The groundhog saw his shadow

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Registered: 10-12-2010
The groundhog saw his shadow
14
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 10:19am

The official report came in about 7:30 AM Eastern time. Six more weeks of winter. :o(

Somebody here at work heard the history of the holiday on the radio. It seems that the hunters in Punxutawney, PA used to go around checking animals' burrows to see if they were still hibernating. This would tell them how soon spring was coming. The first official Groundhog Day was either 1838 or 1868, I can't remember which.

Katz

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 12:05pm
All cloudy here, LOL
OK .. I can handle six more weeks of winter ..
As long as it continues as warm as it has been here
Thanks for letting us know :)



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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2003
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 2:15pm
Hi Katz, why does this news NOT surprise me????
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Registered: 07-12-2001
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 2:47pm

PENN STATE CLIMATOLOGIST OFFERS ANOTHER GROUNDHOG DAY PREDICTION

University Park, Pa. -- Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous weather predicting groundhog, emerged from his post at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa., this morning (Feb. 2) and declared six more weeks of winter. While the groundhog relied on the use of his own shadow to make the forecast, at Penn State's University Park campus, Paul Knight, Pennsylvania's state climatologist, can use more scientific methods to offer a projection of what the next month and a half might hold.

"Day to day details beyond a week to 10 days are virtually impossible to pin-down," said Knight, a senior lecturer in meteorology at Penn State. "The best estimate is on the trend during the out-period -- weeks 2-7. And if there is any skill, it is most likely in the temperature trend rather than precipitation. The main tool that is used is the monthly mean forecast of the flow pattern across the hemisphere. That and the role of sea surface temperature departures in the tropical Pacific -- El Niño vs. La Niña -- play the largest influence in the prediction a month or more into the future."

Knight said that while the past month registered as one of the top five warmest Januarys on record in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, the next month might not be quite as kind to lovers of mild weather.

"Everyone expects winter to return with a vengeance, especially after the tough start to the season in December," Knight said. "While there are clear indications that February will not be as balmy as January, there are no immediate signs of bitter chill returning."

Knight added that the most significant change that can be expected through Pennsylvania and surrounding areas is the renewed opportunity for snowfall, from which the area has seen a notable reprieve since December.

"A larger mixture of polar air with the Pacific air stream in eastern North America will put the region in the rain-snow zone more often as precipitation should be above average during February," Knight said. "The blustery winds of January will also dominate the new month. There are signs that as winter winds down in March, the first half of that month may bring a decidedly wintry snap to the weather with late chill and snow."

Overall, Knight noted that this winter will average above normal temperatures throughout the entire nation.














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Registered: 08-19-2001
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 2:50pm
If it is the kind of winter that we are having I don't care if we get six more weeks of it.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2010
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 7:29pm
What happened to the Almanac's prediction that this would be a cold & snowy winter??
Katz

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2010
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 7:31pm
We've been not far from spring weather, at least since a super-cold December. :o)
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Avatar for briteblueeyz
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 8:45pm

He sure did, that little creep..lol.

 "In the end, it doesn't matter how many breaths you took, but rather how many moments took your breath away..."

Avatar for champagneonice
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Registered: 11-15-2001
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 10:10pm

Hey, Katz, how are you?! Long time no see, eh? Sometimes iVillage can be a small village! :)


I don't know what the weather is like anywhere else, but all it has done here is rain for the past several days. My rose bushes are leafing out, the daffodils and iris' are about an inch above ground, and I saw the first robin yesterday.


Good to see you again! Take care!


Hugs, *C*




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CL

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Registered: 12-09-2003
Thu, 02-02-2006 - 11:09pm


Sure am glad I don't have to rely on a groundhog for my weather LOL!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2003
Fri, 02-03-2006 - 5:30am
thanks Bev!

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