51.   Wrightsville Beach, which meteorologists said was at the center of the hurricane eye, escaped with scarcely a scratch, relatively speaking.

52.   Rain had stopped by mid-day Wednesday and meteorologists said the weather would continue to improve.

53.   Rainfall in soybean-growing areas of Argentina was heavier than expected, and meteorologists said the wet weather will spill over into Brazil today and Tuesday.

54.   After that, meteorologists said there is a possibility of a La Nina weather pattern which brings torrential rains in the fourth quarter.

55.   But federal meteorologists say none fell at their monitoring station and officials have refused to commit themselves to broader use of the system.

56.   But meteorologists say it is too early to say for certain whether the El Nino will continue to develop.

57.   But meteorologists said the hurricane was likely to pass well north of the islands.

58.   But meteorologists say El Nino, an abnormal weather pattern over the Pacific Ocean, has delayed the downpour.

59.   Bykov estimated the damages in the millions of dollars, although final figures have not been calculated because meteorologists said Thursday the windstorms may not be over.

60.   City meteorologists said Yekaterinburg has never experienced such a sustained period of hot, windless weather, ITAR-Tass reported.