THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, July 21, 1994                TAG: 9407210509
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines

AREA IN FOR MORE RAIN AS DEPRESSION ADVANCES FROM SOUTH

Rain is good. Really.

That in mind, folks should be ready for more of a good thing - a lot more - as the remnants of a tropical depression bring stormy weather to North Carolina and Virginia today.

The second tropical depression of the year came ashore Wednesday morning in South Carolina, packing 35 mph winds. At 5 p.m., the last advisory scheduled for the storm put its center just south of Florence, S.C. It was moving northwest at 8 mph and that motion was expected to continue through today.

Rain and clouds from the storm spread far from its center and swept over Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks on Wednesday.

The remnants of the depression ``will continue to bring showers and thunderstorms across the state with up to 3 to 5 inches possible over central and eastern North Carolina,'' said Kenneth R. Cook, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Raleigh.

Thunderstorms dumped up to 2 inches of rain in two hours in Martin County, N.C., on Wednesday.

Even as the storm dissipates, it will continue to spread over both states - especially the central and eastern sections - bringing showers and thunderstorms, some with heavy rain. The rains should begin to taper off tonight and Friday.

Any heavy downpours could bring brief, localized flooding - especially in areas where the ground is already soggy from almost daily thunderstorm rainfall.

Rainfall thus far in July in Hampton Roads is already twice as much as normal. So far, the National Weather Service office at Norfolk International Airport has measured 6.89 inches. Average rainfall to this point in July is 3.02 inches.

July's stormy weather has pushed annual rainfall to just over 30 inches, well ahead of the 24.66 inches usually recorded by mid-July.

Here's the Hampton Roads and vicinity forecast:

Today - Mostly cloudy, warm and humid with showers and thunderstorms likely. Thunderstorms could contain heavy downpours and gusty winds. High in the mid to upper 80s. Winds south 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Tonight - A 50 percent chance of evening showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly cloudy. Low in the mid 70s. South winds 10 mph.

Friday - Partly sunny, hot and humid with a 40 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms. High in the lower to mid 90s.

Saturday through Sunday - Partly cloudy, hot and humid with a good chance of mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Lows 70 to 75. Highs in the lower 90s.

KEYWORDS: STORMS WEATHER

by CNB