Think this month has been a bit wetter than usual? How right you are.

According to statistics compiled by the Charleston, W.Va., office of the National Weather Service, May 2003 is the second wettest May on record since records were first collected for this area in 1897.

"Through May 23, we've had 8.73 inches of rain," meteorologist Tom Mazza said. "Typical May precipitation is 4.41 inches. That's a good two-and-a-half times above normal." The wettest May on record was 9.26 inches in 1974.

April was also wetter than normal with this area collecting almost an inch more rain than it usually does.

The Tri-State has had 14.55 inches of rain since March 1. Normally, the Tri-State gets about 11.57 inches of rain during the spring months.

The long-range forecast calls for near-normal precipitation and temperatures through summer.