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Groundhog Day Forecast

02 Feb 2022 05:34 AM
It is a cruel irony that today is Groundhog Day and Saturday is Weatherperson (Meteorologists) Day as the former is the bane of the existence of the latter. For those that believe in a groundhog's forecast, the weather lore states that if an emerging groundhog sees its shadow, it will retreat back into its hole and six more weeks of winter will commence. The featured table looks into this forecast based on a theoretical groundhog here in Des Moines with the shadow metric estimated by Des Moines airport sky coverage at 7 AM. The two data columns present that year's six week total for snowfall and average temperature and if those values were a snowier/colder departure than average (more winter) or a less snowy/warmer departure (more spring). The last column grades the forecast. Of course, one may argue if these metrics are an appropriate means to grade the forecast, but we are attempting to discuss a forecast made by a groundhog here, so about anything goes!

Voting:
Good: 15
Bad: 1

Tags:   groundhog   folklore  

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Snow after Groundhog Day

05 Feb 2013 05:10 AM
Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his den on Groundhog's Day to make an important forecast for the spring season. The featured top chart presents the number of snow days for Ames before and after 2 February each winter season. The bottom chart is simply the yearly total of snow days after 2 Feb. Neither chart appears to show a meaningful trend, but does indicate that we have on average just under 10 snow days yet to go this winter season.

Voting:
Good: 23
Bad: 4

Tags:   groundhog