Dr. Andreadis said Tuesday that below-normal temperatures this month had prevented the eggs from hatching.

Many factors contributed to making 2003 a particularly bad-weather Open - heavy rainfall, high humidity, consistent cloud cover and below-normal temperatures.

"And below-normal temperatures have created extensive river ice which extends well into Virginia, a condition not observed for the past several years," he said.

"This is the 23d straight day of below-normal temperatures."

"This is the first summer with below-normal temperatures since 1986."

Meteorologists said the frigid and below-normal temperatures were likely to last for 7 to 10 more days.

Futures prices for natural gas soared 16 percent yesterday as traders became increasingly concerned about falling supplies and below-normal temperatures through much of the country.

Except for scattered areas, it predicted below-normal temperatures for the rest of the nation.

Three weeks of below-normal temperatures may have posed a hardship for many New Jerseyans, but it has proved beneficial to farmers, agricultural experts said yesterday.

In addition, forecasts for below-normal temperatures across much of the Eastern United States in coming days helped drive prices lower.