Today is Groundhog Day, and all eyes are on Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club brought out Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob to reveal this year’s weather forecast.
As per the information revealed by the club members alongside Phil, the groundhog saw his shadow this year, indicating another six weeks of winter. This marks the second consecutive year that Phil has seen his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter just like in 2021.
Interestingly, Phil’s forecast from last year was partially accurate. Despite being a groundhog with no understanding of meteorology, Phil’s prediction was somewhat close. The National Centers for Environmental Information, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, stated, “Last year, the contiguous United States experienced below-average temperatures in February and above-average temperatures in March. Phil’s forecast had a 50/50 accuracy.”
Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, anticipated six more weeks of winter during the 136th Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, PA. pic.twitter.com/Nn71VmfNXG
— The Hill (@thehill) February 2, 2022
Phil’s overall accuracy in weather predictions has been modest. The NCEI reported, “Historically, Phil has been correct 40% of the time over the past decade.”
Considering the recent announcement of a major winter storm on the east coast, Phil’s prediction for this year might be more accurate than usual.
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