Groundhog Day 2015: Punxsutawney Phil and Potomac Phil Predict Six More Weeks of Winter, New York’s Staten Island Chuck Disagrees [Pics]
Punxsutawney Phil, the nation's most beloved seasonal prognosticator, saw his shadow on Monday morning despite cloudy skies, foretelling six more weeks of winter, reports the Washington Post.
The groundhog's predication happened around 7:25 a.m. in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, amidst overcast skies, snow flurries and rain showers.
Last year, Phil also saw his shadow and the northeast endured one of the longest winters in the U.S. -- the harsh weather continued through March 2014. Washington, D.C., and many locations, received more than 30 inches of snow last winter. Phil chalked up that prediction in the "verified" column.
His dedication to predicting the weather has never been in doubt, but many question his accuracy.
In 2013, Phil predicted an early spring, but freezing temperatures and snow infiltrated the eastern U.S. into March.
Punxsutawney Phil made his first prediction in 1887. Since then, he has seen his shadow 102 times (including this year) and not seen it on 17 occasions. Phil's official website claims the Marmot has made predictions with 100 percent accuracy, while the NOAA's National Climatic Data Center says his forecasts have displayed "no predictive skill" in recent years. AccuWeather states he has an 80 percent accuracy rate.
Groundhog Day celebrations are held in other regions of North America, including Washington, D.C.'s stuffed groundhog, Potomac Phil, who saw his shadow around 7:30 a.m.
But not all groundhogs agree. In New York City, groundhog Staten Island Chuck delivered his early spring prediction and accepted a visit by Mayor de Blasio from inside a protective box at the Staten Island Zoo.
Atlanta, Georgia's General Beau Lee validates Staten Island Chuck's early spring prediction since he did not see his shadow either.
Groundhog Day originated as an ancient celebration midway between the winter solstice and spring equinox, according to NOAA.
"Superstition has it that fair weather [at this midpoint] was seen as forbearance of a stormy and cold second half to winter," NOAA writes in its summary of Groundhog Day.
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