Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 18, 1993                   TAG: 9308180132
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

WHAT A WEATHER MONTH IT WAS

It was July 1993.

Last month set records for extremes of temperature and rainfall. But whether you were hot, cold, wet or dry, depended on where you lived.

It was the wettest July ever for the West North Central states, which averaged 4.85 inches of rain during the month. Average July rain for the area is 2.02 inches.

It was the second wettest July in the 99 years of record-keeping for the East North Central states with an average of 5.86 inches of rain. Only 1902 was wetter, averaging 5.95 inches. Normal is 3.61 inches.

On the other hand, it was the driest July on record in the Southwest, which averaged 0.73 inches, well below the normal 1.83 inches.

In the Southeast, the average of 3.34 inches of rain made it the second driest July. Only July 1983 had less rain, 2.94 inches. Normal is 5.56 inches.

July also was a hot and cold month.

As sweltering farmers and city residents can attest, it was the hottest July on record in the Southeast, averaging 82.7 degrees over the region where the normal July average is 78.6. It took a lot of readings in the 100-degree plus range to pull that average up.

In the Northwest, though, it was the coolest July on record with an average of just 58.9 degrees, well below the normal of 65.9.

And it was the second coolest July in the West at 70.5, compared with the 73.8 normal. Only July 1903 was cooler, averaging 69 degrees.