Punxsutawney Phil - Groundhog Day 2004

[Marc]

Punxsutawney Phil - Groundhog Day

Thousands await Punxsutawney Phil's prediction on Groundhog Day

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Despite astounding leaps in meteorological technology — geostationary satellites and Doppler radar — all eyes this time of year are once again on a rodent in Pennsylvania.

Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog said to have forecasting abilities, was to emerge from his burrow Monday and tell Americans whether another six weeks of winter was on tap — depending, of course, on whether he sees his shadow.

The tradition is rooted in a German superstition that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will drag on. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

If history is an indicator, the odds are that Phil will see his shadow. In the past 117 years, the groundhog is reported to have seen his shadow 93 times and the last four Groundhog Days.

https://www.groundhog.org/ (Turn your sound down...)

 

[Marc]

Three of North America’s top furry forecasters had some bad news for the winter-weary today. Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's prognosticator, Wiarton Willie, Ontario's best-known Groundhog Day woodchuck, and Alberta's Balzac Billy saw their shadows after squirming out of their burrows, signalling six more weeks of snowy and cold weather.

 

[RoxaneB]

Three of North America’s top furry forecasters had some bad news for the winter-weary today. Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's prognosticator, Wiarton Willie, Ontario's best-known Groundhog Day woodchuck, and Alberta's Balzac Billy saw their shadows after squirming out of their burrows, signalling six more weeks of snowy and cold weather.

Ah, but Sche-something-or-other Sam out in the Martimes did not see his shadow! We have one optimist in the group....but his handler admits that she doubts Sam is right even half of the time. Man...no wonder he's an optimist...with a handler like that, I would be too!

 

[Bill Ryan - 2007]

Top 3?????? Let's not forget Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie, WI (I believe his batting average is the highest among the North American prognosticators - but I'll have to find the stats to back that up). Jimmy did not see his shadow (we were getting a five-inch dump). Between the snowfall in Michigan last week and ours this week, I'm hoping he's right on.