The National Climatic Data Center compiled data on Phil's successes and failures from 1988 to 2014, and the groundhog did poorly. Judging by the deviation from average March temperatures, Phil was wrong 15 times and right just 12 times. In Phil's defense, temperature deviation may not be the best possible measure of winter, but it does serve as a reasonable indicator.
Punxsutawney Phil's poor record
yrs,
rubato
Re: They're making fools of us.
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:51 am
by Sue U
They ought to be more careful.
Although I don't know how Phil could be wrong: If he sees his shadow, it's six more weeks of winter; if he doesn't, spring is just around the corner, usually in about six weeks.
Re: They're making fools of us.
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 6:09 am
by Gob
A groundhog bit the ear of the mayor of Sun Prairies in Wisconsin as the animal "predicted" how long it would be until spring.
According to tradition in the US, the emerging of the groundhog from its burrow on Groundhog Day, will determine how much winter weather remains.
However when Jimmy was held to Mayor Jonathan Freund's ear it chose to bite down.
Re: They're making fools of us.
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:42 am
by BoSoxGal
Kudos to the groundhog!
Re: They're making fools of us.
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 12:45 pm
by wesw
well, the groundhog was dropped a year or two ago and died from his injuries. cheers to the varmint!
even when I was in grade school I thought that groundhog day was pointless...
Pennsylvania(shaking my head)
Re: They're making fools of us.
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:35 pm
by Sue U
February 2 has been a holiday of sorts forever. It is a cross-quarter day on the pagan calendar (half way between Solstice and Equinox) and Candelmas/Feast of the Presentation on the Christian calendar.
Re: They're making fools of us.
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:40 pm
by Lord Jim
The only way to stop a bad biting ground hog is with a good biting ground hog...
