Punxsutawney Phil Sees No Shadow This Groundhog Day
The world-famous groundhog 'Punxsutawney Phil' emerged from his den today, Groundhog Day, to proclaim he was unable to see his shadow. As the tradition goes, no groundhog shadow means an early spring is on the way.
The official Groundhog Day forecast, read at Gobbler's Knob in Phil's home town of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania proclaimed that spring was just around the corner and also made mention of El Nino and global warming:
"El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west. Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed. Global warming has caused a great debate. This mild winter makes it seem just great. On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing. Will we have winter or will we have spring? On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today. I predict that early spring is on the way." ~ Phil's official forecast as read at Gobbler's Knob
But Punxatawny Phil was not alone in his prediction. This year Groundhog Day celebrations fell on the same day that a detailed climate report was released by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Over 2500 scientists from more than 130 countries contributed to the report which concludes that humans are very likely to be the cause of global warming.
Find out more:
- The Groundhog Emerged, and Sounded a Lot Like Al Gore (New York Times)
- Humans Blamed for Climate Change (BBC News)
- Official Site of the Punxatawny Groundhog Club (Groundhog.org)
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Photos © Alan Freed / Shutterstock.
Comments
Buckeye Chuck, Ohio’s official weather groundhog, also predicted an early spring in Marion for 2007! Because of the unusually warm weather, he didn’t start to hibernate until the middle of January. In the weeks before this, he spent his time eating……and eating…….and eating. Billi Hazle, evening anchor newsperson for Lima’s WLIO NBC TV Channel 35 explained him as “the first morbidly obese Buckeye Chuck in Ohio history.” Buckeye Chuck has his own veterinarian, Dr. Earnest Kearns, of Kenton. He said his heart is strong, his teeth are looking fine, but he is carrying around 18 pounds and is very heavy for his frame. His owner, Wildheart Rehabilitator Director Nancy Mabrey, said she hopes he is active this summer and works it off. Tune in next February for Buckeye Chuck’s next weather prediction.
Nancy Mabrey, owner of Buckeye Chuck
Kenton, Ohio
Wildheart Rehabilitators (NW Ohio)
Licensed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife (RVS)
“Saving Ohio’s Wild Babies”
Thank you for posting this Nancy, I didn’t know of Buckeye Chuck but will be sure to check his weather prediction next February!