In Gobbler’s Knob, PA, at the crack of dawn on February 2nd, 2021, the nation’s most famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow — meaning six more weeks of winter, according to longstanding folklore.
The annual event has its origin in a German legend that says if a furry rodent casts a shadow on Feb. 2, winter continues. If not, spring comes early – Oregon Live
How accurate was Phil’s 2020 ‘forecast’?
Last year, Phil “predicted” a shorter winter and early spring when official observers declared he did not see his shadow.
But in fact, the contiguous United States saw above-average temperatures for both February and March 2020, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information:
- The average contiguous U.S. temperature during February was 36.2°F, 2.3°F above the 20th-century average. This ranked among the warmest one-third of the 126-year period of record.
- For March, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 46.1°F, 4.6°F above the 20th-century average. It was the 10th-warmest March in the 126-year period of record.
Find out about how different parts of the country fared last year.
What does the long-term scorecard show?
As Phil surely knows, accurate seasonal forecasting is hard work.
- See how the groundhog has scored against the U.S. temperature record — and download the fun infographic shown above.
- Visit Punxsutawney Phil’s official website for more about this yearly ritual.
