a consistent increase in each of the 10-day periods of the month. The average for June 1-10 was 77.2 degrees, up 3.4 degrees from the long-term average of 73.8 degrees. The average for June 11-20 was 78.6 degrees, up 2.7 degrees from the long-term average of 75.9 degrees. During the final 10 days, the average temperature was 80.1 degrees, up 2.3 degrees from the long-term average of 77.8 degrees.

Is global warming behind the warmer than normal weather this year? Robertson says no. "We're just in a warm cycle," he said. "The 1990s is supposed to be a warm decade. It's a cyclic aspect that occurs every 10 to 11 years."

Robertson said the warm-cool cycle can be traced back to the 1930s and the dust bowl days on the Great Plains. "Every decade with an odd number since then has been warmer than normal, including the 30s, 50s, 70s, and 90s," he said. "It is much more evident in the Plains states than here in the Mississippi River Valley."

Besides being warmer than usual, Robertson said last month was also the driest June in the Cape Girardeau area since 1988, when only .69 of an inch fell.

Rainfall at the airport last month totaled 1.05 inches, down 2.83 inches from the long-term average of 3.88 inches. That made it the 10th driest June here in 87 years. The driest June on record was in 1933, when only .22 of an inch fell.

For the first six months of the year, precipitation at the airport totaled 20.71 inches, compared to the long-term average of 23.86 inches.

"The airport total is down 3.15 inches for the year, but in Cape Girardeau and the northern part of Cape Girardeau County, we're actually well above the norm at this point," Robertson said, explaining that on days the airport received only small amounts of rainfall, heavier amounts fell in the downtown area, and in northern parts of the county.

"Rainfall was very spotty and sporadic during the month," he said. "Until the rain on Tuesday, it had not rained at the airport since June 22."

The long-term average temperature for July is 79.4 degrees. Last year's average was 79.5 degrees.

Robertson said that traditionally the hottest time of the year here is in mid-July. He said the average temperature for the first 10 days of the month is 79.1 degrees, peaking for the year at 79.7 degrees during the second 10-day period. During the final 10-day period, the average falls to 79.4 degrees.

Last July was highlighted by three consecutive days (July 8-10) of 100-degree temperatures. The highest day of the year was July 9, when the mercury hit 102 degrees. Other century readings that month included 100 degrees on July 4 and 8, and 101 degrees on July 10.

The low for the month was a pleasant 59 degrees, on July 15.

Rainfall during the month last year was 2.16 inches, down from the long-term average of 3.13 inches.

After five months of above normal temperatures, the National Weather Service says July may be cooler than normal, with a continuation of the dry weather.

But the temperature relief may be short-lived. The weather service's 90-day outlook indicates more hot and dry weather is expected in August and September.