Groundhog Day Prognostication - 6 More Weeks of Winter

Early this Groundhog Day morning up on Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney Phil emerged to pronounce his yearly prognostication about the duration of winter. Since Phil has been 100% correct for over 120 years, we would do well to heed his prediction. With our snowpack and water storage both marginal right now, it will be good to know what's coming up so we can plan accordingly.

In 2009, Phil saw his shadow. For those not familiar with the legend, it is explained thus - if Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, there will be an early spring. How this translates to far flung locales like Reno is part of Phil's mysterious powers of prediction. Ours is only to have faith and believe. If it doesn't go the way we want, we'll just have to deal with it.

This morning, Punxsutawney Phil made his forecast for 2010. Here it is, straight from Gobbler's Knob...

"Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye,

On Gobbler's Knob on this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2010, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators awoke to the call of President Bill Deeley and greeted his handlers, John Griffiths and Ben Hughes. After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers, Phil proclaimed, 'If you want to know next, you must read my text. As the sky shines bright above me, my shadow I see beside me. So six more weeks of winter it will be.'"

It looks like we're going to get more rain and snow before spring really gets here. Compared to 2009, 2010 has been downright sodden so far and Phil predicts more, which will be welcome relief in these parts. Don't put away that snow shovel just yet.

Sources: Official website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Punxsutawney, PA website.

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