RAINS BATHE THE REGION... FINALLY

At the U.S. Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., meteorologist Christine Zagorski reported Saturday's rainfall total for Cape Girardeau at .76 inches at 4 p.m.

A few minutes later she asked, "Is it still raining there?" The numbers on her computer had jumped to .83 inches.

After a parched month in which the largest one-day rainfall total was one-tenth of an inch on July 20, Cape Girardeau and the surrounding region were bathed in gentle and steady rains Saturday. At 8 p.m. the day's total rainfall was 1.03 inches in Cape Girardeau.

Added to the .29 inches of rain on Friday, the two days produced 1.32 inches of precipitation, compared to .3 inches the previous 27 days of the month.

Farmers were especially grateful. Marvin Ludwig, former head of the Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau, said the rain came just in time. "Corn was getting almost beyond getting help from the rain. It was great for the soybean crop, especially for ones planted late," he said.

But Ludwig, who raises beef cattle, corn, beans, wheat and hay on his farm in Oak Ridge, said the rain -- only half an inch in Oak Ridge -- was "hardly enough."

"We're hoping the weather forecast is correct calling for showers the next couple of days."

"Keep it coming," he added.

No major sporting events were called off due to the rain. Sixty-five golfers teed off at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course in the third annual Parks Development Foundation Men's Individual Tournament. The tournament concludes with another round today despite forecasts for more rain.

"We'll play," said golf course manager Sabrina Tate.

The one-day total for Jackson was unavailable, but the city had accumulated 1.02 inches by 7 a.m. Saturday.

No flooding problems were reported.

Zagorski said a cold front associated with upper level lower pressure northwest of the region is causing the rainfall. "It should slowly move eastward and cause more showers and thunderstorms," she said.

The heat of the sun today will increase the instability in the atmosphere and the chance of thunderstorms associated with the cold front, she said. Today's high is forecast to be around 80, with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The chance of showers and thunderstorms will be 40 percent again on Monday, with the predicted high 80-85.

Heavier rains occurred in the southern part of the region Saturday. Bernie had 1.25 inches by 7 a.m. Advance reported .82 inches and Bloomfield, .76 inches.

Paducah and the rest of Western Kentucky saw the heaviest of the rain. The city's total was 4.26 inches at 8 p.m. Saturday. Some flooding had been reported and some roads had to be closed. "But everything else seeped into the ground," Zagorski said.

Near normal temperatures and precipitation amounts are forecast through the first week of August.