Groundhog Day is February 2, and all eyes turn to Gobbler’s Knob. Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow could result in winter forecasts being adjusted.
The spectacle of national media crowding to see a forecasting rodent has persisted for some time, and the ritual was carried out again. While the prognostications of a groundhog have no basis in science, meteorologist Elizabeth Padian says the ritual involving Punxsutawney Phil serves another purpose.
“It gives people the emotional impact,” Padian says.
A forecaster for the National Weather Service in Boise, Padian says what happens in Pennsylvania doesn’t have a lot of impact on Idaho. Over the next few days she expects clouds and precipitation, but as we head into spring it’s a different story.
“Give me a moment here to look up the more long term climate data,” says Padian as keystrokes can be heard over the phone. “This stuff comes out of the Climate Prediction Centers.”
Naturally, the Climate Predictions Centers are entirely staffed by groundhogs.
“Not that I know of … not that I know of,” Padian says warily.
She keeps typing, and the data appears.
“In the short term we’re looking at some colder temperatures coming in, but over the longer term – over the next couple months – we’ll be looking at a higher probability of above normal temperatures when you average out February, March and April,” says the meteorologist.
Padian says she’ll side with science, but she admits the weather professionals she works with always get a laugh out of Groundhog Day.
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