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Every February 2 at around 7:15 AM (Eastern Time), the attention of America’s fun-loving weather geeks temporarily turns away from Jim Cantore and the Weather Channel to get a real expert’s opinion about the next six weeks of weather. No, not the National Weather Service, either! They, too, tend to shy away from venturing a weather guess outside of the next two weeks.
For over a century, there has been one weather stalwart (actually, rodent) who is willing to put his reputation on the line every February 2 to predict the weather for the next six weeks.
Punxatawney Phil is this weather icon.
This special groundhog of western PA is so popular that it’s hard to find a hotel room near his town for the big event. Despite freezing temperatures most years, this annual production has become so popular that actor Bill Murray made a movie in the early 1990’s which actually boosted the popularity of this unusual day (over and over again).
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022 – for the 136th year – Punxatawney Phil will be greeted by thousands of his groupies who have made the trek 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh up to Gobbler’s Knob. Many of these hearty Phil Phans come to town the night before and have been known to stay-up overnight (keeping warm on adult beverages) as they await the star of the show to finally appear at the break of day.
Punxatawney Phil will be asked to give the good people a prediction of the next six weeks of winter weather. Will it be warming up soon or should the people hunker down for another six weeks of cold winter temperatures?
Since 1886, most forecasters in America have deferred to this furry little fellow for weather guidance as soon as the sun peeks above the horizon with the morning’s first light.
Phil will be asked to awaken early and provide everyone with the answer to a simple question.
If Phil sees his shadow, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of winter and returns to his hole. If not, spring is just around the corner.
There is even a website where you can watch this event “live” by clicking here!
This year (as always) Phil will be accompanied to the stage by the Members of the Inner Circle. According to local legend, this mystical group of keepers is sworn to uphold the grand tradition of Groundhog Day. Their primary job is to wake up Phil from his burrow and announce Phil’s prediction.
Incidentally, Punxatawney Phil, through the human voices of his Inner Circle, has also made a few additional proclamations in addition to his famous six-week weather forecast. Here are just a few:
- During Prohibition, Phil reportedly threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn’t permitted a drink.
- In 1981, Phil wore a yellow ribbon in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
- In 2009, Phil came out of his burrow with a “Terrible Towel” in support of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ sixth Super Bowl win.
In 2022, I am especially hopeful that this fearless forecaster might even suggest that the last two years of this never-ending COVID plague will come to an end soon, too!
You can do it, Phil!
When Punxsutawney Phil isn’t busy forecasting the weather, he resides in his special burrow (perhaps it should be renamed the “Weather Burrow?”). It is a terrarium built into the Punxsutawney, PA Memorial Library. His “digs” also include clear glass walls which provide him (and you) and chance to greet each other. Thousands of visitors stop by and say hello to Phil and his friends as they play eat and do what groundhogs do best, sleep.
You might be asking, “Just how accurate is the weather forecast by a groundhog named Phil?”
Phil and I would like to remind you, “And just how accurate is your local weather forecaster?”
Touche’!
Here in America, competition is the hallmark of our capitalistic society. With all of the pomp and circumstance which has been associated with Punxatawney, Pennsylvania and their weather-forecasting groundhog, other American cities have gotten into the act, too.
Here are just a few of the other unique creatures and cities which have sprung-up to give Phil a run for his money every February 2:
Staten Island Chuck – Groundhog – New York
Since 1981, the New York City area has attempted to get their February 2 winter weather outlook from the Staten Island Zoo’s groundhog. Alas, there was a tragic incident in 2014 when former New York City Bill DeBlasio accidentally dropped the groundhog during the ceremony. Fortunately, a new groundhog family member has taken its place since then.
Milltown Mel (R.I.P.) – Groundhog – New Jersey
There was a bit of tragic news to report this week concerning New Jersey’s weather prognosticating groundhog named Milltown Mel. Since Mel has his own Facebook page, here is the story from his support team called The Wranglers:
“We Wranglers are sad to report that Milltown Mel recently crossed over the rainbow bridge.
Considering the average lifespan of a Groundhog is about 3 years, that is not such a shock, but Mel left us at a tough time of year, when most of his fellow groundhogs are hibernating…so no babies will be available to replace him until this Spring.
We tried everywhere to get a stand-in, but to no avail!
We will work hard on getting us a new weather prognosticator for next year, till then please check out what all of Mel’s cousins have to say on Feb 2nd.”
Scramble-the-Duck – Duck – Connecticut
Beginning in 2015, the small town of Eastford, Connecticut in the northeastern part of the state proclaimed that they have “an accurate alternative to the groundhog” as far as weather forecasting skills. Scramble-the-Duck provide his six-week winter forecast on February 2 at the local library. Scramble’s own website (this quacks me up…get it – web site?) proclaims that this duck has been perfect in his six previous years on the job. If so, it would be a wise idea for the Weather Channel group to sign this fowl forecaster to a long-term contract!
Bee Cave Bob – Armadillo – Texas
Celebrating his tenth anniversary of weather forecasting this week, Bee Cave Bob hails from the city of Katy, Texas just west of Houston. Every February 2nd, this Texas-born armadillo (accompanied by his oddly named handlers called the Benevolent Knights of the Raccoon) is transported to Bee Cave near the state’s capitol city of Austin. Like his other weather forecasting friends, Bee Cave Bob will call for an early spring if he fails to see his shadow. Why use an armadillo? According to Bee Cave Bob’s handlers, “The armadillo, being a prehistoric animal that has been here through thick and thin, Ice Age, floods, the whole stew, still abounds in the state of Texas, which kind of proves how tough our state is.” I might add the armadillo has somehow survived the automobile age, too.
Stumptown Fil – Beaver – Oregon
On February 2nd since 2011, the Oregon Zoo in Portland has offered up a weather forecasting beaver to provide a West Coast alternative. Recently, this chore has fallen onto a special prognosticating zoo beaver named Filbert. “Groundhogs like Punxsutawney Phil are fine for their part of the country,” said Christina Parr, a keeper in the zoo’s North America section. “Here in the Northwest, though, we are beaver believers.” Alas, Filbert’s forecast flopped last year as he predicted an early spring. Less than month later, the zoo was closed because of an unexpected snow and ice storm.
In researching this story, I discovered a number of other creatures around the country who will venture a special winter weather forecast on February 2. You’ll find “Parish-the-Nutria” at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, “Prairie Dog Pete” at the unique Prairie Dog Town city park in Lubbock, Texas, and “First Coast Friz” the weather forecasting aardvark at the Jacksonville, Florida Zoo.
In my opinion, it’s best for these winter weather forecasting creatures to predict six more weeks of winter (seeing their shadows) every year. If the weather should warm-up sooner, the public will be happy anyway.
Happy Groundhog Day!