Despite heavy election year news, look for Punxsutawney (Pa.) Phil to grab front page space in many newspapers following the appearance of the “weather forecasting” groundhog tomorrow, predicts Grumpy Editor.
With a flock of note-taking media in attendance, Phil’s Groundhog Day weather outlook may be fuzzy, however.
If he leaves his burrow and fails to see his shadow, according to lore, that means winter will end soon, but if the woodchuck casts a shadow, then it looks like winter will continue for six more weeks.
The official weather forecast indicates Phil’s predictions this year may be confusing. Clouds and sun are in the Feb. 2 morning forecast.
Thus, if Phil emerges under cloud cover, that indicates a quick end to winter. But if he pops out with the sun breaking through the clouds, then winter, according to Phil, is expected to extend through mid-March --- on a day when the official forecast for low temperature is 27 degrees.
Phil is treated as Punxsutawney’s ace "public relations person" --- which he is. He gains much attention for the town with a population of about 6,000.
As such, the famous rodent resident is housed in better-than-a-burrow quarters at Groundhog Zoo at Punxsutawney Memorial Library.
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