September 26-30, 2001:

The period of September 26-30 was very quiet. No synoptic scale system passed through the region during this time. A sluggish upper level low held position over the eastern Great Lakes for the first 3 days of the period, and then a high pressure center dominated the remaining days. Most states received no precipitation, and only far eastern Michigan received an inch or more (Figure 23). Deficits for the week were more than 0.5 inches in much of the Midwest (Figure 24). Due to the very cold initial days in the period, the mean temperature for the period was 4-10°F below normal in much of the region, except on its northwestern edge (Figure 25). Jackson, London, and Paducah, KY, set new low temperature records on the morning of the 26th, while Bowling Green, Louisville, and Lexington KY, and Indianapolis, IN, tied their minimum temperature records that day. Under the clouds of the upper level low, Grand Rapids and Lansing, MI, set new record low maximum temperatures. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map indicated that only Michigan was still in abnormally dry condition at the beginning of the period (Figure 26, National Drought Mitigation Center), and this was the only location receiving considerable precipitation for the five days. Parts of western Iowa, southern Missouri, Kentucky, and parts of eastern Minnesota are all drying somewhat; the states of Missouri (41%) and Kentucky (40%) have the most topsoil classified as short/very short of moisture. However, at this time of year, dry conditions would be quite beneficial for harvesting and other field work.