December 15-21, 2001:

The trend of above normal temperatures continued during the third week of December. For the 15th through the 21st, temperatures were generally 10°F or more above normal, except for a narrow ledge of the southern Midwest, which was only about 4°F above normal (Figure 13). Records were set in some places in the northwestern Midwest for the number of consecutive days above normal temperature in history, including at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (55 days above normal through December 21st). Precipitation for the week was light, with the important exception of a major storm system that traversed the Ohio Valley, dropping 2-4 inches of rain (Figure 14). While this band ended up receiving 300% or more of normal precipitation for the week, most of the region was well below normal in precipitation (Figure 15). Some places continued to extend records or set new records for latest date without measurable snow. Fort Wayne joined this group on December 18th, and the records are extending in several places through the end of the period due to the lack of snow during the week (Figure 16). On the 19th, a measurable snow did fall at Davenport (0.2 inches), ending their quest for a new record.