Feb. 2 is upon us as soon as once more. And in the course of the 40+ years that I used to be a broadcast meteorologist, each on radio and tv, I knew that that is the day that everybody seems to be to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania for a forecast of whether or not we’ll see a continuation of winter, or whether or not we’ll get pleasure from an early spring. That forecast, after all, comes not from an individual, however from a groundhog. And as such, Feb. 2 has develop into generally known as Groundhog Day.
And but . . . this present day initially was generally known as Candlemas; the fortieth day since Christmas. Because the outdated saying goes:
So how did a groundhog get entangled? In response to Historical past.com, the primary official celebration of Groundhog Day passed off on Feb. 2, 1887. This inaugural celebration was the thought of Clymer Freas and passed off in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
And as we speak, Invoice Murray however, ought to a sure groundhog named Phil see his shadow, we’ll see six extra weeks of winter (6½ to be extra exact). If he does not see his shadow, then winter is over. In response to Punxsutawney’s Groundhog Membership, Phil, after making the prediction, speaks to the Membership’s top-hatted President in “Groundhogese”, which solely the present President can perceive, after which his prediction is translated for your complete world.
By the best way, in keeping with Stormfax.com, as of 2025, Punxsutawney Phil has made 130 predictions, with an early spring (no shadow) having been forecast only a mere 21 instances (16.2%). This web site additionally states (with out proof or corroborative references) that as of 2025, Phil’s predictions have proved appropriate solely about 39% of the time.
Midway via on Tuesday
Though considered the “conventional” midway level of the winter season, in actuality, Groundhog Day truly comes up about in the future brief.
Winter’s midpoint will happen this week on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 9:54 p.m. Japanese Time or 6:54 p.m. Pacific Time. However though the altitude of the solar has been slowly climbing and the size of daylight has been growing for the reason that winter solstice on Dec. 21, any modifications up thus far have been comparatively refined.
Nonetheless, from now via early Might, the growing altitude of the noon solar and its corresponding lengthening of the daylight will develop into way more obvious, for at no different time of the 12 months do these two values rise so markedly.
For instance, on the primary day of winter in Denver, Colorado, sundown occurred at 4:38 p.m. and the size of daylight (from dawn to sundown) reached a minimal of 9 hours and 21 minutes. At present, Denver sees the solar set at 5:23 p.m. with a mere 57 extra minutes of daylight having amassed since Dec. 21.
However by March 20 — the date of the vernal equinox — the size of daylight in Denver may have elevated by 110 minutes since Feb. 3. And since daylight saving time begins on Mar. fifteenth this 12 months, by March 20, the solar can be setting properly after 7 p.m. (7:11 p.m. to be precise) as seen from The Mile Excessive Metropolis.
Temperature-wise, we have bottomed out
Apparently, for a lot of northern locales, long-term data point out the primary 4 days of February are the coldest for the winter season. However common each day temperatures rise quickly thereafter, in order that by the final week of the month, they’re greater than any day in January. Meteorologists, in actual fact, contemplate that the winter season is over on the finish of February; they contemplate “meteorological winter” to be outlined by the three coldest months of the 12 months: December, January and February.
So, for all these weary winter souls, take coronary heart: we’re about to show the nook. Within the days and weeks to come back, you may extra readily have the ability to sense the better quantities of each day gentle and see the extra northerly place of the afternoon sunsets on the horizon. And shortly the climate will reply as properly.
As for the groundhog forecast: To see or to not see . . . the shadow is aware of!
