By Michelle Jackson, MiCAFE Network Coordinator

On February 2, 2019, we will wake up and anxiously await the big news. Is the groundhog going to see his shadow? Will spring come six weeks early, or will there be six more weeks of winter? Some of us are pessimistic about a groundhog forecasting the future of our weather, and others are trusting and optimistic. 

A Live Science article reports, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, held its first Groundhog Day in the United States in the 1800’s. A groundhog has been forecasting the weather on Groundhog Day for more than 120 years! Currently, the groundhog’s name is Phil. According to Live Science, data collected from the Stormfax Weather Almanac shows that Phil’s six-week prognostications have been correct around 39 percent of the time. Groundhog Day will be here soon, and we will all find out if we are getting an early spring in 2019!  

To learn more regarding Groundhog Day, and the accuracy of Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day forecasts, check out the article from Live Science.