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The unusually warm, late summer sun on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday made the hay and straw just a little bit more scratchy.

It made the show cattle a little bit more lazy, the cotton candy a bit more sticky, the grills and the fryers a bit more sultry and the brows of fair workers a bit more sweaty.

The four days were the hottest fair days in the last 10 years, and, depending on how high temperatures reach on Friday and today, the 2002 SEMO District Fair could go down as the hottest fair week in the last decade.

From 1993 to 2001, no high temperature during fair week reached 92 degrees. It happened four times this week. On Saturday and Sunday, the high was 92, and on Monday and Tuesday the mercury rose to 94. It was easily the hottest four-day span during the fair since 1993. Only once before, on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the 1994 fair, had the high reached 90 on two consecutive days.

Pete Poe, publicity coordinator for the fair association, said the heat has not driven attendance down, but he has noticed the crowds arriving later than normal. On Thursday, attendance was 8,800. On Friday, 14,560 came to the fair.

"One of the good things about the crowd coming late, is that the workers have an opportunity to do things at a slower pace and take more breaks so they don't get so hot," he said.

Temperatures were still warm Friday with a high of 88.

When asked if she noticed that this year's fair was hotter than most, Becky Rhodes -- working in the Buchheit home and farm supply tent -- replied, "Definitely on Tuesday. It was miserable Tuesday."

Darrell Underwood, who operates a pretzel and nacho stand, said the heat in his traveling kitchen was nearly unbearable.

"We have air conditioning, but I'm back there by the oven and trust me, you don't feel it," he said. "But when it's hot like it has been, we sell a lot more water and soda."

Mother Nature gave fair-goers and workers a break on Thursday as the high reached 83 degrees. The average high during the first five days of the fair was 91 degrees, 10 degrees above the average high during fair week since 1993. The average low for the first five days of the fair this year was 63.8, about seven degrees above the fair week average.

Since 1993, the average high during fair week has been 81.9 degrees, while the average low is 57.4. The fair now begins the Saturday following Labor Day and runs through the following Saturday. Prior to last year, the fair began on Sundays.

Rain on the way?

Kelly Hooper, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., said Friday he doesn't expect temperatures to get back to the mid-90s again this year, at least not for any extended period of time.

But he also said it might be a while before people can break out their flannels and sweaters.

He said highs will consistently reach the low to mid-80s with the lows in the 50s and 60s for at least a week.

Hooper said there is a moderate chance of rain for the afternoon today. If it doesn't rain, it will be only the second time in the last 10 years with a rain-free week during the fair, the last being in 1999.

Charlotte Schuette, who works at the fair admission gate, said she has noticed the absence of rain more than the increased heat.

"I like the sun," she said, adding that she has the refuge of the booth in case she needs a break in the shade. "It seems like it rains every year."

During the 67 fair days since 1993, Cape Girardeau has received at least a trace of rain 21 of those days.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127