This time of year we start to hear about likely the most famous weather forecaster in the world; Punxsutawney Phil. It’s such a bogus unique American tradition, will this rodent see his shadow or not? Why do we care?
Well, it goes back a bit, it actually comes from the Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s and brought their holiday Candlemas. In short, it's a holiday that wraps up the Christmas season as people start to look towards spring. What is interesting is there is a scientific reason for the date Feb. 2, it is halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
The Winter Solstice is Dec. 21 while March 20 is the Spring Equinox.
Now in Europe they actually used a Badger as a weather profit on this day but in the United States the Ground Hog was about as close to an animal they had and thus the Holiday Groundhog Day was born in 1886 in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania.
According to tradition, if a hibernating groundhog comes out of his burrow sees his shadow he will run back and continue to hibernate thus indicating a longer winter.
By the way, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow a lot, 104 times, 20 times he did not and ten times there was no report.
For us here at least in Florida, a High-Pressure Ridge will likely dominate for the most part this upcoming month across the South East USA trending warmer temperatures for the month ahead.
